Best NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Bands
The top ten best New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands. A full list can be found here.
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian... read more I just recently got into Iron Maiden. I started with their debut album Iron Maiden, which is where everyone should. Work up to the acclaimed Number of the Beast.
Their first two albums with Paul Di'Anno are very good. The Bruce Dickinson era is great also, but don't avoid their first two albums just because he is not the lead singer. Iron Maiden is the overall flagship band of the NWOBHM and always will be.
The Trooper, Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Aces High, Powerslave, Iron Maiden, Prowler, Fear of the Dark, Wasted Years, Ghost of the Navigator, Can I Play with Madness, Still Life, 2 Minutes to Midnight.
Long live Eddie the Head! Up the Irons!
Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”... read more The very band that inspired Maiden. They have more diversity between albums, better guitarists, and overall, much more melody and songwriting talent.
With that said, Maiden does indeed have better live shows, and I like Bruce Dickinson slightly more than Halford - not to mention that BD's aged a bit better than Halford.
Best metal band of all time. Greatest drum intro like Painkiller, guitar solo like in A Touch of Evil - well, I would say that's completely insane. The vocal pitch can never be compared with any heavy metal singer. Keep banging your head.
Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976, in South Yorkshire. As one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal, they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. Trust me, Maiden was my champion for many, many years, and they still make the shortest of short lists (Murray and Harris are still the gold standard for their respective instruments). Priest grew on me over time, but they weren't my favorites during the heyday - they just didn't resonate with me like Maiden or Saxon. I'd love to add an oblique angle like Armored Saint, but they are not Brits.
But year in, year out, decade in, decade out, in the final analysis, after tens of thousands of listens to the complete, comprehensive catalogues, other bands just play classic British Heavy Metal. SAXON IS BRITISH HEAVY METAL.
Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was the sole constant member; guitarist and songwriter Larry Wallis; and drummer Lucas Fox. The band's harsh vocals and fast paced tempos helped inspire speed metal and... read more Without Motörhead, there would be no thrash metal and no Ace of Spades. Go listen to Overkill and see if they know how to make music.
Motörhead and Venom were very influential in the creation of thrash, speed, death, and black metal.
Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal—are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. Venom singlehandedly invented not one, but two new music genres out of their first two albums alone. Without them, thrash metal wouldn't exist, and neither would black metal. They should be #2, after Maiden, of course.
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the new wave of British heavy metal and is acknowledged by thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence. Their first album is very good and is literally guitar riff heaven. But they sort of fell off a cliff after their debut. They changed styles within an album, and their debut is the only one in their discography to sound so amazing.
Underrated, amazing band. Way more people should listen to them.
Their first album is a must-hear for any metalhead. Without a doubt, it's in the same league as Iron Maiden, just far less successful commercially.
Any fans of this band would also enjoy Blitzkrieg and Blind Fury, both composed of some of Satan's members at the time they released their debuts.
Angel Witch are a British heavy metal band which formed in London, England in 1977 as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. Listen to "Straight from Hell."
One of my favorite bands!
So underrated.
Tygers of Pan Tang are a heavy metal band, part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perform. The first two albums were definitely top-tier speedy NWOBHM. A real shame these guys sold out afterward.
Highly influential, great, talented band, but inconsistent - probably why they were never huge.
Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. Def Leppard takes a lot of criticism for leaving the NWOBHM. Their producer (Mutt Lange) glossed up their production and rounded off their rough-edged sound.
Their first two albums, On Through the Night and High 'n' Dry, are extremely good. They were one of the leaders of the NWOBHM at this time, but then things happened.
Witchfinder General were a heavy metal band from Stourbridge, England. They were part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene and have been cited as a major influence on the doom metal genre. Soviet Invasion is the single best NWOBHM of all time!
I really wish we saw more of these guys.
Steve Grimmett is a beast, finally able to utilize his amazing vocal abilities to their full potential, unlike in Chateaux.
An absolute classic band with some top-tier NWOBHM material. Unfortunately, they released their debut when the movement was practically dead.
The first three albums are killer. One of the loudest and most fun bands to see live. Riot is as well.
Although on the softer side of the NWOBHM spectrum, they deliver some of the best melodic heavy metal and hard rock found throughout the movement.
Brilliant guitar playing on their first two full-length albums. Just listen to "If Heaven is Hell."
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band that formed in the new wave of British heavy metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. All chicks playing metal in the same vein as Motörhead. What else do you need?
Dio was an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. It sounds more British than American.
Demon's first two albums are classic NWOBHM fare and are two of the best records of that era. Then we get to their classic material: The Plague, Breakout, British Standard Approved, etc., mixing the classic NWOBHM sound with what would later be called prog metal. Demon has to be one of the most influential bands of the whole era.
And remember, people, NWOBHM was a movement, NOT a genre. Yes, Priest and Motörhead are great bands, but they are NOT NWOBHM. Both were well-established before the term was coined by Sounds writer Malcom Dome in March 1979.
Samson were a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick, who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a metal... read more
UFO are an English rock band that was formed in 1969. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal.
Tony Iommi was the producer of their first album and a big fan of theirs. That's how you know they've got to be good.