Top 10 Best NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Bands

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums such as Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... 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

Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are frequently ranked among the greatest metal bands of all time and are commonly called "The Metal Gods," after their song on the 1980 album British Steel. Their influence on the development of heavy metal is profound... 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

Saxon is an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in South Yorkshire. As leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s. Four of those reached the Top 10, including two that made the Top 5.

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.

I personally can't see Iron Maiden or Judas Priest as New Wave. I've always associated them with classic heavy metal. Saxon are my personal favourite New Wave band.
I read they influenced Metallica. How much more do you want before you're awed by their greatness?

Motörhead

Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis, and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy was the band's only constant member, and Motörhead disbanded following his death in December 2015. Their aggressive sound... 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

Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. They rose to prominence during the late stages of the new wave of British heavy metal. Their first two albums, Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982), are considered foundational in the development of thrash metal and... read more

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

Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognized as one of the leading members of the new wave of British heavy metal. Their music was an important early influence on thrash metal bands, particularly Metallica and Megadeth.

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.

Angel Witch

Angel Witch is a British heavy metal band that formed in London in 1976. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band is known for its self-titled debut album and for influencing later generations of heavy metal musicians.

Listen to "Straight from Hell."
One of my favorite bands!
So underrated.

Satan

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.

Tygers of Pan Tang

Tygers of Pan Tang is an English heavy metal band formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement and initially disbanded in 1987. The band reunited in 1999 and has continued to record new music and perform live.

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

Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in Sheffield in 1976 as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The band rose to international fame with albums such as Pyromania in 1983 and Hysteria in 1987, the latter of which sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. They were inducted... read more

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.

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Gillan

Witchfinder General

Witchfinder General was a heavy metal band from Stourbridge, England. They were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and are regarded as an early influence on the doom metal genre. The band was active primarily in the early 1980s and has left a lasting legacy within the metal community.

Soviet Invasion is the single best NWOBHM of all time!

I really wish we saw more of these guys.

Tank

Raven

The first three albums are killer. One of the loudest and most fun bands to see live. Riot is as well.

Praying Mantis

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.

Grim Reaper

Steve Grimmett is a beast, finally able to utilize his amazing vocal abilities to their full potential, unlike in Chateaux.

Samson

Samson were a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their early albums featuring future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, who performed under the name "Bruce Bruce," and drummer Thunderstick, who was known for wearing a leather mask and... read more

Girlschool

Girlschool are a British heavy metal band that formed in 1978 during the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They are frequently associated with Motörhead and are recognized as one of the longest-running all-female rock bands. Their debut album, Demolition, was released in 1980 and marked the beginning... read more

All chicks playing metal in the same vein as Motörhead. What else do you need?

Blitzkrieg

An absolute classic band with some top-tier NWOBHM material. Unfortunately, they released their debut when the movement was practically dead.

Tokyo Blade

Brilliant guitar playing on their first two full-length albums. Just listen to "If Heaven is Hell."

Holocaust

Quartz

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.

Pagan Altar

Witchfynde

So damn underrated. It's an atrocity that these guys never made it big. They are the essence of heavy metal.

Iron Maiden is the best, but this band deserves to be WAY higher on the list. I'd put it in the top five easily.

Great versatile NWOBHM band. Just give "I'd Rather Go Wild," "Stab in the Back," or "Give 'Em Hell" a twirl. Magnifico!

Cloven Hoof

A criminally overlooked band with some amazing songs on both their NWOBHM material and their later power metal records.