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new wave of british heavy metal

what it is

The new wave of British heavy metal (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a musical movement in the United Kingdom that emerged in the mid-1970s and gained wider attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The term was coined by Alan Lewis in connection with an article by Geoff Barton published in the May 1979 issue of the British music newspaper "Sounds", used to describe a new generation of heavy metal bands developing in the period following the decline of punk rock and alongside the rise of new wave music. The music associated with NWOBHM drew on earlier hard rock and heavy metal traditions while incorporating a faster and more aggressive approach influenced in part by punk rock.

✦ meet the girls making new wave of british heavy metal →
women, non-binary artists, and bands with women, level by level

✦ start here: albums

Tokyo Blade by Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade
Tokyo Blade
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Demolition by Girlschool
Demolition
Girlschool
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Denim And Leather by Saxon
Denim And Leather
Saxon
open this album: apple music · spotify
Black Metal by Venom
Black Metal
Venom
open this album: apple music · spotify
Give 'Em Hell by Witchfynde
Give 'Em Hell
Witchfynde
open this album: apple music · spotify
Suspended Sentence by Satan
Suspended Sentence
Satan
open this album: apple music · spotify

✦ who's making it, level by level

level 3 · one step out

cult favorites and indie darlings

Saxon
567k listeners
Horsepower
22k listeners

level 4 · further

art pop, hyperpop, and the underground

Gaskin
109k listeners
Angel Witch
140k listeners
Praying Mantis
51k listeners
Tygers of Pan Tang
100k listeners
Tokyo Blade
49k listeners
Holocaust
41k listeners
Blitzkrieg
44k listeners
Hell
84k listeners
Raven
120k listeners
Demon
152k listeners

level 5 · all the way

deep experimental

Iron Maiden
3.3m listeners
Diamond Head
271k listeners
After Dark
33k listeners
Witchfynde
27k listeners
Soldier
5k listeners
Crucifixion
6k listeners
Blinder
6k listeners
Vardis
6k listeners
Elixir
18k listeners
Trespass
6k listeners
Satanic Rites
2k listeners
Jameson Raid
3k listeners

✦ make new wave of british heavy metal a playlist

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each artist's most played song, easing from level 1 out to 5

✦ nearby genres

heavy metalnwobhmmetalhard rock

questions

What is new wave of british heavy metal?

The new wave of British heavy metal (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a musical movement in the United Kingdom that emerged in the mid-1970s and gained wider attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The term was coined by Alan Lewis in connection with an article by Geoff Barton published in the May 1979 issue of the British music newspaper "Sounds", used to describe a new generation of heavy metal bands developing in the period following the decline of punk rock and alongside the rise of new wave music. The music associated with NWOBHM drew on earlier hard rock and heavy metal traditions while incorporating a faster and more aggressive approach influenced in part by punk rock.

What are good new wave of british heavy metal albums to start with?

Try Tokyo Blade by Tokyo Blade, Demolition by Girlschool, Denim And Leather by Saxon, and Black Metal by Venom.

Who are some women making new wave of british heavy metal?

musicisforgirls.com/genres/new-wave-of-british-heavy-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making new wave of british heavy metal, from mainstream to underground.

genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21