Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

NWOBHM1979

Second genre

Traditional heavy metal1976

Head to headNWOBHM vs Traditional heavy metal
NWOBHM: heaviness 6, melody 9, speed 7. Traditional heavy metal: heaviness 7, melody 9, speed 6.Heaviness6 / 7Melody9 / 9Speed7 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Traditional heavy metal is the wider, mostly older category - Sabbath, Priest, Rainbow. NWOBHM is the British wave of 1979-81 that took it and made it faster.

Both are sung cleanly, but traditional heavy metal is a little slower: 120 to 170 bpm against 140 to 190. To hear the difference, play Iron Maiden next to Judas Priest. Both grew out of heavy metal, traditional heavy metal first and NWOBHM three years after. United Kingdom appears in the origins of both.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
NWOBHM6
Traditional heavy metal7
+1
Speed
NWOBHM7
Traditional heavy metal6
−1
Melody
NWOBHM9
Traditional heavy metal9
level

NWOBHM

1979 · United Kingdom

Where it sits

Heavy metal › NWOBHM

In short

New Wave of British Heavy Metal: punk speed, twin guitar harmonies and self-releasing on a large scale. The textbook every thrash band studied.

How it sounds

  • Twin guitars harmonised in thirds - the wave's technical signature.
  • Faster tempos than the 1970s, with Steve Harris's galloping bass technique.
  • Cheap, usually self-funded production and seven-inch singles on local labels.

Key acts

  • Iron Maiden
  • Saxon
  • Diamond Head
  • Angel Witch

Start here

The pickDiamond Head - Am I Evil? The riff that half of thrash was born from.

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Traditional heavy metal

1976 · UK / USA · 2 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Traditional heavy metal

In short

The classic form: high vocals, twin lead guitars, choruses to raise a fist to. Leather and studs.

How it sounds

  • High vocals with controlled vibrato and sustained top notes.
  • Two lead guitars harmonising and trading solos.
  • Singalong choruses, medium to fast tempos, epic or motivational lyrics.

Key acts

  • Judas Priest
  • Dio
  • Manowar
  • Accept

Start here

The pickJudas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny. Before the leather, and already perfect.

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