The difference, in figures
Black metal is far less melodic (−5), clearly heavier (+3) and slightly faster (+2) than NWOBHM. It emerged in 1982, 3 years after NWOBHM in 1979. Both branch directly off Heavy metal.
NWOBHM
Where it sits
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.
Full page →Black metal
Where it sits
In short
Tremolo picking, blast beats, shrieked vocals and deliberately cold production. More an aesthetic than a technique - atmosphere matters more than clean sound.
How it sounds
- Tremolo picking on open fifth voicings, with vocals in the high register.
- Deliberately thin, cold production - the missing bass is an aesthetic choice, not an accident.
- Fast blast beats, drums often mixed back, atmosphere placed above technique.
Key acts
- Bathory
- Mayhem
- Darkthrone
- Emperor
Start here
The pickDarkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky. The production is intentional, not a flaw.
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