Knowra New wave of British heavy metal New wave of British heavy metal The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a late-1970s and early-1980s movement that renewed heavy metal with faster, harder-edged music and bands such as Iron Maiden and Saxon.
British heavy metal : Heavy metal music made by British artists, from its origins in the late 1960s onward. The movement reshaped a national metal tradition already established by bands such as Black Sabbath.
Twin guitar : A guitar arrangement in which two guitarists play complementary or harmonized parts. Bands such as Iron Maiden used paired guitars to give fast songs melodic breadth.
Iron Maiden : An English heavy metal band formed in London in 1975. Their melodic twin-guitar sound and sustained international success made them the movement's most prominent band.
Thrash metal : A heavy metal subgenre that combines speed, aggression, and intricate riffing. Early Metallica and other American bands drew directly on British movement groups such as Diamond Head.
Black Sabbath : An English rock band whose dark, heavy sound helped establish heavy metal. Their earlier sound supplied a British foundation that the movement accelerated and modernized.
New Wave of British Heavy Metal festivals : Concert events in Britain that showcased emerging heavy metal bands during the movement's rise. Shared bills connected local audiences with groups that had little access to mainstream venues.
Saxon : An English heavy metal band formed in Barnsley in 1975. Their direct, riff-driven songs and working-class identity became defining movement traits.
Power metal : A heavy metal subgenre emphasizing melodic vocals, fast tempos, and expansive arrangements. The movement's speed and melodic guitar writing helped establish ingredients later used in power metal.
Judas Priest : An English heavy metal band known for twin-guitar arrangements, high vocals, and leather-clad imagery. Their sharpened metal style influenced the movement while predating its rise.
Heavy metal guitar : Electric-guitar playing and sound conventions central to heavy metal music. Distorted riffs, forceful rhythms, and guitar leads form much of the movement's musical vocabulary.
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