The Definition of 'Heavy Metal'

Isbjørn · 10-09-2014, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpnfire

Allmusic disagrees and cites Stained Class, and British Steel as part of it, but I guess I see your point: they also have Def Leppard on who I would never describe as NWOBHM band, so maybe I'm mistaken referring to it as a genre.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

That's from the power metal page on Allmusic.com. *cringes*

Yeah.

The Batlord · 10-09-2014, 02:06 PM

Apparently Depeche Mode were only power metal for one single.

Pet_Sounds · 10-09-2014, 02:06 PM

I've always thought of NWOBHM as a movement rather than a genre. Like British Invasion or British folk revival.

Isbjørn · 10-09-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

I've always thought of NWOBHM as a movement rather than a genre. Like British Invasion or British folk revival.

That's pretty much what it is. Judas Priest and Motörhead, who also tend to get mentioned in NWOBHM discussions, both predate the NWOBHM movement. Also, neither of them sound very NWOBHM-y to me, at least not Judas Priest. Killing Machine is polished radio metal, and worlds away from what Venom did.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-09-2014, 02:54 PM

It is possible to be more than one thing.

Judas Priest were very much a part of the NWOBHM but it wasn't until 79 when the whole movement took off that they started having any success. Hell they were still working day jobs up until 1978.

A lot of NWOBHM bands had been gigging around since the early/mid 70s. Priest were lucky and got their break and recorded records earlier than most of the other bands, it was their small early success was the kind of breakthrough that paved the way for what came a year or so later.

As for Def Leppard I don't know why people are so surprised they're considered a NWOBHM band, for one they didn't sound that different from a lot of other bands from that movement, and also there was bands like Preying Mantis, Dark Star & Touch who were much more melodic & softer than Def Leppard were in their early years yet nobody disputes these bands being a part of it.

Isbjørn · 10-09-2014, 03:03 PM

If the NWOBHM movement started in the early '70s, and included Judas Priest, then what was the first wave of British heavy metal? I hope I understood you correctly.

The Batlord · 10-09-2014, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

If the NWOBHM movement started in the early '70s, and included Judas Priest, then what was the first wave of British heavy metal? I hope I understood you correctly.

Sabbath, Budgie, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, etc. Late sixties/early seventies bands.

Isbjørn · 10-09-2014, 03:08 PM

Judas Priest came along in 1974, so they weren't exactly late to join the fun. And Zeppelin and Deep Purple are arguably metal. Welp, maybe the term was used differently back then.

Pet_Sounds · 10-09-2014, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Sabbath, Budgie, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, etc. Late sixties/early seventies bands.

So basically the Big Four and their contemporaries?

Urban Hat€monger ? · 10-09-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

If the NWOBHM movement started in the early '70s, and included Judas Priest, then what was the first wave of British heavy metal? I hope I understood you correctly.

The movement itself took off in 1979 but most of the leading bands started around 73-76, they didn't get signed because record labels were only interested in punk, but they were gigging around the UK for years before that.
They didn't come out of nowhere.

10-09-2014, 02:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,489	I've always thought of NWOBHM as a movement rather than a genre. Like British Invasion or British folk revival. __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease

10-09-2014, 02:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	It is possible to be more than one thing. Judas Priest were very much a part of the NWOBHM but it wasn't until 79 when the whole movement took off that they started having any success. Hell they were still working day jobs up until 1978. A lot of NWOBHM bands had been gigging around since the early/mid 70s. Priest were lucky and got their break and recorded records earlier than most of the other bands, it was their small early success was the kind of breakthrough that paved the way for what came a year or so later. As for Def Leppard I don't know why people are so surprised they're considered a NWOBHM band, for one they didn't sound that different from a lot of other bands from that movement, and also there was bands like Preying Mantis, Dark Star & Touch who were much more melodic & softer than Def Leppard were in their early years yet nobody disputes these bands being a part of it. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

10-09-2014, 03:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	If the NWOBHM movement started in the early '70s, and included Judas Priest, then what was the first wave of British heavy metal? I hope I understood you correctly. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

10-09-2014, 03:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Judas Priest came along in 1974, so they weren't exactly late to join the fun. And Zeppelin and Deep Purple are arguably metal. Welp, maybe the term was used differently back then. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal