New wave of traditional heavy metal

The new wave of traditional heavy metal (N.W.O.T.H.M.) is a musical movement that started in the mid-2000s as a revival of classic metal sound from the 1970s and 1980s. The term is used to describe

Origin#

The N.W.O.T.H.M. initially started in the mid-2000s with a number of bands, such as Cauldron, Skull Fist, and Enforcer, who began to write and record music that reflected the style and sound of classic heavy metal. These bands combined elements of the metal genres from the ’70s and ’80s, especially those of the N.W.O.B.H.M., although some bands are also influenced from genres such as speed metal, power metal and hard rock.

Identity and style#

The N.W.O.T.H.M. takes on a lot of the culture surrounding traditional metal music, as it does with its sound. Gestures, movements, and behaviors such as headbanging are also common at concerts and live performances.

Lyrical themes#

The lyrical themes found in the music of N.W.O.T.H.M. bands can vary greatly, but often include themes of fantasy, war, the supernatural, and the occult. These elements take on dark and sometimes aggressive undertones, and are not typically lighthearted in nature;

Musical elements#

In line with its identity as a revival of traditional metal, the N.W.O.T.H.M. combines and incorporates elements of speed metal, power metal, and the N.W.O.B.H.M. It makes use of distorted guitars with music largely built around melodies and guitar riffs. Power chords see heavy use, and songs usually have instrumental bridges and guitar solos. Drumming is typically loud and dense, with fast and steady beats. The vocals are essential to the heavy metal sound; in the case of the N.W.O.T.H.M., vocals are almost exclusively clean, and like in most traditional heavy metal, are loud, intense and powerful. Open display of emotion through the tone of the vocals is considered to be an essential piece of the musical quality, sometimes said to be more important to the music than the lyrics themselves.

Bands#

NWOTHM bands include: * Black Moor * Cauldron * Diemonds * Enforcer * Eternal Champion * Grand Magus * Haunt * Icarus Witch * Kryptos * Roadwolf * Skull Fist * Sons of Lioth * Spirit Adrift * Striker * Wolf * Wytch Hazel