New Wave of British Metal

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CMoon
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New Wave of British Metal

Post by CMoon »

OK, while everyone else is basking in the glow of all those other (probably more respectable) subgenres of metal, that isn't where my taste in metal lie (what's the point?)

My experience in metal is fairly limited, but as far as I can tell, I'm into super-stupendous-over-the-top-totally-retarded metal. What I mean are all the bands that followed in the wake of the (not retarded) Iron Maiden that were equally as stupid as Rhapsody is now, but doing their total-stupidity in the 80's. Quick examples that come to mind are Manowar (Kings of Metal) and Helloween (OK, they are German, but still...) Of course, the british metal scene includes a lot more that I like that isn't quite so stupid (somehow Judas Priest has a brain cell or two more than I wish they had.) But there must be more super-stupid, proto power metal bands. Fast, operetic, super-technical and utterly regressive (ok, I'll admit it, they're prog...)

So where are the other _stupids_ ? I must hear them! (they don't have to be british either, AS IF COMPLETELY OVER THE TOP INDULGENT MUSIC ONLY BELONGS TO ONE COUNTRY!)

Edit: And just to stop all the recommendations for hammerfall, iced earth, edguy, blah blah blah, I'm really looking more for bands that existed in the 80's.
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Herr Schatten
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Post by Herr Schatten »

Strangely enough, the first band that pops into my mind are Wardance. They never even have been popular here in their home country of Germany, but their one and only album "Heaven is for sale" might be exactly what you're looking for, but I think it could be quite difficult to obtain nowadays. Plus they had a female singer which makes them kinda unique.

Now that I think about it, Germany has lots of bands who play that "retarded" but high quality and very fun sort of Metal to offer. Let me recommend a few:

If you like Helloween, check out Gamma Ray. They sound more like Helloween than Helloween did for the last ten years. Their album "Land of the free" is pure 80s bliss, even though it has been released much later.

You might like early Blind Guardian stuff, too. Their first three albums "Batallions of fear", "Follow the blind" and especially "Tales from the twilight world" fit the style you describe just perfectly and also feature some incredibly funny engrish lyrics for added fun. After that they really developed their own style and became much more progressive, so I think they fell out of the musical range you're looking for, although I think they still put out some music of amazing quality.

Check out a band called Rage. Their albums "Trapped!" and "The missing link" are the best they released, amazing pieces, really. Earlier works are funnier, though, and at least "Perfect man", "Secrets in a weird world" and "Reflections of a shadow" are worth checking out. If you are really brave, try their first album, which was released under a different band name: Avenger - "Prayers of steel". :roll:

Another example of funny German 80s style Metal would be Running Wild, with all their lyrics about pirates and stuff. Their very early works are quite clunky, but the albums "Under Jolly Roger", "Death or glory", "Blazon stone" and "Black Hand Inn" are pure gold, if all a bit same-y. There are also three or four good songs on each "Port Royal" and "Pile of skulls". (Don't you just HAVE to love album titles like those?)

My last recommendations are not from Germany, but still:

There's a relatively new band out called Savage Circus. Their album "Dreamland Manor" sounds like it was realeased 20 years ago. It even has the same kind of badly painted super-cheesy cover artwork.

If you remotely like Manowar, be sure to check out Virgin Steele, especially their albums "The marriage of heaven and hell" (parts 1 and 2) and "Invictus".

That's all I can think of right now. Hope you find some of my recommendations enjoyable.
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Neon
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Post by Neon »

I had always assumed Manowar were a parody group...

"The Gods Made Heavy Metal" is hilarious.
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Rob
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Post by Rob »

Have you heard WATCHTOWER?? If you haven't, I'm pretty sure this is what you're looking for.
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CMoon
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Post by CMoon »

Thanks for the list guys! I do have some gamma ray (just figured mentioning them in the same sentence as Helloween would be too much!) I'll definitely have to check some of these other bands soon (and Pile of skulls is the best album title I've ever heard!)

As far as Manowar being parody, yeah, it WOULD make sense but something tells me these guys are for real. I mean, they do apparently play in loin clothes and they have the most politically incorrect and regressive view on about everything (check out 'pleasure slave' for a good example), so one is stuck with the problem--if it is a parody, they are taking it the WHOLE WAY.
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FRO
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Post by FRO »

Make sure you check out Cirith Ungol as well. Awesome band from the mid-late 80's that cranked out some pretty heavy stuff back in the day. They aren't british, but they play in a style similar to (though much more talented than) Grim Reaper (known for their NWOBHM contribution of "Welcome to Hell").
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Acid King
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Post by Acid King »

Jag Panzer and Metal Mike's Pain Museum... hilarious. When i went to see Trouble a whole slew of power metal bands opened including the above two and it was priceless.

"Thank you for letting Jag Panzer into your hearts tonight!"
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