Top 10: Melodic NWOBHM Albums

Heavy Valentine’s Day maniacs! Whether you observe the holiday or not, if you read this webzine, chances are you love the NWOBHM, as well as dissecting its intricacies and subsects, as much as I do. Today, we’re going to do exactly that. Before we move along, we must address the question you’re likely posing right now: “What the hell IS “melodic NWOBHM”? Don’t tell me this is gonna become a new genre moniker!” While I can’t respond to the latter half (although it’d be nice to add a new terminology to the metal pantheon alongside “boogie metal”), allow me to explain.

Melodic NWOBHM refers to any NWOBHM band and/or release that emphasizes melodies and hooks over brute force, as well as draws heavily from adjacent genres like hard rock, progressive rock, and AOR. On that note, straightforward NWOBHM acts like Angel Witch, Saxon, and Di’Anno era Maiden are nowhere to be found here. The same goes for speed-crazed, punkish stylings of Venom, Tank, and Warfare. Have I not answered your question yet? In that case, sit back relax, and enjoy our Top 10 Melodic NWOBHM Albums!

10. Nightwing – Black Summer (1982)

Kicking off our list at #10 is the oft-forgotten cult band, Nightwing. Formed in 1979 as a continuation of ’70s hard rockers Strife, Nightwing very well may be the epitome of melodic NWOBHM. Their songs were heavy and punchy, but with hints of AOR commercialism and pomp rock posturing scattered about. This approach is best showcased on their second album, Black Summer. Songs like the blistering “Overnight Sensation” and “Carry On” tap into the raw energy of the NWOBHM movement, while the synth-driven “Long Hard Road” and ambitious title track come off as throwbacks to the not so distant ’70s, albeit with an ’80s metal attitude.

9. Omega – The Prophet (1985)

Alright, this one is admittedly a bit of a stretch, at least canonically speaking. That said, to say Omega wasn’t part of the NWOBHM would be flat out inaccurate. The band formed back in 1980 under the much more generic moniker, Apocalypse, only to rebrand themselves Omega after a demo and single. It wasn’t until 1985, a year by which most would claim the NWOBHM to be long since dead and buried, that Omega finally released their first and only full length, The Prophet. A cryptic amalgamation of hard hitting metal and ethereal neo-prog, The Prophet was one of the most unique heavy release of its era, aweing the few who’d listen with some absolutely breathtaking suites. Fans of Styx and Kansas will absolutely adore the 9+ minute title track.

8. Wolf – Edge of the World (1984)

If we were to make a list of the Top 10 Greatest One Album Wonders in metal history, Wolf’s Edge of the World would have to make the cut. This melodically inclined band formed way back in 1977 under the moniker Leviathan, then resurfaced in ’80 with the classic 7 inch “Highway Rider” / “Red Lights” as Black Axe. Come ’84, they changed names again, this time to Wolf, and release a most excellent album entitled Edge of the World. At many points on this album, the line between meat and potatoes NWOBHM and 4 era Foreigner AOR becomes so blurred that one can’t help but wonder what could’ve been had Wolf stuck together for the rest of the decade. Unfortunately, they folded not long after the release of this album and were never heard from again. No, not even for the inevitable Keep it True reunion set. Talk about a heartbreak!

7. Saracen – Heroes, Saints & Fools (1981)

Omega wasn’t the only band of the era fusing metal with progressive rock. So was Saracen, who struck some years earlier with their masterpiece debut, Heroes, Saints & Fools. Whereas bands like Iron Maiden and Angel Witch snuck progressive maneuvers into their music via subtle technicality and unpredictable twists, Saracen put their prog tendencies front and center. The essentially channeled the grandeur of ’70s prog, but with harder hitting guitar riffs and wild vocals reminiscent of Rob Halford. Every song on here is a classic, with none being more classic than the epic heavy prog ballad that is the title track. No doubt about it, Saracen certainly bridged the gap between bands like Wishbone Ash and Jethro Tull and the eventual rise of prog metal.

6. Girlschool – Play Dirty (1983)

I’ll admit, the first time I heard Girlschool’s Play Dirty, I was initially turned off. I was so used to their down and dirty, no frills, female Motörhead approach that hearing them play anything else felt disingenuous, especially music that was so slick, polished, and accessible. Fast forward some years later and I decided to give it another listen. Boy, did I have it twisted. Not only is Play Dirty an excellent album, but it’s among Girlschool’s finest. While so many of their peers were hopelessly jumping the Pyromania bandwagon, Girlschool proved they could embrace commercialism while still cranking out incredibly catchy songs: A true testament to their songwriting prowess. The fact that this album didn’t sell 10 million albums worldwide is absolutely tragic.

5. Tygers of Pan Tang – Crazy Nights (1981)

The addition of guitarist John Sykes and singer John Deverill to the Tygers of Pan Tang fold impacted the musical direction of the band drastically, transforming them from a hard-nosed biker metal outfit to a full fledged NWOBHM powerhouse that balanced hooks and heaviness ever so subtly. On their third album, Crazy Nights, the hooks became even more prevalent, foreshadowing the uber-commercial direction they’d head in from its follow up, The Cage (1982), and onwards, but more on that another time. Crazy Nights is a feelgood metal album if there ever was one, daring you to crank up the volume dial with its air guitar friendly riffs, uplifting choruses, and carefree attitude. “Crazy nights, fever’s on!”

4. Demon – The Unexpected Guest (1982)

The NWOBHM wasn’t just important musically, but aesthetically as well. Bands like Venom, Angel Witch, and Witchfynde incorporated occult imagery and lyricism that would soon become a staple of heavy metal for decades to follow. So did Demon, despite sounding like, as one friend of mine put it, “a satanic Foreigner”. On their second and finest album, The Unexpected Guest, Demon plays what can best be described as a darkly atmospheric spin on late ’70s pomp rock. The stylings aren’t far removed from Styx, Freedom at Point Zero era Jefferson Starship, or the aforementioned Foreigner. However, the metal guitar licks are unavoidable and the lyrics are absolutely eerie. I guess one could say Demon was doing Ghost 30 years before Ghost? Tobias, send Dave Hill some royalty checks dammit!

3. Magnum – Chase the Dragon (1982)

I was really debating including Magnum’s Chase the Dragon on this list. For one, few, if any, refer to Magnum as a NWOBHM act, and rightfully so. They weren’t metal in the traditional sense and didn’t sound like what’s normally branded as “NWOBHM”. That said, they came up alongside many of these NWOBHM acts, played live alongside them, and I guarantee you when Chase the Dragon hit record store shelves in ’82, it was spun by headbangers as frequently as Maiden’s The Number of the Beast and Raven’s Wiped Out. It is also perhaps Magnum’s most metallic album, both musically and in spirit. Listen to cuts like “Soldier of the Line” and “Sacred Hour” and tell me with a straight face those couldn’t have passed for some lost NWOBHM 7 inch obscurities.

2. Praying Mantis – Time Tells No Lies (1981)

Fun fact: Praying Mantis’ Time Tells No Lies is so melodic that the Metal Archives considers them to be an AOR band! Right, because I totally remember Toto having songs as forceful as “Children of the Earth” and “Running for Tomorrow” on their albums. Aside from a middle of the road cover of The Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night”, Time Tell No Lies is a top to bottom gem. Its amalgamation of heaviness, catchiness, and off the charts musicianship makes for an unforgettable listening experience. Hell, even in comparison to their early singles, the songwriting and delivery of Praying Mantis had grown tenfold come Time. I can hear the guitar lick to “Beads of Ebony” playing in my head just typing this paragraph, and so should you.

1. Def Leppard – High ‘n’ Dry (1981)

Like I’ve said time and time again, the people who cry about how much they “hate” Def Leppard have never heard On Through the Night (1980) and High ‘n’ Dry (1981), the latter of which rightfully tops this list. While OTTN is a raw, glorious display of a young band still finding their way, High ‘n’ Dry is the sound of a fully fleshed out English melodic metal machine. The production, songwriting, and musicianship are all peak Leppard. The hooks are unavoidable, the twin guitar assault of Pete Willis and Steve Clark (R.I.P.) is lethal, and most important of all, those infamous five-part vocal harmonies are in full effect. Little did these working class boys know the latter would have them harmonizing all the way to the bank for the next 40 years. It doesn’t have to just be Saturday night to spin High ‘n’ Dry, the greatest melodic NWOBHM album of all time!

Honorable Mentions

• Dark Heart – Shadows of the Night (1984)
• Heavy Pettin’ – Lettin’ Loose (1983)
• Incubus – To the Devil a Daughter (1984)
• Shy – Once Bitten…Twice Shy (1983)
• Tobruk – Wild on the Run (1985)