So as plenty of you guys know, there is that whole "New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal" label (I can't really call it a movement, especially since it seemed to have started in the early 2000s, far too long ago to really be a proper movement) for basically any modern band that remotely sounds like classic Heavy Metal. As well as that rather popular "NWOTHM Full Albums" promoter on YouTube who uploads all sorts of Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, and Power Metal style bands of modern times. I was curious to see, what do you guys think of "NWOTHM" overall? Because to be honest, I'm not too fond of most the bands I have heard. And I have my own reasons, however I'm curious to hear yours.
My reasons for not liking NWOTHM greatly varies upon bands, however I'd say the usual issues include the following:
- Sounds too derivative of already existing bands. (I.E. all these "epic metal" bands that rip-off Manilla Road and Heavy Load, without being anywhere near as interesting as either band.)
- Too oveproduced/polished in sound, like that Andy Sneap type of production that's very sterile, too much saturated gain in the guitar tone, etc.
- Sounds more akin to mid-late 80s speed or power metal, rather than straight-forward heavy metal.
No memorable songs (kinda has to due with a lot of these bands being very generic speed metal).
- Vocalists sound too much like Bruce Dickinson half the time.
- Bands tend to be more influenced by basic well-known NWOBHM bands, rarely ever see any bands taking influence from German, French, Swedish, Italian Heavy Metal bands.
And that's just a few generic issues I thought of off the top of my head. I'm also curious, as a musician myself who is trying to form a Heavy Metal band, what is it that you would like to see modern Heavy Metal bands do? I already have a foundation for the music and imagery developed, so I'm not desperate for ideas - I just am curious on what you guys would like to see that's different from most of these "NWOTHM" bands.
Also on a more light-hearted note: there are quite a few 2000s-present bands I do like, such as Helvetets Port (my favorite modern band by far), Tungsten Axe, Tyrann, Angel Sword, Enforcer (more speed metal, but still quite good), and my fellow Kentuckians, Blood Curse (excellent NWOBHM-influenced non-pretentious Doom Metal).