I recently had to put together my Top Ten NWOBHM releases for "Metal Academy" podcast & I thought it would be interesting to share it here so as to give you the opportunity to submit yours & open up a healthy discussion on the topic. So here goes:

01. Iron Maiden – “The Number Of The Beast” (1982)
02. Iron Maiden – “Piece Of Mind” (1983)
03. Iron Maiden – “Maiden Japan” E.P. (1981)
04. Saxon – “Power & The Glory” (1983)
05. Diamond Head – “Lightning To The Nations” (1980)
06. Saxon – “The Eagle Has Landed: Live” (1982)
07. Saxon – “Strong Arm Of The Law” (1980)
08. Def Leppard – “High ‘n’ Dry” (1981)
09. Grim Reaper – “See You In Hell” (1983)
10. Tank – “This Means War” (1983)

It's times like this I realise I'm not nearly into nwobhm as much as I think I'm am.

1. Iron Maiden - Maiden Japan (extended)
2. Iron Maiden - Killers
3. Iron Maiden Number of the Beast
4. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
4. Witchfinder General - Friends of Hell
5. Tröjan - Chasing the Storm
6. Cloven Hoof - Cloven Hoof
7. Jaguar - Power Games
8. Angel Witch - Angel Witch
9. Grim Reaper - See You In Hell
10. Satan - Court in the Act

I probably should have mentioned that I only considered releases from 1979-1983 for my list as the NWOBHM movement had really imploded in the wake of MTV, LA glam metal & US power metal by 1984.

Its confusing what is exactly NWOBHM! Some lists have Priest & Motorhead but no Budgie? And aren't Venom BM?

No, they aren't.

NWOBHM is essentially British HM bands that came to prominence between the late '70s and early '80s, with a distinctive upbeat & aggressive sound. Venom are most definitely NWOBHM.

Oh yeah: anyone who pronounces it 'nuwobbim' should be killed in front of their family.

Budgie, Motorhead & Priest pre-dated the NWOBHM movement & aren't regarded as being a part of it even though many of the bands contained within it sound a lot like them. Venom were certainly a part of it though. Whether you regard them as black metal or not (which I categorically don't) makes no difference really as in much the same way as the grunge scene of the early 90's the NWOBHM term wasn't subgenre specific.

There's only Trojan and Cloven Hoof who's albums came out after 1983 on my list. Trojan being the latest in 1985. But they formed in 1982 in Wigan which (give or take 20 mins) my home town. So I'm having them.

So basically just Sam Dunn then.

If he's the only one, then yes.

Indeed.
Everyone knows it's pronounced Nerwobbum.

Top 10 NWOBHM Bands:

1. Iron Maiden
2. Saxon
3. Angel Witch
4. Tank
5. Venom
6. Witchfinder General
7. White Spirit
8. Pagan Altar
9. Raven
10. Cloven Hoof

Honourable Mentions:

Holocaust, A II Z, Rock Goddess, Demon

Alright so I'm not much of a NWOBHM fan but Satan's Court in the Act fucking rules. One of the best metal albums ever.

I like this term proto-black metal.

I don't feel I know enough Nuwah-bum albums to make a good assessment, beyond the usual suspects (Maiden, Angel Witch, Diamond Head, Saxon, etc.). I do own four Tygers of Pan Tang albums, and if I can say nothing else it is that they have the best song named 'Gangland' ever.

The whole first wave black metal or proto-black metal labels never really sat all that well with me. The groups seem to tenuously related at best, if by nothing more than Satanic themes (some more serious than others?) and poor production which could be reduced to no more than lack of production funds and/or technical know how of those involved. Apart from Bathory, I don't really see any connections with the more well-known second wave acts (maybe Hellhammer at a stretch, but they are far from what I'd consider black metal, and occupy their own little niche for their time period). I always felt that these interconnected scenes/styles/sub-genres generally needed proximity in location as well, at least in the 80s and into the 90s (much like NWOBHM).

We did a feature on "Court In The Act" on episode 14 of "Metal Academy" & I thought it was alright without being anything too special. It's certainly got some very chunky & modern sounding riffage going on which was especially heavy for the time but I don't think Brian Ross' vocal delivery was anything too special & there weren't that many memorable hooks either. I think it's a bit overrated to be honest.

Most of my favourites have been mentioned except Millennium, their debut from 1984 is great:

Mmmmmm….. interesting. I've never even heard of that band. Will need to check it out.