New wave of American heavy metal

New wave of American heavy metal
Other names
  • NWOAHM
  • New wave of American metal
Stylistic origins
Cultural originsEarly–mid 1990s, United States
Typical instruments
Other topics
New Wave of British Heavy Metal

The new wave of American heavy metal (also known as NWOAHM and new wave of American metal) was a heavy metal music movement that originated in the United States during the early–mid 1990s[1][2] and expanded most in the early to mid-2000s. Some of the bands considered part of the movement had formed as early as the late 1980s, but did not become influential or reach popular standing until the following decade.[1][2] The term itself borrows from the new wave of British heavy metal dating to 1979.[2] NWOAHM includes a wide variety of styles, including alternative metal, groove metal, industrial metal, nu metal and metalcore. The term was reportedly coined by Mark Hunter, vocalist of the American metalcore band Chimaira, in 2001.[3][4]

Although the term is used by the media with increasing frequency, the definition has not been finished completely.[2] This is due in part to the growing addition of bands that assimilate to common styles in NWOAHM (as defined below), yet have not differentiated greatly enough as to garner a new genre moniker.[5] One description by longtime metal author Garry Sharpe-Young helps classify the NWOAHM as a "marriage of European-style riffing and throaty vocals".[5] Several of the bands within the NWOAHM are credited with bringing heavy metal back into the mainstream.[1][6]

  1. ^ a b c James Edward. "The Ghosts of Glam Metal Past". Lamentations of the Flame Princess. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d Sharpe-Young, Garry (November 1, 2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. New Plymouth, New Zealand: Zonda Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-9582684-0-0. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Millspublished, Matt (October 31, 2022). ""The New Wave Of American Heavy Metal was a marketing trick": Chimaira's Mark Hunter looks back on the NWOAHM'S glory days". louder. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. ^ MetalSucks (August 6, 2020). "Did Chimaira Coin the Phrase "New Wave of American Heavy Metal"?". MetalSucks. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007). Metal: A Definitive Guide. New Plymouth: Jawbone. ISBN 978-1-906002-01-5.
  6. ^ Adrien Begrand. "BLOOD AND THUNDER: Regeneration". PopMatters. Retrieved May 14, 2008.