Explainers

A crowd pressed to the barrier with fists and horns raised at a metal show in Helsinki in November 2019

Why People Love Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Feb 8, 2026

Mötley Crüe backstage with Ozzy Osbourne on the Bark at the Moon Tour, March 1984

Is Mötley Crüe Glam Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Feb 4, 2026

Green Lung performing on an outdoor festival stage in front of a large painted banner, the crowd in the foreground

Stoner Doom: Where the Two Words Meet

Ilse Brandt · Feb 3, 2026

Saxon on stage at the Eventim Apollo in London in November 2025, Biff Byford at the microphone with Marshall stacks behind

What Makes Music Heavy Metal

Declan Rourke · Feb 2, 2026

Exodus performing at a club show

Who Was the First Thrash Metal Band?

Declan Rourke · Feb 2, 2026

Jon Bon Jovi performing live before a massive festival crowd, 1980s

Is Bon Jovi Hair Metal?

Declan Rourke with Saint Sylveszter · Jan 31, 2026

Girlschool's four original members leaning on a railing in front of gig posters for Dingwalls and Brecknock, London, around 1980

Is Motörhead NWOBHM?

Declan Rourke · Jan 30, 2026

Led Zeppelin performing live at Earls Court, London, 1975, Robert Plant at the mic with John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page behind him

Is Led Zeppelin Heavy Metal?

Declan Rourke · Jan 28, 2026

Def Leppard live at the Palladium, New York, 1 August 1980, during the On Through the Night tour

Is Def Leppard NWOBHM?

Declan Rourke · Jan 26, 2026

Deicide performing live on stage

What Happened to the Original Tampa Bands?

Rafael Quintero · Jan 25, 2026

Two members of Iron Maiden laughing backstage in 1982, one wearing a black and white striped waistcoat and holding a bottle

Is Iron Maiden NWOBHM?

Declan Rourke · Jan 23, 2026

At the Gates band portrait

Stockholm vs Gothenburg: Two Scenes, Two Sounds

Rafael Quintero · Jan 20, 2026

Rob Halford of Judas Priest singing into a hand-held microphone on stage, studded leather jacket and raised gauntlet, guitarist beside him

Is Judas Priest NWOBHM?

Declan Rourke · Jan 20, 2026

The sleeves of Restless and Wild, Kill 'Em All, Show No Mercy and Ride the Lightning

What Was the First Thrash Metal Album?

Declan Rourke · Jan 18, 2026

Gorgoroth performing live on stage

What Does True Norwegian Black Metal Actually Mean?

Eirik Solvang · Jan 17, 2026

Judas Priest members in leather cutting a cake at a 1979 record store event welcoming the band, tour posters on the wall behind them

Where the Name "Heavy Metal" Comes From

Declan Rourke · Jan 17, 2026

Dave Mustaine performing live in 1988

The Best Thrash Metal Band: The Argument

Declan Rourke · Jan 16, 2026

The sleeve of The Return......, Bathory, 1985

What Was the First Black Metal Album?

Eirik Solvang · Jan 14, 2026