Midnight Priest

The new wave of speed metal is a 2010s revivalist movement that resurrects the breakneck tempos, razor‑edged riffing, and high‑energy songwriting of classic 1980s speed metal. It favors twin‑guitar harmonies, athletic rhythm sections, and soaring, clean vocals that deliver anthemic hooks. Unlike the harsher edge of thrash, this wave leans into melodicism and precision: galloping rhythms, tightly palm‑muted alternate‑picked riffs, and flamboyant guitar solos. Production tends to be crisp but analog‑minded, evoking vintage warmth while meeting modern loudness and clarity.

The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal (often abbreviated as NWOTHM) is a revivalist musical movement that emerged in the mid-2000s. It is characterized by a return to the classic sound, aesthetics, and ethos of 1970s and 1980s heavy metal, specifically drawing inspiration from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), speed metal, and early power metal. Bands in this genre reject the downtuned guitars, harsh vocals, and modern production techniques of contemporary metal subgenres like metalcore or death metal, instead favoring clean, high-pitched vocals, twin-guitar harmonies, galloping basslines, and a more organic, 'vintage' production style. The movement emphasizes a 'true metal' attitude, often accompanied by traditional visual aesthetics involving denim, leather, and high-top sneakers.