Holocaust
Holocaust would have been one of the many glorious unsung, alongside Dragonfly, Mythra, Pagan Altar, Bleak House, etc. if it were not for Metallica - but even now, their stature goes widely unrecognised.
I described Saxon as the epitome of the NWoBHM above.
I was wrong.
I started this thread and no-one else is disagreeing with me so far, so I guess I'll have to do the job
Everyone has heard of Saxon.
You've probably only heard of Holocaust because Metallica covered "The Small Hours" on their "Garage Days Revisited" EP as something for Jason Newstead to appear on (coz you certainly can't hear him on "...And Justice..").
"The Small Hours" is a fantastic song - and I actually prefer Holocaust's rough and ready lads-off-the-street-couldn't-tell-the-band-from-the-audience attitude - one that Saxon sang the glories of, but didn't really identify with, what with all the spandex, silly stage props and major record label signing.
Holocaust were a "proper" heavy metal band in true Spinal tap style.
Who cares whether they had the abilities or not - they had the attitude and determination in larger quantities than Biff Byford's cucumber supply, and they didn't need a record deal to come up with killer songs.
"Heavy Metal Mania", the title of their first EP says and defines it all - the wondrous air raid siren opening and gruff JCM 800 chug is all you need to hear - and smell - everything that was real about the NWoBHM in the early 1980s.
The 3rd essential Holocaust tune you need to hear is "Smokin' Valves" - says it all really.
Finally, if you're left with any doubt whatsoever that Holocaust really are Heavy Metal personified, suck on THIS;
Forget the naff vocals, forget the pentatonic bluffery on the lead guitar - the riffs and lyrics say all you need to know about what makes metal so beloved of its fans. Especially the ones who know not to take it all seriously