I'll admit it straight away, if you're in a British metal band then you'll get an extra point from me. I don't mind being biased because I think British metal gets, and always had, a rough deal from the music industry. Apart from the new wave of British heavy metal our home-grown talent has suffered with labels and press taking more interest in American acts and, more recently, Scandinavian bands. Having said that, the Scandinavians, the Swedes and Finns especially, have chocked out some absolutely fantastic metal over the recent years. Their metal scene is huge and seems light years ahead of the scenes in other countries. Or is that the impression I get when I scan the magazines and CD racks? It could be the case that the Scandinavian countries are being pilfered because there's musical gold there. When the mine runs out where will the labels turn to? Will they find joy in Britain and its rock/metal? I've decided to take a look.

Britain isn't an empty well, we still have Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and Motorhead making headlines but these bands were born from the NWOBHM. Who else do we have? Dragonforce are flying the flag with their extreme power metal. Biomechanical are always worth giving your time up for as are the awesome thrash kids Evile and the thrash titans Onslaught. We also have some great talent in the Scottish Pirates Alestorm (their debut album is wonderful). Cradle Of Filthare a shining beacon in the black metal catalogue and the likes of Anathema, Paradise Lost and My Dying Brideare all great bastions of gothic metal. Bullet For My Valentineare doing it for the kids (right on) and Stone Gods, well, some people like them I suppose.

But if we do a little more digging who else do we find?

Did you know that Apes, Pigs And Spacemenare still going? The rock band who gave us one of the greatest ever debuts, 'Transfusion', are continuing to record music. Since their second album, 'Snapshot', the band has recorded the full length 'Free Pawn' and a handful of E.Ps. You can download them from their website.

Other established acts worth checking out are the classic metal Marshall Law, Kyrbgrinder who've rewritten the rule book on drummer/vocalists (trust me they're quality), the power metal hopefuls Intense and my personal favourites Savage Messiah (I love these guys).

But there are many British acts on the fringe who'd arguably be given a better deal of things if they were Finnish. Chokehold and Battlewitch' continue to impress, 'Chokehold' especially with their tidy latest offering 'The Sweet Sense Of Genocide'. Burning Skies are worth checking out if you like the brutal death metal side of things and the bluesy The Council are just too damn good to miss out on in this life.

But if we delve in to the MySpace mire a little further we can find many British bands that just want people to listen to them. The Iron Maidens and Judas Priests of this world can't carry on forever, so if you have a few minutes then give these bands a little of your time and with the current credit crunch it won't cost you a penny (unless you count the cost of your internet connection).

The Mercy House play a melodic mix of rock and metal but are guilty of only have two tracks on their page. Recommended track: 'Inside I Fight'

Crowning Glorytake us back to when British metal ruled the world, amen to that. Get those fists in the air for this band. Recommended track: 'Dead Man's Paradise'

Waylander hail from Northern Ireland and cross that celtic folk with some blackened metal. Get your flutes out because these guys play folk metal as good as anyone. Recommended track: 'Born To The Fight'

If the thought of Celtic metal turns you on, and there's no reason why it shouldn't, then check out Darkest Era.

Britain also has its underground proggers. Son Of Science fiddle and wank it up good and proper. Cross Rush with Dream Theater and you'll not be far away from the bands intentions. Recommended track: 'Jericho'

If a bit of northern thrash is what you're itching for then look no further than Displacement. A little raw for some tastes but everyone's got to establish themselves. Recommended track: 'Ancient Rite Of Cannibalism'

Any band who pen a tune called 'Jagermeister Metal' has to be checked out. Reading's Sorcerers Spell may laden their metal with too many keyboards but there's something bursting to get of these guys. For fans of Power Quest. Recommended track: 'Fields Of The Fallen'

For brutal down tuned groove metal with an incredible progression it has to be TesseracT. This band could be world class if given a chance, why don't you?
Recommended track 'April Song'

More thrashing with Denounce. Their album, 'Deep Wood, Shallow Grave', is out on November seventeenth. From their demos on MySpace its going to be a contemporary thrash-a-thon. Recommended track: 'Flesh Harvest'

Zuprowski Connection give a British twist on the American rock and post grunge metal. The results are impressive. Recommended track: 'Thru Me'

A Thousand Lies from Newcastle-upon-Tyne have just put some new tracks on their page. It's head banging goodness from this very island. Recommended track: 'Dehydration'

If I find any more British Metal worthy of note you'll be the first to know.
Cheers
Pete Worrall
R13