 Part of the reaction saw the popularity of bands like Motörhead, who had adopted a punk sensibility, and Judas Priest, who created a stripped-down sound, largely removing the remaining elements of blues music, from their 1978 album "Stained Class".This change of direction was compared to punk and in the late 1970s became known as the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM).During this era, almost all heavy metal performers were male, with the exception of the all-female band Girlschool from the UK.