 The NWOBHM began as an underground phenomenon growing in parallel to punk and largely ignored by the media . It was only through the promotion of rock DJ Neal Kay and Sounds ' campaigning that it reached the public consciousness and gained radio airplay , recognition and success in the UK . The movement involved mostly young , white , male and working – class musicians and fans , who suffered the hardships brought on by rising unemployment for years after the 1973 – 75 recession . As a reaction to their bleak reality , they created a community separate from mainstream society to enjoy each other 's company and their favourite loud music . The NWOBHM was heavily criticised for the excessive hype generated by local media in favour of mostly talentless musicians . Nonetheless , it generated a renewal in the genre of heavy metal music and furthered the progress of the heavy metal subculture , whose updated behavioural and visual codes were quickly adopted by metal fans worldwide after the spread of the music to Europe , North America and Japan . 
