 Angel Witch , Iron Maiden , Praying Mantis and Samson from London , Son of a Bitch ( later Saxon ) from Barnsley , Diamond Head from Stourbridge , Marseille from Liverpool , White Spirit from Hartlepool , Witchfynde from Derbyshire , Vardis from Wakefield , Def Leppard from Sheffield , Raven and Tygers of Pan Tang from around Newcastle , and Holocaust from Edinburgh were the most important metal bands founded between 1975 and 1977 that animated the club scene in their respective cities and towns . The first bands of the newborn musical movement competed for space in venues with punk outfits , often causing clubs to specialise , presenting only punk or only rock and hard rock . Differences in ideology , attitude and looks also caused heated rivalries between the two audiences . What punk and NWOBHM musicians had in common was their " do @-@ it @-@ yourself " attitude toward the music business and the consequent practice of self @-@ production and self @-@ distribution of recorded material in the form of audio cassette demos , or privately pressed singles , aimed initially at local supporters . It also led to the birth and diffusion of small independent record labels , often an extension of record shops and independent recording studios , which sometimes produced both punk and metal releases . Indie labels are considered important to the movement 's evolution , because they removed the intrusion of corporate business which had hindered rock music in the late 1970s , giving local bands the chance to experiment with more extreme forms of music . 
