If you ask any metal fan who was more influential budgie or priest you will get the answer
Priest were developing a metal sound , budgie were influenced by led zep , who were not metal at all
Sabbath and Priest were metal bands , budgie , uriah heap , UFO , purple etc were led zep , rock bands
Sabbath and Priest were unique bands like Metallica, maiden etc were there because of them , not budgie
You can tell me what influential metal bands you saw in your youth and we can discuss if they were in fact heavy metal or rock
There is a big difference