The Heavy Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates the best in rock and metal music. With categories ranging from Best Album to Best Live Band, the awards recognize the talent and hard work of musicians, producers, and industry professionals in the heavy music scene. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of the Heavy Music Awards, past winners, and what to expect from this year’s ceremony.
What to expect this year at the Heavy Music Awards
The Heavy Music Awards has revealed its initial lineup of performers and hosts for the momentous 2023 event, scheduled for May 26 at OVO Arena Wembley. Famous for featuring a wide range of heavy music stars, this year’s event will include exclusive performances from some of the genre’s most thrilling artists. By moving to the larger OVO Arena Wembley, the prestigious venue will acknowledge heavy music’s increasing influence while spotlighting both emerging talents and established icons.
At the HMAs 2023, Halestorm, with four nominations including Best International Live Artist and Best Album, will perform an intimate acoustic set. Lzzy and Joe will be accompanied by Machine Gun Kelly’s guitarist Sophie Lloyd. Additional acts include influential metalcore band Underoath, gothic punk group Creeper, alternative rockers Boston Manor, and fiery rock band Vukovi (with a record-breaking five nominations), collaborating with Scene Queen for a unique performance.
Heavy Music Awards 2023 host
A lineup of prominent hosts from the heavy music scene will also participate. Radio’s Alex Baker returns as the evening’s host after previously hosting numerous memorable HMA shows. BBC Radio 1 Introducing Rock presenter Alyx Holcombe and BBC Radio 1 Future Alternative presenter Nels Hylton join as part of the presenting team to capture the excitement on the Red Carpet during this celebratory night.
This remarkable year for the proceeds of the award, with a staggering 1.3 million votes collected from fans in 163 countries, granting their vast fanbase an active role in influencing their cherished scene’s future. To express gratitude to the passionate and expanding Heavy Music Awards followers, voters have priority access to tickets for this milestone event in the UK heavy music calendar through an exclusive pre-sale. General tickets are out now and begin at £25 (plus fees).
Since its establishment in 2017, the Heavy Music Awards has solidified its place as a fixture in the heavy music awards calendar by supporting bands from initial gigs to sold-out global stadium tours. The awards are renowned for promoting top talent within the genre and acknowledging rising stars alongside established industry icons’ successes. In previous years, they’ve aided breakthrough careers of Nova Twins, Wargasm, Spiritbox, Cassyette and Hot Milk while simultaneously celebrating significant achievements of Slipknot, Metallica and Bring Me The Horizon within the UK market and beyond.
Heavy Music Awards History
The Heavy Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony that celebrates the best in heavy music. It was founded in 2016 by Andy Pritchard, Dave Bradley, and Iain Johnson. The first ceremony was held at the House of Vans in London on August 24, 2016, and was hosted by Sophie K. The awards recognize excellence in a variety of categories, including Best Album, Best Live Band, and Best UK Breakthrough Band. The awards have since become a highly respected event in the heavy music community and have been held at prestigious venues such as the O2 Forum Kentish Town and the O2 Academy Brixton.
Heavy Music Awards 2023 Lineup
Best Album
Architects – The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit
Bad Omens – The Death of Peace of Mind
Ghost – Impera
Halestorm – Back From The Dead
Nova Twins – Supernova
Slipknot – The End, So Far
Vukovi – NULA
Best Breakthrough Album – Heavy Music Awards
Bloodywood – Rakshak
Cassyette – Sad Girl Mixtape
Charlotte Sands – Love And Other Lies
Heriot – Profound Morality
Static Dress – Rouge Carpet Disaster
Wargasm – EXPLICIT: The MiXXXtape
Witch Fever – Congregation
Best UK Artist
Presented by MNRK Heavy
Bob Vylan
Creeper
Holding Absence
Malevolence
Nova Twins
Sleep Token
Vukovi
Best International Artist – Heavy Music Awards
Presented by Arising Empire
Bad Omens
Electric Callboy
Ghost
Halestorm
I Prevail
Polyphia
Spirit box
Best UK Live Artist
Presented by Allianz Musical Insurance
Biffy Clyro
Creeper
Enter Shikari
Neck Deep
Nova Twins
Skindred
Vukovi
Best International Live Artist
Alexisonfire
Electric Callboy
Ghost
Halestorm
My Chemical Romance
Parkway Drive
Turnstile
Best Breakthrough Live Artist
As Everything Unfolds
Cassyette
Heriot
Joey Valence & Brae
Lake Malice
Static Dress
Witch Fever
Best UK Breakthrough Artist
As December Falls
Blackgold
Cody Frost
Delilah Bon
Kid Bookie
Lake Malice
ZAND
Best International Breakthrough Artist
Charlotte Sands
Chat Pile
LS Dunes
Scene Queen
Scowl
Soul Blind
ZULU
Best Festival
Presented by Ticketmaster
Aftershock
BMTH Malta Weekender
Hellfest
Outbreak
Slam Dunk
Best Single
Architects – When We Were Young
Bring Me The Horizon – sTraNgeRs
Creeper – Ghost Brigade
Enter Shikari – The Void Stares Back ft. Wargasm
Ghost – Call Me Little Sunshine
Ithaca – They Fear Us
Neck Deep – STFU
Best Production
Architects – The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit
Bad Omens – The Death of Peace of Mind
Halestorm – Back From The Dead
Ithaca – They Fear Us
Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
Static Dress – Rouge Carpet Disaster
Vukovi – NULA
Best Video
Cassyette – Sad Girl Summer
Coheed And Cambria – The Liars Club
Electric Callboy – Hurrikan
Motionless In White – Werewolf
Nova Twins – Choose Your Fighter
Parkway Drive – Glitch
Polyphia – Playing God
Best Album Artwork
Coheed And Cambria – Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind
Malevolence – Malicious Intent
Parkway Drive – Darker Still
Polyphia – Remember That You Will Die
Vukovi – NULA
Witch Fever – Congregation
Zeal & Ardor – Zeal & Ardor
The Awards process
Every year, hundreds of music industry professionals nominate their top choices from the prior year in various open categories. These nominations form shortlists for each category. The public then votes on these categories to determine the winners. The HMAs, as an organization, have no influence over nominations or winners.
Heavy Music Awards 2022
The UK-based awards highlight the rock and metal scene, with this year’s nominees announced in March by a panel of 700 industry insiders. Public voting determined the winners across 11 categories. Architects, Don Broco, Trivium, and Spiritbox led with four nominations each. Other prominent bands like Bring Me The Horizon, A Day to Remember, and Gojira were nominated alongside emerging acts such as Turnstile and Code Orange.
Amid numerous bands and categories, Architects triumphed by securing two awards: Best Album for “For Those Who Wish To Exist” and Best UK Artist, dethroning Bring Me The Horizon who held the title for three consecutive years. International artists also shined, as Electric Callboy became only the second German band to win a Heavy Music Award since Rammstein in 2020, earning Best Video for “Pump It.”
Summary
In conclusion, The Heavy Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates the best of heavy music. From the nominees to the winners, the event showcases the talent and diversity of the genre. With its growing popularity and increasing global reach, the Heavy Music Awards is definitely an event to watch out for in the coming years. Whether you’re a fan of heavy music or just curious about the genre, this is an event that you wouldn’t want to miss.
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