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Heavy Music Awards: Everything You Need To Know

Photograph of the blog post author, Music Gateway Support

Music Gateway Support

15.5.2023

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heavy music awards

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

band

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

alex baker

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).

heavy music awards 2022

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

YouTube player

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

YouTube player

Presented by Allianz Musical Insurance

Biffy Clyro

Creeper

Enter Shikari

Neck Deep

Nova Twins

Skindred

Vukovi  

Best International Live Artist

YouTube player

Alexisonfire

Electric Callboy

Ghost

Halestorm

My Chemical Romance

Parkway Drive

Turnstile

Best Breakthrough Live Artist

YouTube player

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

YouTube player

Presented by Ticketmaster

2000Trees

Aftershock

BMTH Malta Weekender

Download

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

YouTube player

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

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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

YouTube player

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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