Awards

Winners announced for Heavy Music Awards 2023

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Tonight, the Heavy Music Awards 2023 has announced the winners of their 2023 event, at the world’s biggest celebration of rock and metal music at OVO Arena Wembley. 

In the seventh year of the awards, 17 artists, festivals, and icons collected their revered Heavy Music Award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the heavy music scene. Taking place at the historic and iconic OVO Arena Wembley– following a huge venue upgrade – a landmark year for rock and metal music to an audience of 5,000 fans and industry guests. With awards presented by Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker and the red carpet hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe and Nels Hylton, the event saw some of the biggest names in heavy music grace the legendary stage. 

Renowned for showcasing the diverse global icons of heavy music at the annual event, this year saw a huge range of artists pick up awards. The acclaimedBest Album award went to US breakthrough metal titans Bad Omens, for their album The Death Of Peace Of Mind. Meanwhile, Halestorm – who also performed an intimate unplugged set at the event with lauded guitarist Sophie Lloyd – accepted the award for Best International Artist, cementing their status as theband not to miss when they’re in the UK. Additional performances from Creeper, Loathe, Underoath and Boston Manor raised the roof, playing hit after hit for the packed arena. 

The seminal Pioneer Award has been awarded to Biffy Clyro in honour of their trailblazing innovation in heavy music and outstanding contribution in delivering rock into the mainstream. Another legend recognised at the awards was broadcaster and BBC Radio 1 Rock Show DJ Daniel P Carter, receiving the Icon Award for his steadfast dedication in championing the scene throughout his storied career. 

Gothic storytellers Motionless In White took home the award for Best Video for their visually striking Werewolf and its graphic depiction of a graveyard party. Yorkshire hardcore icons Malevolence were awarded Best Album Artwork for the artistically expansive sleeve of Malicious Intent, created by the iconic Eliran Kantor. Vukovi took the award for Best Production following the breakout success of 2022’s NULA and put on a fiery transatlantic performance with pink princess Scene Queen. 

UK artists were also recognised by two awards, with the incendiary Skindred winning Best UK Live Artist whilst fast-rising anonymous collective Sleep Token topped the tables and won Best UK Artist. 2022’s Best Live Artist winners Enter Shikari took the prize for Best Single with The Void Stares Back ft. Wargasm. More Heavy Music Awards alumni sought out wins also, with Germany’s Electric Callboy taking home the win for Best International Live Artist this year, after taking home the Best Video for Pump It last year. 

The breakthrough categories recognised the up-and-coming artists breathing fresh life into the scene. Winners of Best UK Breakthrough Artist were Nottingham pop-punkers As December Falls, whilst breakaway TikTok star Charlotte Sands won Best Breakthrough Album. Emo-crossover newcomers Static Dress took home the Best Breakthrough Live Artist whilst nu-metal provocateur Scene Queen took home Best International Breakthrough Artist. 

Recognising not only the artists, but also the scene that facilities them, the Heavy Music Awards shared two awards acknowledging festivals, with Teddy Rocks being announced earlier this week as winners of the H Award, whilst the annual metalhead pilgrimageof Download Festival took the award forBest Festival. 

The Heavy Music Awards was attended by celebrities includingsecret heavy music fans Ed Gamble, Joel Dommett, Dougie and Danny from McFly and guitarist Sophie Lloyd,  

Since its inception back in 2017, the Heavy Music Awards has certified itself as a staple of the heavy music calendar, supporting bands from their seminal gigs all the way up to sold out, globe-trotting stadium tours. This year was no different, marked by an incredible venue upgrade, a record number of performances and a truly unforgettable event, setting the tone for years to come.

HEAVY MUSIC AWARDS 2023

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FIRST WAVE OF PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED

Today, Heavy Music Awards announces its first wave performers and hosts for the historic 2023 event, set to take place at OVO Arena Wembley on 26 May 2023.Renowned for showcasing the diverse global icons of heavy music at the annual event, this year will welcome unique and special performances from some of the most exciting names in the scene. With a location upgrade to OVO Arena Wembley, the celebrated venue will recognise the growing impact of heavy music, highlighting both breakthrough artists and stalwarts of the scene. Pre-sale tickets are available to voters and general sale tickets available Wednesday 19th April at 10am, starting at just £25 (plus fees), which are on sale here.

With fournominationnods for the HMAs2023—including Best International Live Artist and Best Album – Lzzy and Joe of the ferocious Halestorm will be playing an intimate ‘unplugged’ show at the awards, joined by inimitable Machine Gun Kelly guitarist Sophie Lloyd. Further talent set to take the stage includes the hugely influential Florida metalcore outfit Underoath, dramatic gothic punks Creeper, Blackpool alt-rockers Boston Manor, and incendiary rock outfit Vukovi (HMAs record makers, boasting 5 nominations this year), joined by pink provocateur Scene Queen in an exclusive one-off collaboration.

Joining the performers on stage and off are an array of compelling hosts from the world of heavy music. Renowned broadcaster and breakthrough music mogul, Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker will once again proudly step up to the role of the evenings host, a Heavy Music Awards mainstay after presenting a number of previous unforgettable shows across the awards history. Joining the presenting team will be the alt music champions of national radio, BBC Radio 1 Introducing Rock presenter Alyx Holcombe and BBC Radio 1 Future Alternative presenter Nels Hylton, taking to the Red Carpet to capture the incredible spirit of the evenings celebrations.

This monumental year for the awards continues, with an incredible 1.3 million votes received from fans across 163 countries, giving their huge community of fans a direct hand in shaping the future of their own beloved scene. To thank the zealous and growing Heavy Music Awards fanbase, voters are being given the first opportunity to grab tickets to this landmark event in the UK heavy music calendar, with an exclusive voters only pre-sale now live. General sale will begin Wednesday 19th April at 10am, with tickets starting at £25 (plus fees) and can be found here.

Since its inception back in 2017, the Heavy Music Awards has certified itself as a staple of the heavy music awards calendar, supporting bands from their seminal gigs all the way up to sold out, globe-trotting stadium tours. The awards are known for championing the best in the genre and recognising the most exciting talent in the scene, alongside celebrating the successes of established industry icons. Previous years have supported the breakthrough careers of Nova Twins, Wargasm, Spiritbox, Cassyette and Hot Milk whilst simultaneously recognising the colossal success of Slipknot, Metallica and Bring Me The Horizon in the UK market and beyond.

HEAVY MUSIC AWARDS 2023
FINALISTS REVEALED

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Tuesday 14 March – The finalists have been revealed for the seventh annual Heavy Music Awards, with the event again recognising the most influential and ground-breaking artists and creatives in the heavy music world. Leading the way with an incredible five nominations are Vukovi, closely followed by Nova Twins, Halestorm and Ghost who receive four nods each. This year, the celebration will reach new heights with the ceremony taking place at the legendary OVO Arena Wembley on 26 May, this makes it the biggest rock music awards ceremony ever held in the UK. Tickets for the event will be available soon.
 
The prestigious shortlist has been crafted by a panel of almost 1,000 industry experts, ahead of heavy music fans themselves having the final say. The winners will be decided exclusively by public vote – now open until 14 April here vote.heavymusicawards.com.
 
Leading the nominations and simultaneously making HMA history with the most nominations received by one act ever – an incredible five nods – are scorching Scottish two-piece Vukovi. The band have been championed by the event from its inception having made their debut as performers at the inaugural Heavy Music Awards in 2017.
 
Vukovi lead vocalist Janine Shilstone said: “Being the first and only band to receive 5 nominations in one year in the history of the HMAs has given us such a sense of purpose and achievement. We feel seen, and we feel heard. My younger self would be so proud of me and everything I’ve overcome at this point. I’m so excited about the future of female and non-binary in this genre and industry  There is room for EVERYONE”.
 
Andy Pritchard of the HMAs says: “Once again the HMA finalists showcase the spectacular breadth of talent across the rock and metal scene. To see so many different styles and sub-genres represented – in addition to the diversity across all the artists – proves once again that the heavy music landscape is as vibrant and non-apologetic as ever.
 
Also receiving multiple nominations with four a piece are the stratospheric double BRIT Award nominated Nova Twins, ferociously charismatic Halestorm and world renowned metal giants Ghost closely follow. Also highly decorated receiving three accolades are HMA mainstays and newcomers alike Cassyette, Witch Fever, Architects, Parkway Drive, Creeper, Bad Omens, Polyphia, Static Dress and Electric Callboy
 
Previous dominators Architects will fight to make it a fourth win in the Best Album category after huge successes in 2022, 2019 and 2017. They are set to face tough competition from metal monarchs Slipknot, who are also in the running. Plus, 2023 marks Bad Omens’ HMAs debut, with a nomination for their innovative album The Death of Peace of Mind. Also up for Best Album are Ghost, Halestorm, Nova Twins and Vukovi.
 
The hotly anticipated, Best UK Artist category is a reflection of the monumental year the British heavy scene has had. The category boasts mainstream breakthroughs including MOBO winning Bob Vylan, Nova Twins and dizzyingly viral Sleep Token. Also on the shortlist are Creeper, Holding Absence, Malevolence and Vukovi.
 
Best Single sees huge anthems from Architects with ‘When We Were Young’ and Bring Me The Horizon’s ‘sTraNgeRs’, both bands are poised to add to their extensive HMAs trophy collection. Enter Shikari are also nominated with their Wargasm collaboration on ‘The Void Stares Back’ and Creeper with Ghost Brigade, teasing their upcoming album. Ghost’s ‘Call Me Little Sunshine’, Ithaca with ‘They Fear Us’ and Neck Deep’s ‘STFU’ are also strong contenders.
 
The four breakthrough categories once again showcases the fantastically diverse fresh face of heavy music today. Trailblazing New Dehli metallers Bloodywood, punk powerhouse Cassyette and vividly unique post-hardcore outfit Static Dress, are in the running for Best Breakthrough Album, alongside Charlotte Sands, Heriot, Wargasm and Witch Fever. The Best UK Breakthrough Artist category sees Cody Frost’s rave-punk, Lake Malice’s alt-metal and ground-breaking rock-rap representatives Delilah Bon and Kid Bookie all vying for the title with As December Falls, Blackgold and ZAND. Similarly, Best International Breakthrough Artist pits the electrifying new talents of Charlotte Sands, Scene Queen, ZULU, Scowl, Chat Pile, Soul Blind and LS Dunes against each other for the coveted award.
 
Brand new for this year, the Best Breakthrough Live Artist nominations are populated by acerbic doom-punk purveyors Witch Fever, As Everything Unfolds, Cassyette, Heriot, Joey Valence & Brae, Lake Malice and Static Dress.
 
Alongside the other Live Artist categories, celebrating the iconic performances from the last year. Nominations for UK contenders including Biffy Clyro’s explosive headline set at Download Festival, as well as Creeper, Enter Shikari, Neck Deep, Nova Twins, Skindred and Vukovi. Another category making its debut in 2023, Best International Live Artist finalists are represented by My Chemical Romance for their revered return to UK stages, unparalleled festival-set titans Turnstile, as well as Alexisonfire, Electric Callboy, Ghost, Halestorm and Parkway Drive.
 
The stars and stripes also fly proudly over half of the nominees in Best International Artist, with the likes of Polyphia and I Prevail, facing off against Canadian neighbours Spiritbox who have gone from strength to strength since their 2021 HMAs victory and German electronicore outfit Electric Callboy. Bad Omens and Ghost are also shortlisted.
 
Switching focus to behind the scenes, the Heavy Music Awards also champion the wider team, with Best Production, Best Video and Best Album Artwork categories, recognising the engineers, designers, directors and editors who all play a vital role in a project’s success.
 
The Best Festival category returns to the awards, as events did in full force last summer. Calendar staples Download, 2000trees, Slam Dunk and Hellfest make the final list, alongside Outbreak, Aftershock and Bring Me The Horizon & Friends Malta Weekender earning their first nominations.
 
Organiser Andy Pritchard continued to comment: “For us, it’s another chance to send the wider world a reminder that there is life-affirming, vital music being created every single day by people from all backgrounds. Since we started this journey in 2017, we’ve been committed to building the HMAs, and kicking down as many walls as we can to give these incredible artists a platform they can be proud of. Staging the biggest ever rock awards show is our most ambitious step yet, but we’ll keep pushing. We can’t wait to welcome everyone for what will be a crazy and memorable night in May!”
 
The Heavy Music Awards are also delighted to announce Youth Music as this year’s charity partner. The charity’s CEO, Matt Griffiths says:
 
“We’re honoured to be chosen as the Heavy Music Awards 2023 charity partner. At Youth Music, we believe that every young person should have access to make, learn and earn in music of every genre. That’s why we invest in the grassroots organisations and people making sure music isn’t just for the privileged. For almost 25 years, we’ve been building a more diverse pipeline of talent, which the music industries benefit from. And as we all know, greater diversity leads to even greater music.”
 
Additionally, the awards have unveiled the official radio partner for 2023 is ‘the nation’s favourite rock radio station’, Kerrang! Radio.
 
The public vote is now live at vote.heavymusicawards.com and closes on 14 April.
 
Please see below for the full list of categories and finalists. Tickets available soon at: https://www.heavymusicawards.com/