Halestorm and Ghost among nominees for The Heavy Music Awards 2023

The event takes place at London's OVO Arena Wembley this May

Halestorm's Lzzy Hale and Ghost's Papa Emeritus IV
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 14th Mar 2023
Last updated 14th Mar 2023

Ghost and Halestorm are among the finalists for the seventh annual Heavy Music Awards.

Our sister station Kerrang! Radio is the official radio partner for the event, which takes place on Friday 26th May 2023 at London’s OVO Arena Wembley making it the biggest rock music awards ceremony ever held in the UK.

Once again celebrating the most influential and ground-breaking artists and creatives in the heavy music world, Scottish two-piece Vukovi lead the charge with five nominations.

Heavy Music Awards with Kerrang! Radio

Vukovi lead vocalist Janine Shilstone says: “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”.

Not too close behind Vukovi are Nova Twins, Halestorm and Ghost with four nods apiece, while Witch Fever, Architects, Static Dress and Cassyette are all up for three gongs.

Slipknot's Corey Taylor

Other artists who have picked up nominations across the various categories include Slipknot, Creeper, Skindred, Enter Shikari, Biffy Clyro, Sleep Token, My Chemical Romance, Parkway Drive, Wargasm, Neck Deep and many more.

Brand new for this year, the Best Breakthrough Live Artist nominations feature Witch Fever, As Everything Unfolds, Cassyette, Heriot, Joey Valence & Brae, Lake Malice and Static Dress.

The Best Festival category will see Download Festival, Slam Dunk, Hellfest, Outbreak, BMTH Malta Weekender, Aftershock and 2000Trees all fight it out for the honour.

Download Festival 2022 crowd

Vote for the Heavy Music Awards nominees:

The shortlist for the Heavy Music Awards has been crafted by a panel of almost 1,000 industry experts, and now YOU get the chance to vote for the winners.

Voting is open RIGHT HERE for exactly one month until Friday 14th April.

Vote for the Heavy Music Awards nominees

Kerrang! Radio’s Alex Baker and Alyx Holcombe will host the ceremony alongside Nels Hylton. Alex Baker says: "I am absolutely stoked to be back for another year, hosting an event that I so passionately believe in.

"It's been a genuine pleasure to be a part of The HMAs as it’s grown and grown each year... and walking out on stage at Wembley this year is going to be something else.

"The nominees are utter FIRE and I can't wait to share such a special evening with the best music fans on earth.”

Alyx Holcombe adds: “The HMAs have finally got the huge arena they deserve for the best night celebrating alternative music.”

Andy Pritchard of the HMAs enthuses: “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.”

He continues: “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 2023 nominatons:

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:

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 Presented by Arising Empire:

Bad Omens

Electric Callboy

Ghost

Halestorm

I Prevail

Polyphia

Spiritbox

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:

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:

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

Vote for the Heavy Music Awards nominees

Rock stars unmasked, including Ghost:

Ghost’s Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus) unmasked

Flanked by his band of Nameless Ghouls, Tobias Forge has adopted a number of papal guises over the years; from the various incarnations of Papa Emeritus through to Cardinal Copia and Papa Emeritus IV. On the right is Tobias Forge without his mask at the Grammy Awards in 2019.

Nameless Ghoul Aether unmasked

In May 2022, Yorkshire musician Chris Catalyst revealed he had been masquerading as the Nameless Ghoul Aetha on Ghost's tours. Following the final arena date of Ghost's European Imperatour at László Papp Budapest Sports Arena in Hungary, Catalyst shared a group photo backstage and wrote: "Amaaaazing tour with our wonderful Ghost family. I suppose that's that particular cat out of the bag. So great to be doing this again. Playing this fantastic music with these brilliant people makes me run out of superlatives." In June 2023, Catalyst confirmed he's no longer a touring member of Ghost.

Nameless Ghoul Fire unmasked

Chris Catalyst's end of tour photo also confirmed that Ghost's Nameless Ghoul lead guitarist, Fire (formerly Alpha), is former Bloodbath guitarist Per Eriksson. Fans have also given the Swedish musician's character the nickname Sodo.

John 5 unmasked

When he's performing live with Rob Zombie, guitarist John 5 wears makeup and masks onstage, including this Aliens-esque guise at Download Festival in 2014. The 52-year-old musician has recently been recruited as a touring member of Mötley Crüe and he's performing sans makeup on stage.

Richie Sambora unmasked

In February 2023, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was unveiled as Jacket Potato on ITV show The Masked Singer. Speaking about his involvement in the show, Richie Sambora said: "It took a little getting used to (singing in a potato), but once I put it on, that was it! It's a wild reality when you do this show, it's a gas. Everyone has treated me so good here. I've had a ball! It's been a lot of fun."

Slipknot’s Shawn ‘Clown’ Crahan unmasked

Slipknot percussionist #6 Shawn Crahan unveiled his new silver clown mask to the world when the Iowan masked metallers premiered fearsome single 'Unsainted' in May 2019. Outside of the day job banging things with Slipknot, the unmasked Shawn Crahan is an acclaimed film director and photographer.

Slipknot’s Mick Thomson unmasked

Slipknot guitarist #7 Mick Thomson's metallic hockey mask is so perfectly formidable it has remained relatively unchanged for years. On the right is an Mick Thomson without his mask traversing the streets of New York in 2019 ahead of Slipknot's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Buckethead unmasked

The highly enigmatic guitarist, who wears a KFC bucket on his head, revealed his real identity on self-released 2013 album 'Pike 13'. It poignantly depicts a younger Buckethead – real name Brian Carroll – without his mask on and hugging his late dad.

Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg unmasked

Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg and his proper horrorshow burlap mask. On the right is the devilishly handsome Jay Weinberg without his mask. Weinberg joined Slipknot in 2014 replacing the departing Joey Jordison, who sadly passed away in 2021.

Slipknot’s Sid Wilson unmasked

Slipknot turntablist #0 Sid Wilson's mask dramatically changed in 2019 from his more traditional skull and gas masks to an almost Palpatine -esque deformed human mask with black robes. On the right is Sid Wilson without his mask at the premiere of Slipknot: Day Of The Gusano in Beverly Hills.

Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland unmasked and without makeup

Chameleon-like Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland is constantly coming up with brilliant new looks for the band's live shows. Fusing a mask with crudely painted make-up, this brilliantly disturbing guise is like a cross between Salvador Dali, The Joker and a demented aristocrat. Here is Wes Borland without his mask and makeup at a photoshoot in 2017.

Slipknot’s Corey Taylor unmasked

Slipknot singer #8 Corey Taylor's guise evolved into a sinister translucent mask in 2019. As the frontman of Stone Sour - and arguably the most famous member of Slipknot to boot - unless you've been living under a rock for the past two decades, you'll be well aware of what Corey Taylor looks like without his mask.

GWAR’s Blothar unmasked

Following the untimely death of singer Oderus Urungus (aka Dave Brockie) in 2014, GWAR recruited Blothar - aka Michael Bishop – as their new frontman who comes complete with a pigface goblin guise. On the right is Blothar without his mask and outlandish costume speaking at a TED Talk in 2015.

Slipknot’s Alessandro Venturella unmasked

Slipknot bassist Alessandro "Alex" Venturella's mask changed from a hessian fabric mask into patterned copper mask in 2019. The genial-looking chap on the right is Alessandro Venturella without his mask.

KISS’s Paul Stanley unmasked and without makeup

Alongside Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley has been a member of KISS since their inception in 1973 and his alter ego The Starchild has remained a constant all this time.

Slipknot’s Jim Root unmasked

Slipknot guitarist #4 Jim Root has worn a Jester mask for the entirety of his career with only minor changes in its design. Why change perfection?! Jim Root is immediately identifiable even without his mask thanks to his luscious, voluminous beard.

Behemoth’s Nergal unmasked and without makeup

One of the standout Main Stage acts at Download Festival 2019, Polish blackened death metallers Behemoth – led by the fearsome lead vocalist Nergal – have always adorned striking make-up on stage creating an enigmatic aura. On the right is Adam Nergal Darski without makeup at an album signing session.

Ex-Slipknot percussionist Chris Fehn unmasked

Before he exited Slipknot in somewhat acrimonious circumstances in April 2019, #3 Chris Fehn wore a distinctive Liar Mask – aka the Pinocchio Mask. On the right is the Chris Fehn without his mask at the premiere of Shawn Clown Crahan's movie 'Officer Downe' in 2016.

KISS’s Gene Simmons unmasked and without makeup

On stage and wearing his trademark makeup, Gene Simmons adopts The Demon persona.

KISS’s Eric Singer unmasked and without makeup

Following the death of the late-great Eric Carr in 1991, new drummer Eric Singer didn't adopt his The Fox persona; instead he resurrected original drummer Peter Criss' The Catman guise.

KISS’s Tommy Thayer unmasked and without makeup

Joining KISS permanently in 2002, Tommy Thayer jumped straight into Ace Frehley's platform heels and took on his The Spaceman makeup design.

Ghost Nameless Ghoul unmasked

In March 2017, a Swedish musician called Martin Persner shared a video claiming he was formerly a Nameless Ghoul in Ghost called Omega. He left the band in July 2016 after a seven-year stint.

Slipknot’s Tortilla Man unmasked

When Tortilla Man replaced percussionist Chris Fehn in 2019, Slipknot kept his identity shrouded in mystery. It didn't take fans long, however, to suss out that Tortilla Man was Michael Pfaff, the keyboardist for M. Shawn 'Clown' Crahan's side project Dirty Little Rabbits.

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