Halestorm and Ghost among nominees for The Heavy Music Awards 2023
The event takes place at London's OVO Arena Wembley this May
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.
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.
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.
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.