Relentless Kerrang Awards 2013

Rock legends and metal gods were out in force tonight as the Relentless Kerrang! Awards 2013 took London’s Troxy club by storm for its 20th year.

On the night, big Brit winners such as You Me At Six, Iron Maiden, Queen, Young Guns and Biffy Clyro went head-to-head with U.S. champions Fall Out Boy, Pantera, Slayer, All Time Low and Pierce The Veil.

Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro celebrated closer to home by picking up the prestigious Best Album award, for their sixth studio album, Opposites.

UK rock legends Iron Maiden were crowned with the Kerrang! Inspiration award, in honour of their role as pioneers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and their enormous impact on the genre all over the world. Continuing to fly the flag for British rock icons, Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen were presented with the Kerrang! Service To Rock by comedian Al Murray, in tribute to their incredible five-decade-spanning career.

Representing the new wave of Brit success stories, Surrey rockers You Me At Six walked away with Best Event, knocking out competition from their U.S. rivals Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Dave Grohl, for their monumental sold-out show at London’s Wembley Arena last year. Another south east of England band, Young Guns, were presented with The Relentless Award, an accolade that celebrates the rock band or icon who truly embodies the No Half Measures attitude within music.

Wrenching the title of Best British Band away from You Me At Six were Sheffield’s Bring Me The Horizon, who finally cracked the UK Top 5 album charts in April with the release of the critically acclaimed Sempiternal, Lower Than Atlantis collected the gong for Best British Newcomer (presented by Pistonhead).

Newcastle-born black metal leaders Venom picked up the award for Kerrang! Icon, in recognition of their huge influence on some of the world’s biggest metal bands, joining the likes of Dio, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson.

The awards ceremony aldo saw the first UK public appearance from Slayer since the tragic passing of guitarist and founding member Jeff Hanneman. Kerry King took to the stage to collect the Kerrang! Legend award on behalf of the band from fellow thrash icon Jason Newsted.

Texan metal legends Pantera were inducted into the Kerrang! Hall Of Fame, with previous inductees including Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, Slayer and Machine Head. Former frontman Philip Anselmo, now the leader of Southern rockers Down, was on hand to accept the award.

With two nominations in the category of Best Single (presented by Kerrang! Radio), the odds were in favour of Chicago’s Fall Out Boy, whose winning track ‘The Phoenix’ opens their latest album, Save Rock And Roll. This album marked the band’s first new release since going on hiatus in 2009. The band accepted via video message.

U.S. rockers Black Veil Brides cemented their position as one of the most exciting new live acts in the world by winning the Best Live Band award (presented by Relentless Energy Drink) – fans will have to wait until December to see them again on these shores.

Hot new buzz act Pierce The Veil picked up the award for Best Video (presented by Kerrang! TV) for their song ‘King For A Day’ featuring Kellin Quinn from Sleeping With Sirens, however both of these bands lost out to Of Mice & Men for the title of Best International Newcomer (presented by Troxy), with frontman Austin Carlile collecting the band’s award. Best International Band (presented by Impericon) went to Maryland’s pop-punkers All Time Low.

Presenters on the night included: Slipknot, Asking Alexandria, Jill Janus (Huntress), Benji Webbe (Skindred), Rolo Tomassi, Pure Love and comedians Diane Spencer and Bobby Mair, along with Planet Rock's own Al Murray.

A further eight awards were revealed on the night, although not presented in the room:

Best Festival – Download
Best Comedian – Louis CK
Best TV Show – Doctor Who
Best Video Game – BioShock Infinite
Best Film – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Tweeter of the Year – Gerard Way
Hottest Female – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
Hottest Male – Ben Bruce (Asking Alexandria).

"What a night. What a night. People lost shoes. People lost phones. More so, people lost dignity. I can't think of any better way the 20th Relentless Kerrang! Awards could have been celebrated. There's been so many reasons to be excited about being a rock fan already this year. I'm genuinely fearful what mayhem the 2014 Awards will bring..." said Kerrang Magazine Editor James McMahon.

‘The Kerrang! Awards 2013’ show will be broadcast on Kerrang! TV at 11pm on Friday 14 June, and then be repeated throughout the week.