Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
The following is a list of the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards winners.
History
The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards were conceived by Metal Hammer magazine editor Chris Ingham, along with John O'Sullivan and Dave Bianchi, and were first held at the Kentish Town Forum in London in 2003.[1] From its inception, the event was produced by John O'Sullivan and organized by the magazine’s events team.[2]
The show was owned by Future Publishing until 2013, then operated by TeamRock from 2014 to 2016, and was repurchased by Future in 2017 following TeamRock’s collapse.[3]
Award ceremonies
2003
Held at the Forum, London
Hosted by Ian Camfield
Live main stage performance by Murderdolls, Shadows Fall, Soil and Raging Speedhorn.
Winners
- Best Album: AFI – Sing the Sorrow
- Best Underground act: Shadows Fall[4]
2004
Held at Ocean, London
Hosted by Ian Camfield
Live main stage performance by HIM, Akercocke and Young Heart Attack.
Winners
- Best Album: Killswitch Engage – The End of Heartache
2005
Held at the Astoria, London
Hosted by Ian Camfield
Live main stage performance by Anthrax, Nightwish, Shadows Fall, Bullet for My Valentine and Trivium.
Winners
- Best UK Band: Lost Prophets
- Best Live: Slipknot
- Best Label: Roadrunner Records
- Best Newcomer: Nightwish
- Best Video: My Chemical Romance – "Helena"
- Spirit of Hammer: Black Sabbath
- Icon: Ville Valo
- Riff Lord: Zakk Wylde
- Young Guitar – Dimebag Tribute: Herman Li
- Best International: The Used
- Best Album: Judas Priest – Angel of Retribution
- Best Metal Band: Anthrax
- Golden God: Lemmy
2006
Held at Koko, London
Hosted By Ian Camfield
Live main stage performance by Bullet for My Valentine, DragonForce, Lacuna Coil and Viking Skull.
Winners
- Best Album: Coheed and Cambria – Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
- Riff Lord: Jerry Cantrell
- Best Album of the Past 20 Years: Slayer - Reign in Blood
- Best UK Band: Bullet for My Valentine
- Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold
- Best Live Band: Trivium
2007
Held at Koko, London
Hosted by Jamey Jasta
Live main stage performance by Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir, Lamb of God, Turisas and Priestess.
Winners
Source:[5]
- Best UK Band: Bullet for My Valentine
- Best Live Band: Lamb of God
- Best International Band: Killswitch Engage
- Best Underground Band: Job for a Cowboy
- Best Newcomer: Deathstars
- Best Video: Seize the Day - Avenged Sevenfold
- Riff Lord: Slash (Velvet Revolver, Guns N’ Roses)
- Shredder: Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds (Mastodon)
- Best Metal Label: Roadrunner Records
- Album of the Year: The Blackening - Machine Head
- Spirit of Hammer: Napalm Death
- Golden God: Robb Flynn (Machine Head)
- Icon Award: Slayer
- Best Viral Campaign: Buckcherry
- Best Comeback: Heaven & Hell
2008
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Oderus Urungus
Live main stage performance by Disturbed, Children of Bodom, In Flames, Apocalyptica and Testament.
Winners
Source:[6]
- Best Album: Testament – The Formation of Damnation
- Best UK Band: Iron Maiden
- Best Live Band: Machine Head
- Best Breakthrough: Apocalyptica
- Metal For The Masses: William Gledhil
- Best Video: "The Serpentine Offering"
- Best Metal Label: RoadRunner Records
- Spirit Of Hammer: Max and Igor Cavalera
- Best Debut: Airbourne "Runnin' Wild"
- Icon Award: Eddie
- Dimebag Darrell Shredder Award: Alexi Laiho
- Riff Lord: Dave Mustaine
- International Band of the Year: In Flames
- Golden God: Kerry King
2009
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Jason Rouse
Live main stage performance by Trivium, Anvil, Amon Amarth, DevilDriver, Suicide Silence and Saxon.
Winners
Source:[7]
- Best Album: Lamb of God – Wrath
- Best New Band: Five Finger Death Punch
- Best Underground Band — Behmoth
- Best Metal Label: RoadRunner Records
- Spirt of Metal: Saxon
- Dimebag Darrel Sherdder Award: HermanLi/ Sam Toteman
- Ledgends Award: Def Leppard
- Best Breakthrough act: Amon Amarth
- Metal as Fuck: Anvil
- Inspiration: Emperor
- Riff Lord: Steve Vai
- Best Live Band: Slipknot
- Best International Band: Slipknot
- Best UK Group: Iron Maiden
- Golden God: Iron Maiden
2010
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Steel Panther
Live main stage performance by Steel Panther, Airbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Skindred and Evile.
HMS Hammer performances by Nonpoint, Sonic Syndicate, Rise to Remain and Hellyeah.
Winners
- Best New Band: Rise to Remain
- Best Underground: Immortal
- Best Drummer: Mike Portnoy
- Global Metal: Demonic Resurrection
- Best Live: Machine Head
- Best Event: Download Festival
- Riff Lord: Joe Perry
- Spirit of Hammer: Sir Christopher Lee
- Best UK: Bullet for My Valentine
- Metal As ####: Evile
- Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Zoltan Bathory
- Breakthrough Artist: Five Finger Death Punch
- Inspiration: Tom G Warrior
- Best Album: Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know
- Best International Band: Lamb of God
- Defenders of the Faith: Tracy and Jon Morter
- Golden God: Zakk Wylde
2011
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Alice Cooper
Live main stage performance by Twisted Sister, Skindred, Devin Townsend, Sylosis and Buckcherry.
HMS Hammer performances by The Dead Lay Waiting, Tesseract, Black Spiders and Biohazard.
Winners
- Best New Band: The Damned Things
- Metal as ####: Nergal
- Best Underground: Primordial
- Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Gus G
- Breakthrough Artist: Sabaton
- Best UK: Iron Maiden
- Best Live: Skindred
- Inspiration: Twisted Sister
- Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold
- Best Album: Killing Joke – Absolute Dissent
- Best Event: The Big 4 Coming Together
- Riff Lord: Pepper Keenan / Kirk Windstein
- Spirit of Hammer: Diamond Head
- Icons: Judas Priest
- Golden God: Rob Zombie
2012
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Chris Jericho
Live main stage performance by Anthrax, Sabaton, Ghost, Biohazard and Watain.
HMS Hammer performances by Shadows Fall, Fozzy, While She Sleeps, Attica Rage and Evil Scarecrow.
Winners
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012[8] | |||
| The Defiled | Best New Band | Won | |
| Watain | Best Underground Band | Won | |
| Devin Townsend | 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award | Won | |
| Ghost | Breakthrough Band Award | Won | |
| Rammstein | Best Live Band Award | Won | |
| Iron Maiden's U.K. Tour | Best Event Award | Won | |
| X-Japan | Best International Band Award | Won | |
| Saxon | Best UK Band Award | Won | |
| Mastodon – The Hunter | Best Album Award | Won | |
| Anthrax | Metal as #### Award | Won | |
| Vinnie Paul | Best Drummer | Won | |
| Roadrunner Records | Inspiration Award | Won | |
| Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel | Riff Lord Award | Won | |
| Bill Bailey | Spirit of Hammer Award | Won | |
| Fear Factory | Icon Award | Won | |
| Joey DeMaio | The Golden God Award | Won |
2013
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Devin Townsend
Live main stage performance by Motörhead, Airbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Coal Chamber and Paradise Lost.
HMS Hammer performances by Kvelertak, Visions Of Disorder, The Defiled and Heavens Basement.
Winners
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013[9] | |||
| Bleed from Within | Best New Band | Won | |
| The Algorithm | Best Underground Band | Won | |
| Eric Calderone | 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award | Won | |
| Asking Alexandria | Breakthrough Band Award | Won | |
| Gojira | Best Live Band Award | Won | |
| The Heavy Metal Census Campaign | Best Event Award | Won | |
| Stone Sour | Best International Band Award | Won | |
| Black Sabbath | Best UK Band Award | Won | |
| Black Sabbath – 13 | Best Album Award | Won | |
| Burgerkill | Metal as #### Award | Won | |
| Paradise Lost | Inspiration Award | Won | |
| Scott Gorham | Riff Lord Award | Won | |
| Brian Blessed | Spirit of Hammer Award | Won | |
| Alice in Chains | Icon Award | Won | |
| Motörhead | The Golden God Award | Won | |
| Doro | Legend Award | Won |
2014
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Steel Panther
Live main stage performance by Steel Panther, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Black Stone Cherry, While She Sleeps and Behemoth.
HMS Hammer performances by Orange Goblin, Kill Devil Hill, Upon a Burning Body, Hounds and Dying Fetus.
Winners
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[10] | |||
| Devil You Know | Best New Band | Won | |
| Wardruna | Best Underground Band | Won | |
| Misha Mansoor | 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award | Won | |
| Of Mice & Men | Breakthrough Artist Award | Won | |
| Killswitch Engage | Best Live Band Award | Won | |
| Avenged Sevenfold | Best International Band Award | Won | |
| Iron Maiden | Best UK Band Award | Won | |
| Behemoth – The Satanist | Best Album Award | Won | |
| Hanoi Rocks | Inspiration Award | Won | |
| Mark Tremonti | Riff Lord Award | Won | |
| David Prowse | Spirit of Hammer Award | Won | |
| Michael Schenker | Icon Award | Won | |
| Mikael Åkerfeldt | The Golden God Award | Won | |
| Orphaned Land and Khalas | Global Metal Award | Won | |
| Devin Townsend | King of the Internet | Won | |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Game of the Year | Won | |
| Steel Panther – "Party Like It's the End of the World" | Video of the Year | Won |
2015
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Scott Ian
Live main stage performance by Suicidal Tendencies, We Are Harlot, Babymetal featuring DragonForce, At the Gates and Killing Joke.
HMS Hammer performances by Code Orange, Butcher Babies, Upon a Burning Body and Napalm Death.
Winners
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015[11] | |||
| We Are Harlot | Best New Band | Won | |
| Winterfylleth | Best Underground Band | Won | |
| Richie Faulkner | 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award | Won | |
| Babymetal | Breakthrough Band Award | Won | |
| Of Mice & Men | Best Live Band Award | Won | |
| Slipknot | Best International Band Award | Won | |
| Bring Me the Horizon | Best UK Band Award | Won | |
| Faith No More – Sol Invictus | Best Album Award | Won | |
| At the Gates | Inspiration Award | Won | |
| Matt Taylor | Spirit of Hammer Award | Won | |
| Mike Muir | Icon Award | Won | |
| Dave Mustaine | The Golden God Award | Won | |
| District Unknown/Martyrs of Metal | Global Metal Award | Won | |
| Anthony Vincent | King of the internet | Won | |
| Epitaph Records | Best Independent Label | Won | |
| Tommy Thayer | Defender of the Faith | Won |
2016
Held at the Hammersmith Apollo, London
Hosted by Jamey Jasta
Live main stage performance by Amon Amarth, Halestorm, Gojira and 'A Salute to Lemmy' with Saxon featuring Phil & Mikkey.
Winners
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[12] | |||
| Creeper | Best New Band | Won | |
| Enslaved | Best Underground band | Won | |
| Lzzy Hale | 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award | Won | |
| Beartooth | Breakthrough Band Award | Won | |
| Lamb of God | Best Live Band Award | Won | |
| Ghost | Best International Band Award | Won | |
| Asking Alexandria | Best UK Band Award | Won | |
| Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls | Best Album Award | Won | |
| Anthrax | Inspiration Award | Won | |
| Phil Campbell | Riff Lord Award | Won | |
| Nikki Sixx | Icon Award | Won | |
| Joey Jordison | The Golden God Award | Won | |
| Chthonic | Global Metal Band | Won | |
| Parkway Drive - "Vice Grip" | Video of the Year | Won | |
| Prosthetic Records | Best Independent Label | Won |
2017
Held at Indigo, O2, London
Hosted by Chris Jericho
Live main stage performance by Orange Goblin, Avatar, Clutch and Mastodon.
Winners
- Best New Band: Venom Prison
- Best Underground Band: Pallbearer
- Best UK Band: Architects
- Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold
- Best Live Band: Mastodon
- Best Independent Label: Nuclear Blast
- Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Joel O'Keeffe (Airbourne)
- Game of the Year: Iron Maiden: The Legacy of the Beast
- Breakthrough: Avatar
Non fan-voted categories
- Riff Lord: Devin Townsend
- Defender of the Faith: Ben Ward (Orange Goblin) & his partner Sandie Soriano
- Inspiration: Exodus
- Best Album: Gojira – Magma
- Spirit of Hammer: Prophets of Rage
- Icon: The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Golden God: Black Sabbath[13]
2018
Held at Indigo at the O2, London
Hosted by Jamey Jasta
Live main stage performance by Carpenter Brut, Baroness, Myrkur, Meshuggah and Parkway Drive.
Winners
- Best New Band: Lovebites
- Best Underground Band: Wolves in the Throne Room
- Best UK Band: Judas Priest
- Best International Band: Arch Enemy
- Best Event: Download Festival
- Best Live Band: Lacuna Coil
- Best Independent Label: Sumerian Records
- Breakthrough Artist: Code Orange
Non fan-voted categories
- Riff Lord: Wes Borland
- Defender Of The Faith: Parkway Drive
- Inspiration: Meshuggah
- Best Album: Myrkur – Mareridt
- Global Metal Award: Kaoteon
- Spirit Of Hammer: Jessica Pimentel
- Icon: James Keenan
- Golden God: Ozzy Osbourne
References
- ^ "Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards: A brief history". Louder Sound. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards celebrate heavy metal". BBC News. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Mayhew, Freddy (9 January 2017). "Future buys back Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog magazines for £800k after collapse of Team Rock". Press Gazette. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ "Shadows Fall Win Metal Hammer UK Award". MetalUnderground.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ "Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards". Tangra Mega Rock. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ Blabbermouth (17 June 2008). "METAL HAMMER GOLDEN GODS AWARDS: Complete List Of Winners". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ Blabbermouth (16 June 2009). "IRON MAIDEN, SLIPKNOT, SAXON, DEF LEPPARD Honored At 'Metal Hammer Golden Gods'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "2012 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards Winners Announced". Loudwire. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Winners Announced For Metal Hammer's 2013 'Golden Gods Awards'". Theprp.com. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2014 Review and Winners". planetmosh.com. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ Crookes, Del (16 June 2015). "Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon & Babymetal win Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards". BBC News. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "The Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2016: The Winners".
- ^ "Winners of Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2017 Revealed". 12 June 2017.