Australian Metal Awards 2009

[Goreripper]

Some of you may have heard of this through emails, MySpace, Facebook, etc. Here's some info I've cobbled together from the stuff on their site. I'll be cross-posting this to every Aussie band forum on UM.

The Association for Australian Heavy Metal (AAHM) and the Australian Metal Awards (AMA) were formed to give Heavy Metal in Australia the support and backing it has lacked since it began to flourish during the 1980s.

AAHM and AMA is governed and operated by dedicated individuals who are passionate about this genre of music and have been heavily involved in the organising and running of events for both Australian and International Heavy Metal acts for a number of years.

AAHM and AMA’s objectives are to:
- provide support and backing to all Australian Heavy Metal bands / artists
- actively promote Australian Heavy Metal nationally
- reward and recognise the bands that have made a significant contribution to the Heavy Metal genre of Australian music.
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Submission forms are currently being finalised for bands and artists to nominate and be nominated for the Australian Metal Awards 2009. A basic press kit (bio) and cd (demo/EP or full length album) will be required for all band entries.
​

Bands must show they have been active* between the period of 1 March 08 and 1 March 09. (* playing gigs, releasing, recording or composing)

If you would like to nominate a band, forward us their details (myspace / email etc) and we will contact them on your behalf.

Overall best band 2009
Best album
Best live band
Song of the year
Best film clip
Best producer / recording engineer
Best unsigned demo / ep
Best guitarist
Best drummer
Best vocalist
Best bass player
Best keyboard player
Best album cover
Best new band
Best export
Most popular merch
Best regional band
Best youth band
Best metal magazine / press / fanzine
Best band name

These awards are designed specifically so that bands (signed and unsigned) can participate. These awards will be divided between popular vote and the judging panel.

Submissions are open from 1st of December 08 through to the 1st of March 09.


The judging panel is comprised of:


Glenn Dyson - Prime Cuts / Soundworks Touring
Rok - Sadistik Exekution
John Howarth - Riot! Entertainment
Jeanna Sims - Stomp
Amy Simmons - Blunt Magazine
Cameron Edney - Inside Out Webzine
Ben Steer - Ex Sony / EMI / Head of Music Business JMC Academy

Further information and contact details can be found at www.australianmetal.com.au



Submissions will be open 1 DECEMBER 2008!

 

[MotherEel]

How is best live band going to be decided? Have all these people been to all the shows of the bands that are applying to win an award? Seems rather silly. Kind of like any awards really. How do you compare a death vocalist to a power metal one? etc etc...

 

[metal evilution]

All due respects to Rok (SAD EX) as i know him and he's a good guy but a judge on the Australian Metal scene 2008/09 who hasn't been seen at a live Metal show except for JUDAS PRIEST in like 5 years seems a bit of an odd choice for this one?
I also see your point Nathan about comparing a power meta l vocalist to a death metal one but i guess if you fractioned out all the sub genres it would just get really messy and still not ever provide a clear solution.
Still should be interesting.

 

[Goreripper]

I'm not sure what role the judging panel will play because it seems more like a popular vote thing (so "best" translates to "most popular" and therefore doesn't mean the same thing), but it's good that they've invited these people to be part of it. I think Rok will be a good judge. He certainly knows his metal.

 

[metal evilution]

I'm not sure what role the judging panel will play because it seems more like a popular vote thing (so "best" translates to "most popular" and therefore doesn't mean the same thing), but it's good that they've invited these people to be part of it. I think Rok will be a good judge. He certainly knows his metal.

Of course it's good these people are part of it just curious how much their judging counts as like i said how can Rok choose best live band if he hasn't seen many of them play? Or what about people like Soundworks being biased towards Prime Cuts artists and likewise with Riot on theirs?Radio,mag and fan opinions/votes would seem more honest.
I'm not bagging it out (i think it's a great idea) just like to see how fair and accurate it all comes out in the end.
Oh and did i mention to please vote for DARKER HALF, LYCANTHIA or ANNO DOMINI?haha

 

[The AAHM Team]

How is best live band going to be decided? Have all these people been to all the shows of the bands that are applying to win an award? Seems rather silly. Kind of like any awards really. How do you compare a death vocalist to a power metal one? etc etc...

Thanks for all who are supporting this and we are happy that you guys are taking such an interest in what we hope will be the biggest event in Australian Metal every year.

We would like to take this opportunity to set straight a few things that have been raised.

As per our website "Judges will not be receiving any submissions relating to their own label"

A stated in numerous interviews on radio and on web sites around the world the awards will be a mix between popular vote and judging panel. The award for best live band will be judged solely by the punters. This is one of our popular votes and will be up to you to decide.

As far as comparing the different vocal styles, we can not have an award for everyone and attempting to do so by genre would be far too complex as their are way to many cross over bands. When you are auditioning a new vocalist for a band there are a number of different aspects as to what will make him or her the right one. This will come down to appearance (fit with the band and scene), stage presence and of course vocal ability so judging will be based on all of these points.

Lastly, Rok is one of Australia's most extreme vocalists and has done a lot to promote Australian metal through his band Sadistik Exekution. For all of you who have been over to Europe the first question you get asked is "Have you ever seen Sadistik Exekution?"

We are proud to have Rok on board and we value his input and opinion.

We are doing this for all Australian metal bands and fans and would appreciate everyone getting behind this to make sure its a success and an anual event.

Cheers,
The AAHM Team

 

[MotherEel]

I'm just a bastard. My questions were rhetorical.

 

[FerretallicA]

(so "best" translates to "most popular" and therefore doesn't mean the same thing)

Worse still, I think it will end up being "best" translating into "least shameless and most aggressive in spamming MySpace/Facebook/forums/mailing lists/etc by the sound of things. Hopefully not, but I won't hold my breath.

 

[metal evilution]

I guess no awards system is perfect but we should just be happy that Metal gets more recognition with this.
Still if DARK ORDER win anything i'm outta here!

 

[MotherEel]

Where will you go?

 

[metal evilution]

Bump as the awards are only just over a month away.

 

[MotherEel]

Still not much news on who's playing for how long...

 

[ByronJC]

It's on the flyer..

 

[FerretallicA]

It's hard to take this thing seriously when Transcending Mortality and The Mirrors Eye aren't even nominated for a single category let alone making a clean sweep

 

[The Apparition]

It's hard to take this thing seriously when Transcending Mortality and The Mirrors Eye aren't even nominated for a single category let alone making a clean sweep

Haha! Cheers mate! Yeah i could never get those sweeps very clean.

Can't say i like any of these bands but each to their own hey?

 

[Bucko]

who going to this .... Its a special day for me and Sanj the 7th of November

 

[Stormster]

I wanted to go but my mate graduates from basic training in Wagga the day before, so i may be down there. Besides that, Bane and Eyefear are the only bands i know I'd like. Don't think ill be going. Friar Rush have a gig around this time anyway, that will be better.

 

[MotherEel]

It's on the flyer..

I think you misread what I was asking (my fault). I want to know set times.

 

[ByronJC]

Ahhhh ok don't think they've released those details yet I'm pretty sure last time I had a discussion with them It's going to be a MTV awards style, speech, present some stuff, have a few bands play etc etc etc.

Not exactly sure but if they want the awards to be successful I'm sure they'll have something like this like the other big award shows. As they've said It's not going to be some standard gig with 5 or 6 bands just playing one after another.

 

[MotherEel]

What would be way better would be if they had the bands announcing the awards and the winners through their songs - so they'd have to rework their lyrics to contain the winners, the nominations and some amusing banter all into their old song.
Eg 'Arkon The Grave Robber' by Sadistik Exekution:
"He's Arkon the grave robber
Fukken Arkon the grave robber
And you know there's a fukken winner
Best guitarist goes to that fukken guy!"