Swedish occult rockers GHOST were honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 58th annual Grammy Awards, which is being held tonight (Monday, February 15) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. GHOST was nominated for the song "Cirice", from its 2015 album "Meliora". In his brief acceptance speech, GHOST frontman Papa Emeritus III said: "Hello. We are GHOST. Thank you so much for this. This is a big, big thing for us, obviously. And, you know, a nightmare has just turned into a dream. So… Thank you all for that. Thank you, everybody involved, and thank you for voting. Now go party." The nominees in the "Best Metal Performance" category were as follows: Band: AUGUST BURNS RED Song: "Identity" Track from: "Found In Far Away Places" Label: Fearless Records Band: GHOST Song: "Cirice" Track from: "Meliora" Label: Loma Vista Recordings Band: LAMB OF GOD Song: "512" Track from: "VII: Sturm Und Drang" Label: Epic Records Band: SEVENDUST Song: "Thank You" Track from: "Kill The Flaw" Label: 7Bros Records Band: SLIPKNOT Song: "Custer" Track from: ".5: The Gray Chapter" Label: Roadrunner Records Speaking about the nomination, one of GHOST's nameless ghouls told Grammy.com: "Being nominated for a Grammy is obviously a big honor for any band or artist — obviously, ourselves included. Especially for us, as a Swedish band, it feels extra honoring, I guess. Especially us maneuvering in the rock genre, where traditionally it's usually British or American bands." He added: "To my knowledge, we are the first Swedish rock band to ever be nominated for a Grammy, which is also the reason why when we got the news that we were nominated, I just got a text saying, 'You're nominated for a Grammy.' In Sweden, we have another prize called Grammis, which, internationally, is referred to as the Swedish Grammy. So when I got the text, I told my friend next to me that we were nominated for a Grammis. So it took like an hour later until I actually got it confirmed that they were actually talking about a Grammy, not a Grammis, which was a very mind-boggling experience. So winning or not winning, just being nominated is a big honor, and for us it's definitely a sign of recognition that we can suck on for the rest of our lives." This year's Grammy Awards process registered more than 21,000 submissions over a twelve-month eligibility period (October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015). As the only peer-based music award, the Grammy Awards are voted on by The Academy's membership body of creators across all disciplines of music, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers. Final-round Grammy ballots were mailed December 16. Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the Grammy Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. Last year's Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category went to TENACIOUS D, who were nominated for their cover version of the DIO classic "The Last In Line", from the "Ronnie James Dio - This Is Your Life" tribute album. TENACIOUS D beat out several notable metal acts, including ANTHRAX, which was nominated for its own contribution to "Ronnie James Dio - This Is Your Life", a cover of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights".
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