The finalists for the seventh annual Heavy Music Awards have been announced, ahead of the full ceremony at OVO Arena Wembley on 26 May.

VUKOVI lead the way at this year’s awards with five nominations, including Best UK Artist and Best Album, following the release of last year’s NULA.

In doing so, the Scottish two-piece act have made HMA history with the most nominations ever received by one act at the awards.

They’re closely followed by Nova Twins, Halestorm and Ghost, who are each up for four awards.

The final shortlist for the Heavy Music Awards has been whittled down by a panel of over 1,000 industry experts.

The winners for each award will now be decided exclusively by public vote, taking place between now and 14 April – and you can cast your votes here.

Andy Pritchard of the HMAs has said of the shortlist announcement:

“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.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Janine Shilstone, lead vocalist for VUKOVI, who has also acknowledgment the band’s historic feat, saying:

“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”.

You can read our full chat with Shilstone about all the sentiments and themes that make up NULA here.

Another superb duo up for numerous awards are BRIT Award-nominated Nova Twins.

The London pair of Amy Love and Georgia South have been making significant strides since the release of their second full-length album Supernova last year, and are also up for Best UK Artist, Best Album and Best UK Live Artist, as well as Best Video for their track ‘Choose Your Fighter’.

Following the release of their fifth studio album Back From the Dead, Halestorm are also up for four awards; as are GRAMMY-winning Swedish metal giants Ghost.

Brand new for this year, the Best Breakthrough Live Artist nominations includes doom-punk act Witch Fever, As Everything Unfolds, Cassyette, Heriot, Joey Valence & Brae, Lake Malice and Static Dress.

Read the full list of acts nominated for the Heavy Music Awards 2023 below – and a reminder again to cast your vote here if you so wish.

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

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