Our First Post! - Kerrang Awards 2007

I think it is only right to kickstart our awesome new page with the results from one of my personal favourite magazines - Kerrang!
Not readily available in South Africa (sorry guys!) this little weekly keeps its finger not only on, but sets the pulse of the alternative rock scene in the UK and the US, with a smattering of Oz.

Every year the readers are asked to vote for whomever they think should be the winners out of the list of nominees given.
This method is always going to spark indignation amongst the tribes of fans. Whether its a fangirl deciding if she prefers the hardcore newbies Madina Lake to her favourite hearthrob (yes, I did use that word) Pete Wentz.

The results are in and the winners announced and it seems as though this year, taste and quality outranked publicity and overexposure.

Hall of Fame Award: Judas Priest

Kerrang Icon: Nine Inch Nails

Best International Band: My Chemical Romance (personal yippeeee!!)
Who lost out?
Fall Out Boy
Machine Head
Panic! At The Disco
The Used

Best British Band: Lostprophets (Can't say I agree with this one - Muse is by far the clear winner to me with Biffy Clyro snapping right at thier heels.)
Who needs more teenybopper fans?
Biffy Clyro
Enter Shikari
Funeral For A Friend
Muse

Hard Rock Hero: Machine Head - of course

Spirit of Independence: Enter Shikari
I'm not too sure what this award entails, but apparently The Prodigy won it last year. Go figure.

Classic Songwriter: Deftones
And last year Placebo won. I'm on the fence with this one.

Best Music Video: Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene (they won last year too for Sugar, We're Going Down)
Whose fans don't watch MTV2?
Hellogoodbye 'Here (In Your Arms)'
Linkin Park 'What I've Done'
My Chemical Romance 'The Black Parade'
Paramore 'Misery Business'

Again - one of those awards where its obvious the fangirls overloaded the server. Granted, I love the video myself. It's funny, smart and tongue in cheek. I would have chosen MCR. Why? Sam. Bayer.

Best Album: Machine Head - The Blackening.
Whose Albums Didn't Rock As Much?
Biffy Clyro 'Puzzle'
Enter Shikari 'Take To The Skies'
Fall Out Boy 'Infinity On High'
My Chemical Romance 'The Black Parade'

Point to the oldies for slipping this one in. Can't really comment as I've yet to hear The Blackening, but it must be awesome to outrank Puzzle and Black Parade.

Best Single: The Kill - 30 Seconds to Mars
Whose song wasn't on repeat?
AFI 'Miss Murder'
Enter Shikari 'Sorry, You're Not A Winner'
Funeral For A Friend 'Into Oblivion'
My Chemical Romance 'Welcome To The Black Parade'

Now, again, this is fangirl territory. Miss Murder is a fantastic single, IMHO, that has one of the sexiest basslines in a rock song and the chorus makes you want to jump about! At the same time, Black Parade wasn't a good option for MCR as Teenagers and I Don't Love You are stronger singles.
Can't say much on FFAF or Enter Shikari - haven't heard them.

Best Live Band: Enter Shikari
Who didn't rock the joint as much?
Aiden
Angels And Airwaves
Lostprophets
Muse

Not having seen any of teh bands live (unless you count TV) I can't really comment. BUT...Where Enter Shikari had the upper hand was that untiil recently, you could still catch them at a small venue for a small ticket price and thereby actually SEEING the band up close. Muse, despite selling out Wembley Stadium - twice - lost that intimacy with thier audience by going OTT and forcing them to pay nearly £30 for a ticket to stand in a stadium and watch them on a big screen. Its and open air stadium. In Britain. Nuff said.

Best International Newcomer: Madina Lake
Whose debut was less than memorable?
Hellogoodbye
Job For A Cowboy
Madina Lake
The Sleeping
30 Seconds To Mars
Wonder where all the fangirls were for this one???

Best British Newcomer: Gallows
Who lost out on the patriotism?
The Ghost Of A Thousand
Kids In Glass Houses
Lost Alone
YouMeAt6

The Gallows recently had themselves dubbed the New Sex Pistols after running complete riot at Warped and Taste of Chaos tours in the States. My reasoning for thier win? No real competition.