Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards 2010 gig review
We say :-
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The Metal Hammer 'Golden Gods' is one of the UKs premier rock music award spectacles. The free
tickets to these events are always highly prized and the lucky 1500 or so who get hold of them are
ensured an evening of brilliant music, surprise guests and at least one ever so slightly controversial award.
This years awards ceremony, held in the indigO2 in London, was hosted by Steel Panther who really got
the crowd going with an all to brief 15 minute set. This excellent opening to the show including a
superb rendition of their massively politically incorrect song 'Turn out the lights'. It's nonsense,
but it's brilliant nonsense. |
| The indigO2 is a great little venue. The organisation was faultless and absolutely everyone was having
an incredible time. At the forefront of this revelry were the Panther who showed once again that behind all
the posturing and parody there are some brilliant musicians who are obviously loving every minute of their time
in the spotlight. The Steel Panther joke may be about to wear a bit thin but for the moment they are one of the
most entertaining live bands that you can see.
After the torrential downpour that accompanied their set at Download it was good to see Michael, Lexxi,
Satchel and Stixx back in their natural environment. The jokes still work (even when heard for the third
time in a year), and lines like "Thanks to Albert Einstein for inventing electricity, without which there
would be no electric guitars" and the good natured banter between the band members lift this show far above
other comedy or parody acts, especially when backed up with great songs brilliantly performed.
Not sure about "I want it that way" as the new single though.
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Next up to perform were Huddersfield thrashers Evile. They suffered from the only really bad sound
of the evening which unfortunately seemed to have an impact on the reaction they got from the crowd and
I doubt they made any new friends tonight, which is a pity as they are a really good band.
The Awards themselves threw up a few surprises. Everyone in the room went mental when no less an
icon than Sir Christopher Lee came onstage to collect the "Spirit of Hammer" award from Tony Iommi, who
introduced him as "the original prince of darkness". Never mind all these musical types here we were
in the presence of a true legend.
And there were some excellent announcements slipped into the proceedings too. Ozzfest in the O2 in
September, for example. Oh, and Tony Iommi saying that Heaven and Hell will still be playing next
months High Voltage festival as a tribute to Dio.
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On a side note, it was nice to see some recognition for non-Western Hemisphere bands who fly the
flag for metal. India's Demonic Resurrection got a rousing cheer when they were announced as the
winners of the 'Global Metal' award. And no one looked happier to win than these guys.
| After another couple of awards came a band who had no problems with sound, or with getting the
crowd bouncing. Straight off the back of a riotous performance at Download that won them many new admirers Five
Finger Death Punch blasted through their 15 minute set with an energy and ferocity that few could match.
Zoltan Bathory really is a brilliant guitarist and in Ivan Moody they have an almost perfect Metal frontman.
Based on this and their performance at Download I have had to seriously up my opinion of this band. OK
so their albums may be a bit bland and uninspiring, but live they are a whole other beast.
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The next live performance came from the genre-defying (or maybe genre-defining) Welsh ragga-metallers
Skindred. When these guys played Hammerfest they stole the show and got an incredible response but here
the performance and reception was on nothing like that level. Maybe it's because it takes Benji and his
gang more than 15 minutes to really get the crowd wound up ? |
| Other unexpected but very welcome award recipients who showed up included Tom G. Warrior, Joe Perry
and Zakk Wylde adding to the star studded lineup.
The only negative reaction from the crowd came when (predictably) the Best UK band award went to Bullet
For My Valentine. The announcement was greeted by a ringing chorus of boos. Strangely Bullet supplied an
acceptance video rather than showing up in person to collect their award. Lack of bottle ?????
I wonder how many of the folk booing had actually ever seen Bullet live. They turned in a storming
performance closing the Ronnie James Dio stage on the first day of Download. |
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So all that remained was the small matter of a headline set by Aussie rockers Airbourne. Whenever
they perform they always give it their all as they blast out their AC/DC infused metal. Airbourne
are a stunning live band and I really defy anyone not to be impressed by their infectious good mood
and massive riffs.
And so the Golden Gods drew to a close for another year. 5 bands, some real legends on stage and
a massive party atmosphere made this quite simply one of the best nights I have ever had. It would
take a special show to blow away the post-Download exhaustion but by god this one managed it.
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The award winners were...
Best New Band – Rise To Remain
Best Underground Band – Immortal
Best Drummer – Mike Portnoy
Global Metal – Demonic Resurrection
Defender of the Faith – Jon & Tracey Morter
Spirit of Hammer – Sir Christopher Lee
Metal As Fuck – Evile
Dimebag Darrel Shredder – Zoltan Bathory
Breakthrough Artist – Five Finger Death Punch
Best UK Band – Bullet For My Valentine
Best Album – “The Devil You Know”
Inspiration – Tom G Warrior
Best International Band – Lamb of God
Riff Lord – Joe Perry
Golden God – Zakk Wylde
Dizzy
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