The following is a list of the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards winners.
History The Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards were conceived by Metal Hammer magazine editor Chris Ingham, along with John O'Sullivan and Dave Bianchi, and were first held at the Kentish Town Forum in London in 2003. From its inception, the event was produced by John O'Sullivan and organized by the magazine’s events team.
The show was owned by Future Publishing until 2013, then operated by TeamRock from 2014 to 2016, and was repurchased by Future in 2017 following TeamRock’s collapse. Award ceremonies
2003 Held at the Forum, London Hosted by Ian Camfield Live main stage performance by Murderdolls, Shadows Fall, Soil and Raging Speedhorn.
Winners Best Album: AFI – Sing the Sorrow Best Underground act: Shadows Fall
2004 Held at Ocean, London Hosted by Ian Camfield Live main stage performance by HIM, Akercocke and Young Heart Attack.
Winners Best Album: Killswitch Engage – The End of Heartache
2005 Held at the Astoria, London Hosted by Ian Camfield Live main stage performance by Anthrax, Nightwish, Shadows Fall, Bullet for My Valentine and Trivium.
Winners Best UK Band: Lost Prophets Best Live: Slipknot Best Label: Roadrunner Records Best Newcomer: Nightwish Best Video: My Chemical Romance – "Helena" Spirit of Hammer: Black Sabbath Icon: Ville Valo Riff Lord: Zakk Wylde Young Guitar – Dimebag Tribute: Herman Li Best International: The Used Best Album: Judas Priest – Angel of Retribution Best Metal Band: Anthrax Golden God: Lemmy
2006 Held at Koko, London Hosted By Ian Camfield Live main stage performance by Bullet for My Valentine, DragonForce, Lacuna Coil and Viking Skull.
Winners Best Album: Coheed and Cambria – Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness Riff Lord: Jerry Cantrell Best Album of the Past 20 Years: Slayer - Reign in Blood Best UK Band: Bullet for My Valentine Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold Best Live Band: Trivium
2007 Held at Koko, London Hosted by Jamey Jasta Live main stage performance by Machine Head, Dimmu Borgir, Lamb of God, Turisas and Priestess.
Winners Source: Best UK Band: Bullet for My Valentine Best Live Band: Lamb of God Best International Band: Killswitch Engage Best Underground Band: Job for a Cowboy Best Newcomer: Deathstars Best Video: Seize the Day - Avenged Sevenfold Riff Lord: Slash (Velvet Revolver, Guns N’ Roses) Shredder: Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds (Mastodon) Best Metal Label: Roadrunner Records Album of the Year: The Blackening - Machine Head Spirit of Hammer: Napalm Death Golden God: Robb Flynn (Machine Head) Icon Award: Slayer Best Viral Campaign: Buckcherry Best Comeback: Heaven & Hell
2008 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Oderus Urungus Live main stage performance by Disturbed, Children of Bodom, In Flames, Apocalyptica and Testament.
Winners Source: Best Album: Testament – The Formation of Damnation Best UK Band: Iron Maiden Best Live Band: Machine Head Best Breakthrough: Apocalyptica Metal For The Masses: William Gledhil Best Video: "The Serpentine Offering" Best Metal Label: RoadRunner Records Spirit Of Hammer: Max and Igor Cavalera Best Debut: Airbourne "Runnin' Wild" Icon Award: Eddie Dimebag Darrell Shredder Award: Alexi Laiho Riff Lord: Dave Mustaine International Band of the Year: In Flames Golden God: Kerry King
2009 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Jason Rouse Live main stage performance by Trivium, Anvil, Amon Amarth, DevilDriver, Suicide Silence and Saxon.
Winners Source: Best Album: Lamb of God – Wrath Best New Band: Five Finger Death Punch Best Underground Band — Behmoth Best Metal Label: RoadRunner Records Spirt of Metal: Saxon Dimebag Darrel Sherdder Award: HermanLi/ Sam Toteman Ledgends Award: Def Leppard Best Breakthrough act: Amon Amarth Metal as Fuck: Anvil Inspiration: Emperor Riff Lord: Steve Vai Best Live Band: Slipknot Best International Band: Slipknot Best UK Group: Iron Maiden Golden God: Iron Maiden
2010 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Steel Panther Live main stage performance by Steel Panther, Airbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Skindred and Evile. HMS Hammer performances by Nonpoint, Sonic Syndicate, Rise to Remain and Hellyeah.
Winners Best New Band: Rise to Remain Best Underground: Immortal Best Drummer: Mike Portnoy Global Metal: Demonic Resurrection Best Live: Machine Head Best Event: Download Festival Riff Lord: Joe Perry Spirit of Hammer: Sir Christopher Lee Best UK: Bullet for My Valentine Metal As ####: Evile Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Zoltan Bathory Breakthrough Artist: Five Finger Death Punch Inspiration: Tom G Warrior Best Album: Heaven & Hell – The Devil You Know Best International Band: Lamb of God Defenders of the Faith: Tracy and Jon Morter Golden God: Zakk Wylde
2011 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Alice Cooper Live main stage performance by Twisted Sister, Skindred, Devin Townsend, Sylosis and Buckcherry. HMS Hammer performances by The Dead Lay Waiting, Tesseract, Black Spiders and Biohazard.
Winners Best New Band: The Damned Things Metal as ####: Nergal Best Underground: Primordial Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Gus G Breakthrough Artist: Sabaton Best UK: Iron Maiden Best Live: Skindred Inspiration: Twisted Sister Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold Best Album: Killing Joke – Absolute Dissent Best Event: The Big 4 Coming Together Riff Lord: Pepper Keenan / Kirk Windstein Spirit of Hammer: Diamond Head Icons: Judas Priest Golden God: Rob Zombie
2012 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Chris Jericho Live main stage performance by Anthrax, Sabaton, Ghost, Biohazard and Watain. HMS Hammer performances by Shadows Fall, Fozzy, While She Sleeps, Attica Rage and Evil Scarecrow.
Winners
|rowspan=17 | 2012 |- | The Defiled || Best New Band || |- | Watain || Best Underground Band || |- | Devin Townsend || 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award || |- | Ghost || Breakthrough Band Award || |- | Rammstein || Best Live Band Award || |- | Iron Maiden's U.K. Tour || Best Event Award || |- | X-Japan || Best International Band Award || |- | Saxon || Best UK Band Award || |- | Mastodon – The Hunter || Best Album Award || |- | Anthrax || Metal as #### Award || |- | Vinnie Paul || Best Drummer || |- | Roadrunner Records || Inspiration Award || |- | Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel || Riff Lord Award || |- | Bill Bailey || Spirit of Hammer Award || |- | Fear Factory || Icon Award || |- | Joey DeMaio || The Golden God Award ||
2013 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Devin Townsend Live main stage performance by Motörhead, Airbourne, Five Finger Death Punch, Coal Chamber and Paradise Lost. HMS Hammer performances by Kvelertak, Visions Of Disorder, The Defiled and Heavens Basement.
Winners
|rowspan=17 | 2013 |- | Bleed from Within || Best New Band || |- | The Algorithm || Best Underground Band || |- | Eric Calderone || 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award || |- | Asking Alexandria || Breakthrough Band Award || |- | Gojira || Best Live Band Award || |- | The Heavy Metal Census Campaign || Best Event Award || |- | Stone Sour || Best International Band Award || |- | Black Sabbath || Best UK Band Award || |- | Black Sabbath – 13 || Best Album Award || |- | Burgerkill || Metal as #### Award || |- | Paradise Lost || Inspiration Award || |- | Scott Gorham || Riff Lord Award || |- | Brian Blessed || Spirit of Hammer Award || |- | Alice in Chains || Icon Award || |- | Motörhead || The Golden God Award || |- | Doro || Legend Award ||
2014 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Steel Panther Live main stage performance by Steel Panther, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Black Stone Cherry, While She Sleeps and Behemoth. HMS Hammer performances by Orange Goblin, Kill Devil Hill, Upon a Burning Body, Hounds and Dying Fetus.
Winners
|rowspan=18 | 2014 |- | Devil You Know || Best New Band || |- | Wardruna || Best Underground Band || |- | Misha Mansoor || 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award || |- | Of Mice & Men || Breakthrough Artist Award || |- | Killswitch Engage || Best Live Band Award || |- | Avenged Sevenfold || Best International Band Award || |- | Iron Maiden || Best UK Band Award || |- | Behemoth – The Satanist || Best Album Award || |- | Hanoi Rocks || Inspiration Award || |- | Mark Tremonti || Riff Lord Award || |- | David Prowse || Spirit of Hammer Award || |- | Michael Schenker || Icon Award || |- | Mikael Åkerfeldt || The Golden God Award || |- | Orphaned Land and Khalas || Global Metal Award || |- | Devin Townsend || King of the Internet || |- | Grand Theft Auto V || Game of the Year || |- | Steel Panther – "Party Like It's the End of the World" || Video of the Year ||
2015 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Scott Ian Live main stage performance by Suicidal Tendencies, We Are Harlot, Babymetal featuring DragonForce, At the Gates and Killing Joke. HMS Hammer performances by Code Orange, Butcher Babies, Upon a Burning Body and Napalm Death.
Winners
|rowspan=17 | 2015 |- | We Are Harlot || Best New Band || |- | Winterfylleth || Best Underground Band || |- | Richie Faulkner || 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award || |- | Babymetal || Breakthrough Band Award || |- | Of Mice & Men || Best Live Band Award || |- | Slipknot || Best International Band Award || |- | Bring Me the Horizon || Best UK Band Award || |- | Faith No More – Sol Invictus || Best Album Award || |- | At the Gates || Inspiration Award || |- | Matt Taylor || Spirit of Hammer Award || |- | Mike Muir || Icon Award || |- | Dave Mustaine || The Golden God Award || |- | District Unknown/Martyrs of Metal || Global Metal Award || |- | Anthony Vincent || King of the internet || |- | Epitaph Records || Best Independent Label || |- | Tommy Thayer || Defender of the Faith ||
2016 Held at the Hammersmith Apollo, London Hosted by Jamey Jasta Live main stage performance by Amon Amarth, Halestorm, Gojira and 'A Salute to Lemmy' with Saxon featuring Phil & Mikkey.
Winners
|rowspan=16 | 2016 |- | Creeper || Best New Band || |- | Enslaved || Best Underground band || |- | Lzzy Hale || 'Dimebag Darrell Shredder' Award || |- | Beartooth || Breakthrough Band Award || |- | Lamb of God || Best Live Band Award || |- | Ghost || Best International Band Award || |- | Asking Alexandria || Best UK Band Award || |- | Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls || Best Album Award || |- | Anthrax || Inspiration Award || |- | Phil Campbell || Riff Lord Award || |- | Nikki Sixx || Icon Award || |- | Joey Jordison || The Golden God Award || |- | Chthonic || Global Metal Band || |- | Parkway Drive - "Vice Grip" || Video of the Year || |- | Prosthetic Records || Best Independent Label ||
2017
Held at Indigo, O2, London Hosted by Chris Jericho Live main stage performance by Orange Goblin, Avatar, Clutch and Mastodon.
Winners Best New Band: Venom Prison Best Underground Band: Pallbearer Best UK Band: Architects Best International Band: Avenged Sevenfold Best Live Band: Mastodon Best Independent Label: Nuclear Blast Dimebag Darrell 'Shredder': Joel O'Keeffe (Airbourne) Game of the Year: Iron Maiden: The Legacy of the Beast Breakthrough: Avatar
Non fan-voted categories Riff Lord: Devin Townsend Defender of the Faith: Ben Ward (Orange Goblin) & his partner Sandie Soriano Inspiration: Exodus Best Album: Gojira – Magma Spirit of Hammer: Prophets of Rage Icon: The Dillinger Escape Plan Golden God: Black Sabbath
2018 Held at Indigo at the O2, London Hosted by Jamey Jasta Live main stage performance by Carpenter Brut, Baroness, Myrkur, Meshuggah and Parkway Drive.
Winners
Best New Band: Lovebites Best Underground Band: Wolves in the Throne Room Best UK Band: Judas Priest Best International Band: Arch Enemy Best Event: Download Festival Best Live Band: Lacuna Coil