Heavy Music Awards Announce 2025 Finalists
HMA 2025 FINALISTS HAVE NOW BEEN ANNOUNCED. Voting is now open!
Photo credit: Heavy Music Awards
After much deliberation, the marvellous team behind the Heavy Music Awards have spoken. Today, they announced the finalists for this years’ ten categories. After some wins last year, we welcome back names like Rory, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, as well as some new faces. There have been some truly remarkable releases over the last few months, making the decisions for winners that much harder.
Album artwork is always an important part of the narrative an album creates, and so its’s no wonder that Laura Jane Grace’s “Hole In My Head”, created by Annie Walter, and Linkin Park’s “From Zero”, by Frank Maddocks, have made it onto this list of finalists, with their strong uses of imagery and bold colours to create a snapshot of story, be it personal or a shared experience.
In terms of recent releases, we’ve had Spiritbox bring us their new album “Tsunami Sea”, and Sleep Token’s long awaited “Even in Arcadia” is coming to us on 9th May 2025. The titles of Best UK/International Artist are going to be tough, and we can’t wait to see the outcome of this year.
Finalists have been announced for the following categories:
Best Album
Best Breakthrough Album
Best UK Artist
Best International Artist
Best UK Live Artist
Best International Live Artist
Best Breakthrough Live Artist
Best UK Breakthrough Artist
Best International Breakthrough Artist
Best Album Artwork
There is such a diverse collection of artists across each category, and the quality of music never fails to pump adrenaline straight into our hearts - and remind us of why we’re fans.
It’s great to see some returning names in the Best International Live Artist category, with Motionless In White returning to claim the title. Motionless have always graced fans with insane productions and theatrics, creating a different gig experience than most. From stage props, to outfit changes, to performers, you always feel like you’ve come to watch a dark play as well as see the band play live. The same is to be said for Electric Callboy, who, without fail, put on a high energy, charismatic show, filled with humour, colours, and 80’s aerobic class vibes. Let us not also forget the legendary Korn, who deliver excellent stage presence and build a feeling of community in their shows.
Best Breakthrough Album is a tall order, and every artist on the bill is deserving of this title. Rory, who won an award last year, comes back in 2025 to stun us with more emotive music on her album “Restoration”. After an incredible tour with Lake Malice, it’s safe to say that Rory is stating claim as one of the most deserving artists of late. But let’s not forget Scene Queen, with her album “Hot Singles In Your Area”. You may not be convinced by her “bimbo core” roots, but one thing we love about this album is the blunt call-out in “18+”. We hope that anyone feeling stuck in a bad situation can find confidence in her message, and seek help.
To vote, click HERE.
This year’s sponsors include PRS For Music, Music Support, Mascot Records, and Arising Empire.
The event will take place at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London.