Photos: Lava Records, Universal Republic / Facebook: HIM Black Veil Brides and their BVB Army defeated reigning champs Halestorm, but will they be able to do it again against today’s challengers. Finnish love metallers HIM heat things up with their latest single ‘Strange World’ off of their compilation disc ‘XX-Two Decades of Love Metal.’ The song itself was originally released by Kevin Grivois, known by the artist name Ké, in the ’90s. It’s said to be one of the personal favorites of HIM frontman Ville Valo. The band has dates for scheduled for some European festivals; go here to see dates. So will Black Veil Brides continue to march on with their winning track ‘In the End’ or will HIM take a victory with ‘Strange World’? Listen to both singles and vote for your favorite in the poll below! (This Cage Match will run until Friday, Jan. 18, at 8AM ET. Fans can vote once per hour! So come back and vote often to make sure your favorite song wins!) Black Veil Brides, ‘In The End’ HIM, ‘Strange World’ Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. Email Me When Cage Match Winners Are Announced Enter your email address below to receive the Loudwire newsletter, which will include notification of the daily winner of the Cage Match, as well as our top stories of the day. Email Rules of Cage Match: Fans can vote once per hour for their favorite song. If a song remains the reigning champ for five straight cage matches, it is retired to the Loudwire Cage Match Hall of Fame. With so many great songs out there, we have to give other bands a chance!
Herfitz PR The Most Devoted Fans category took in hundreds of thousands of votes in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards, making it one of the most categories. With 10 bands famous for their rabid fans in the competition, worldwide voting pointed to one dominant act during the entire voting process, and that band was X Japan . Placed against monster acts such as Avenged Sevenfold and Metallica, X Japan drummer and fearless leader Yoshiki rallied the band’s unparalleled fans to claim a massive win. In the end, X Japan claimed over 43 percent of the total votes; more than Metallica, Slipknot, Iron Maiden, Black Veil Brides, Suicide Silence, Falling in Reverse, Tool and Avenged Sevenfold combined . Congratulations to X Japan and their legions of followers for earning the title of Most Devoted Fans. See the full voting results below and click on the red button for the next winner: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/three-days-grace-rock-song-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Winner: Rock Song of the Year” align=”center”] Voting Results: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll.
The End Records Funeral for a Friend are ramping up to the release of their sixth studio album, ‘ Conduit ,’ and Loudwire is proud to bring you the exclusive premiere of their new lyric video for the single, ‘The Distance.’ The ‘Conduit’ album finds the band working with producer Romesh Dodangoda and is their first official release with new drummer Pat Lundy. Singer Matthew Davies-Kreye says of the album’s title, “Five people on a stage, a conduit for the message and the music, delivering that to people who want to listen to it, be a part of whatever it is that we’re doing and being involved. It’s purely about delivering the message.” The vocalist says that he enjoys seeing how their music can affect people and how the songs transcend the band and become something more to a lot of people. He adds, “It sounds lofty I know, but that’s how it feels to us when we meet the folks who dig our band and who treat these songs with so much love and respect. It blows our minds constantly.” Will ‘The Distance’ soon be among the songs receiving that respect from fans? The track itself fits right in with the album’s theme. It’s a driving rocker that speaks to making a connection. As for the clip, the words for the song appear over a backdrop of muted colors. Meanwhile, at the top of the screen, a wave-like file is monitoring the intensity of the music. Funeral for a Friend’s ‘Conduit’ album arrives Feb. 5 and can currently be pre-ordered here . Check out the group’s lyric video for ‘The Distance’ below. Watch Funeral for a Friend’s ‘The Distance’ Lyric Video [Exclusive] [button href=”http://loudwire.com/funeral-for-a-friend-part-ways-with-drummer-ryan-richards/” title=”Next: Funeral for a Friend Part Ways With Drummer” align=”center”]
Universal Live Act of the Year proved to not only be one of the most popular categories of the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards, but also the most surprising in terms of the final result. With monster acts such as Metallica and Slipknot breathing down their necks, comedic heavy metal act Steel Panther have captured the crown of Live Act of the Year. Anyone who has seen Steel Panther live understands not only how hilarious and raunchy the show is, but also the technical prowess of each member. Steel Panther’s live performance is tighter than their spandex pants, and bringing female fans who will flash their boobies onstage doesn’t hurt either. A huge congratulations is due for the saviors of heavy metal, Steel Panther. The band is constantly touring, so if they happen to stop at your town, do yourself a favor and take in 2012′s Live Act of the Year. See the full voting results below and click the red button for the next winner: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/x-japan-most-devoted-fans-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Winner: Most Devoted Fans” align=”center”] Voting Results: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll.
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire It proved to be a two-man race for Best New Artist at the Loudwire Music Awards and former Hollywood Undead member Deuce emerged as the victor. The rap-rock artist enjoyed a breakout year with his first solo set, ‘Nine Lives,’ which spawned the hit single ‘America’ and such fan favorites as ‘I Came to Party’ and ‘Nobody Likes Me.’ Deuce received just over 38 percent of the vote, besting another musician stepping out on his own from familiar territory. Mark Tremonti’s finished second with just over 31 percent of the final tally, proving that the Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist could make good on his own. After Deuce and Tremonti, the next closest competitor was Falling in Reverse, who earned eight percent of the vote. Congrats to the rap-rocking Deuce on the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards Best New Artist victory and all of his solo success. Stay tuned to see what he’s got in store for 2013. See the full voting results below and click the red button for the next winner: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/steel-panther-live-act-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Winner: Live Act of the Year” align=”center”] Voting Results: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll.
Donald Bowers, Getty Images Vinnie Paul of Pantera and Hellyeah has captured the Drummer of the Year award in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards. In what has been a storied career, 2012 proved to be one of Vinnie Paul’s landmark years for various reasons. The legendary stickman’s drumming appears on the Pantera track ‘Piss,’ which was released as a never-before-heard track on the 20th anniversary edition of ‘Vulgar Display of Power.’ The long lost tune won Metal Song of the Year in the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards. But it doesn’t stop there: Vinnie Paul delivered some crushing beats on ‘Band of Brothers,’ the latest album from his band Hellyeah. In the end, he dominated the competition with 37 percent of the vote for 2012 Drummer of the Year. Raise your shots of jack and get ‘Drink Drank Drunk’ in honor of Vinnie Paul. Congrats Vinnie! Keep the good stuff comin’. See the full voting results below and click the red button to see the next winner: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/deuce-new-artist-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Winner: New Artist of the Year” align=”center”] Voting Results: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images Congrats to Nikki Sixx , the winner of the 2012 Loudwire Music Award for Bassist of the Year. The veteran rocker carried over some of his Sixx: A.M. momentum from 2011 and then kept things going by joining Motley Crue for their summer tour with Kiss. In addition, the Crue did keep fans satiated with their new single, ‘Sex.’ Sixx took home a massive 30.45 percent of the vote, showing that his popularity has not waned over his storied career. In fact, it was another well-known veteran bassist that Sixx beat to take home the title. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, who entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his band this year, finished a distant second with just over 19 percent of the vote. The only other bass hero to receive a double-digit voting tally was Tremonti and Van Halen wunderkind Wolfgang Van Halen, who eeked out 10 percent of the fan voting. Congrats to Sixx on winning the 2012 Loudwire Music Awards Bassist of the Year honor. Look out for a potential repeat victory in 2013 with Sixx expected to have new records out from both Crue and Sixx: A.M. See the full voting results below and click the red button to see the next winner: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/vinnie-paul-drummer-of-the-year-2012-loudwire-music-awards/” title=”Next Winner: Drummer of the Year” align=”center”] Voting Results: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll.