April 08, 2009

By By Andre Paine, London

Slipknot and Swedish metal band Amon Amarth have both been nominated for three awards at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2009. Both acts are nominated in the best international band and the 'Shredder' guitarist categories; Slipknot is also up for best live band and Amon Amarth is up for breakthrough artist.

The best U.K. band category is between Iron Maiden, the Answer, Dragonforce, Saxon, Gallows and Motorhead. The international category is completed by Deathstars, Dimmu Borgir, Metallica and Lamb Of God.

The seventh annual metal awards, staged by U.K. rock monthly Metal Hammer magazine, will be held on June 15 at London's Indigo venue. Trivium, Amon Amarth, Devildriver and Saxon will perform at the ceremony, along with special guests Anvil, the veteran Canadian act whose largely unsuccessful career was celebrated in this year's documentary feature "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil!"

Eight awards categories are voted on by users of Metal Hammer's Web site (metalhammer.co.uk) until May 31, with a further nine awards, including best album, chosen by Metal Hammer's editorial team.

"The growing legion of metal fans in the U.K. and further afield will unite to honor the true pioneers of our genre," said awards organizer Chris Ingham in a statement.

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