Last year was a great
year for music, with a string of excellent releases in the worlds of
Gothic, Industrial and related genres. So late last year we decided
to put the power in your hands. We've let you know our thoughts and
opinions all year long. But what did you the readers think were the
bands, artist and most importantly the music that we should be
honouring?
Well the results are
now in, so we can reveal the winners of each of the ten categories.
The poll showed a real spread of old and new, big and small, but each
of which have made a mark on the past twelve months.
Category 1: Best Band
Of 2013
Winner: Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor's shock
return with a new Nine Inch Nails album last year was enough to sway
the most readers that NIN are still at the top of their game. Seeing
off the likes of Combichrist, Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly
Nine Inch Nails comfortably took the top spot.
Category 2: Best Album
Of 2013
Winner: The Eden House
– 'Half Life'
The progressive gothic
rock collective that is The Eden House narrowly took the lead in a
very diverse category that saw a big selection of different artists
representing different genres. The band nipped ahead of the likes of
Combichrist, Nine Inch Nails, XP8 and Rhombus to scoop the best album
of 2013 award.
Category 3: Best Single
Of 2013
Winner: XP8 –
'Information'
It was a battle of
guitars and keyboards out of which Italian electro duo XP8 prevailed.
Their single 'Information' from the album 'Adrenochrome' emerged
victorious from yet another very diverse selection of nominations
that included Nine Inch Nails, Aesthetic Perfection, Rammstein and
The Eden House.
Category 4: Best Live
Act Of 2013
Winner: Nine Inch Nails
There were once again a
lot of nominations to wade through... including the likes of Robbie
Williams, Linda Rondstadt and U2 – Each to their own I guess. But
it was Nine Inch Nails that once again took the tops spot, no doubt
due to last year's one off show in London. Although young guns
Cease2xist gave Reznor and co. a run for their money in the votes.
Category 5: Best
Festival Of 2013
Winner: Resistanz
Most of the big-name
festivals featured impressive votes but Sheffield's own international
industrial festival, Resistanz was the clear winner leaving the likes
of Wave Gotik Treffan and Whitby Goth Weekend in the dust. In three
short years the festival has gone from strength-to-strength, and 2014
is shaping up to be another great year.
Category 6: Best Record
Label Of 2013
Winner: Metropolis
Records
Well established names
sat beside new start up labels in one of the most hotly contested
categories, however it was US label Metropolis Records that won the
award this time around. Out Of Line, Undustrial, Juggernaut Media
Group, Static Distortion Records, DWA and Echozone amongst others put
up a strong fight, but Metropolis ruled in 2013.
Category 7: Best
Newcomer Of 2013
Winner: Comaduster
Best newcomer was the
closest vote of the of the year with the winner, Canada's Comaduster,
taking the prize thanks to one vote. While the immediate runners up
IIOIOIOII and The .Invalid tied for second place. Honourable mention
has to go to Beauty Queen Autopsy, who despite their first release
coming out in December, still enjoyed an impressive surge of votes.
Category 8: Best
Vocalist Of 2013
Winner: Andy LaPlegua
(Combichrist)
Combichrist mainman
Andy LaPlegua went for raw, undistorted vocals on last year's 'No
Redemption' album. Combined with more prominent guitars it signified
a more metal orientated sound for the band which has appeared to play
well to our readers. LaPlegua narrowly beat competition from Daniel
Graves, Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig to take the best
vocalist prize.
Category 9: Best Male
Of 2013
Winner: Gary Numan
There were several
names that repeatedly cropped up for the best male of 2013: David
Bowie, Trent Reznor, Nick Cave, Andy LaPlegua and Daniel Graves all
took a number of votes, but it was Gary Numan, on the back of his new
album 'Splinter' that scooped the title of Best Male Of 2013.
Category 10: Best
Female Of 2013
Winner: Shkihee
(Android Lust)
Releasing one hell of
an ambitious album in the form of 'Crater Vol. 1' off the back of a
very successful Kickstarter campaign, Android Lust's Shikhee D'iordna
saw of fierce competition from Julianne Regan, Monica Richards, Mya
Lloyd and Mariqueen Maandig to take the top spot.
Well that's it for
2013. If you didn't see the bands / artists / releases on the winners
board that you wanted... tough! You should have voted more than once!
Well done to the
winners Nine Inch Nails, The Eden House, XP8, Resistanz Festival,
Metropolis Records, Comaduster, Andy LaPlegua, Gary Numan and Shikhee
D'iordna.
Voting for the 2014
reader's poll will open on the 1st December 2014 and run
until the end of January 2015 – you have been warned!
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