As 2023 draws to a close, we look back on our first year and reflect on the release highlights. So without further ado, here are the winners of our inaugural Shieldmaiden Awards…
Best Heavy Metal Album
Winner:
Temtris – Khaos Divine
Shieldmaidens: Genevieve Rodda [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Burning Witches – The Dark Tower
Shieldmaidens: Laura Guldemond [Vocals]; Romana Kalkuhl [Guitars, Backing Vocals]; Lala Frischknecht [Drums, Backing Vocals]; Larissa Ernst [Guitars]; Jeanine Grob [Bass]
Best Hard Rock Album
Winner:
Edge of Paradise – Hologram
Shieldmaidens: Margarita Monet [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Stitched Up Heart – To the Wolves
Shieldmaidens: Alecia ‘Mixi’ Demner [Vocals, Guitars]
Best Thrash Metal Album
Winner:
Hyperia – The Serpent’s Cycle
Shieldmaidens: Marlee Ryley [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Nervosa – Jailbreak
Shieldmaidens: Prika Amaral [Vocals, Guitars]; Helena Kotina [Guitars, Bass]; Michaela Naydenova [Drums]; Hel Pyre [Bass]
Best Death Metal Album
Winner:
Crypta – Shades of Sorrow
Shieldmaidens: Fernanda Lira [Vocals, Bass]; Tainá Bergamaschi [Guitars]; Jéssica Di Falchi [Guitars]; Luana Dametto [Drums]
Honourable Mention:
Worth – (Self-titled)
Shieldmaidens: Cri Jill [Vocals]; Gloria Falgueras [Guitars]; Francesca Missori [Bass]
Best Progressive Metal Album
Winner:
Vintersea – Woven into Ashes
Shieldmaidens: Avienne Low [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Dawn of Ouroboros – Velvet Incandescence
Shieldmaidens: Chelsea Murphy [Vocals]
Best Folk Metal Album
Winner:
Feuerschwanz – Fegefeuer
Shieldmaidens: Johanna von der Vögelweide [Violin, Hurdy-Gurdy]; Mieze Myu [Performance]; Mieze Musch-Musch [Performance]; Fabienne Ernie [Guest Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Lyrre – Not All Who Dream are Asleep
Shieldmaidens: Michalina Malisz [Vocals, Hurdy-Gurdy]
Best Symphonic Metal Album
Winner:
Delain – Dark Waters
Shieldmaidens: Diana Leah [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Xandria – The Wonders Still Awaiting
Shieldmaidens: Ambre Vourvahis [Vocals]
Best Gothic Metal Album
Winner:
Walk in Darkness – Leaves Rolling in Time
Shieldmaidens: Nicoletta Rosellini [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Blackbriar – A Dark Euphony
Shieldmaidens: Zora Cock [Vocals]
Best Doom Metal Album
Winner:
Aeonian Sorrow – Katara
Shieldmaidens: Gogo Melone [Vocals, Keyboards]
Honourable Mention:
The Answer Lies in the Black Void – Thou Shalt
Shieldmaidens: Martina Veronika Horváth [Vocals]
Best Power Metal Album
Winner:
Frozen Crown – Call of the North
Shieldmaidens: Glado Etro [Vocals]; Fabiola Bellomo [Guitars]
Honourable Mention:
Angus McSix – Angus McSix and the Sword of Power
Shieldmaidens: Thalia Bellazecca (aka Thalestris, Queen of the Lazer-Amazons of Caledonia) [Guitars]
Best J-Metal Album
Winner:
Babymetal – The Other One
Shieldmaidens: Suzuka Nakamoto [Vocals]; Moa Kikuchi [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Lovebites – Judgement Day
Shieldmaidens: Asami [Vocals]; Tatematsu Midori [Guitars]; Watanabe Miyako [Guitars, Keyboards]; Fami [Bass]; Yosai Haruna [Drums]
Best Metalcore Album
Winner:
Vexed – Negative Energy
Shieldmaidens: Megan Targett [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Astray Valley – Midnight Sun
Shieldmaidens: Clau Violette [Vocals]
Best Alternative / Nu-Metal Album
Winner:
Conspiracy of Blackness – Pain Therapy
Shieldmaidens: Grazia Riccardo [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
Elyose – Déviante
Shieldmaidens: Justine Daaé [Vocals, Keyboards]
Best Industrial Metal Album
Winner:
Skeptical Minds – Kharon
Shieldmaidens: Karolina Pacan [Vocals]
Honourable Mention:
In This Moment – Godmode
Shieldmaidens: Maria Brink [Vocals]
Note: The above awards were chosen by the staff at Shieldmaidens of Metal based on their respective opinions. The winners of each category were not determined by submitted user votes, aggregation of published critic scores, or any other objective data.
