Our friends at LOUDWIRE posted their “Who Really Should’ve Won” Metal Grammy’s picks every year since 1989, and its crazy to see the disconnect between mainstream media and the core hard rock and metal community…
See their picks on who should’ve won, and actually who really ended up winning… While some of these they got right (rarely), Most of these lately are MIND BLOWING!
1989 Winner: Jethro Tull, ‘Crest of a Knave’
Nominees:
AC/DC, ‘Blow Up Your Video’
Iggy Pop, ‘Cold Metal’ (lyrics)
Jane’s Addiction, ‘Nothing’s Shocking’
Jethro Tull, ‘Crest of a Knave’
Metallica, ‘…And Justice for All’
Elektra
Our 1989 Pick: Metallica, ‘…And Justice for All’
It was one of the most infamous moments of the Grammys as many expected the award for Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance to go to Metallica. Instead, it went to Jethro Tull, causing widespread outrage within the metal community, ultimately responsible for the metal Grammy award becoming a bit of a joke over ensuing decades. We’ve righted the wrong though and award Metallica with the coveted trophy for the daringly complex ‘…And Justice for All’ album.
1990 Winner: Metallica, “One”
Nominees:
Dokken, ‘Beast From the East’
Faith No More, ‘The Real Thing’
Metallica, “One”
Queensryche, “I Don’t Believe in Love”
Soundgarden, ‘Ultramega OK’
Elektra
Our 1990 Pick: Metallica, “One”
After the disastrous 1989 debacle, the Grammys made good on their blunder, awarding Metallica the Best Metal Performance for “One” off ‘…And Justice for All.’ The song foretold what would come with their next album as Hetfield took on a subdued vocal approach in conjunction with a dreary, clean-picked melody. The heft was still there, kicking the door in on the chorus and there’s no reason for us to disagree with the Grammys, so we’re siding with “One” as well!
1991 Winner: Metallica, “Stone Cold Crazy” (Queen cover)
Nominees:
Anthrax, ‘Persistence of Time’
Judas Priest, ‘Painkiller’
Megadeth, ‘Rust in Peace’
Metallica, “Stone Cold Crazy”
Suicidal Tendencies, ‘Lights…Camera…Revolution!’
Capitol
Our 1991 Pick: Megadeth, ‘Rust in Peace’
In a year with so much great metal, we can’t figure out why on this earth the Grammy award would go to Metallica, not for an original, but for a cover of Queen’s “Stone Cold Crazy.” Each nominee had the power to take home the award in 1991 over ‘Tallica and with our pick, we select Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Peace.’ The album changed the thrash game, injecting world-class shredding and winding composition into the genre’s still reckless nature.
1992 Winner: Metallica, ‘Metallica’ (Black Album)
Nominees:
Anthrax, ‘Attack of the Killer B’s’
Megadeth, “Hangar 18”
Metallica, ‘Metallica’
Motorhead, ‘1916’
Soundgarden, ‘Badmotorfinger’
Our 1992 Pick Metallica, ‘Metallica’ (Black Album)
By 1992, Metallica were dominating on a worldwide scale as metal’s largest band, breaching the mainstream with unprecedented success. ‘Metallica,’ better known as ‘The Black Album,’ had found favor with a more contemporary rock audience for its radio-friendly approach, but had enough backbone for the metalheads to still champion the Bay Area thrashers as their kings. This one’s a no-brainer and we’re taking the side of the Grammys and giving the award to Metallica for their self-titled album.
1993 Winner: Nine Inch Nails, “Wish”
Nominees:
Helmet, “In the Meantime”
Megadeth, ‘Countdown to Extinction’
Ministry, “N.W.O”’
Nine Inch Nails, “Wish”
Soundgarden, “Into the Void”
Paul Natkin Archive
Our 1993 Pick: Pantera, ‘Vulgar Display of Power’
Something very important happened to metal in 1992, but looking at the list of Grammy nominees, you wouldn’t even know it! Yes, we’re talking about Pantera’s ultimately genre-saving album, ‘Vulgar Display of Power.’ With tracks like “Mouth for War” and the immortal “Walk” and its simple yet effective riffage coupled with Philip Anselmo’s dominating lyrical presence, Pantera left a path of devastation everywhere they went. For the 1993 Grammys, we’re reaching outside the nominees and handing it to Pantera.
1994 Winner: Ozzy Osbourne, “I Don’t Want to Change the World” (live)
Nominees:
Iron Maiden, “Fear of the Dark” (live)
Megadeth, “Angry Again”
Ozzy Osbourne, “I Don’t Want to Change the World” (live)’
Suicidal Tendencies, “Institutionalized”
White Zombie, “Thunder Kiss ‘65”
Our 1994 Pick: Type O Negative, “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All)”
We’re not a fan of handing a Grammy award, the most prestigious honor in music, to a live song when there’s bands that put out new material in the same qualifying year. So, sorry Ozzy, but we’re stealing your award and giving it to goth metal innovators, Type O Negative for the song “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All).” Their satirical brand of humor was in display, humorously describing a gothic girl through Steele’s barrel-chested croon.
1995 Winner: Soundgarden, “Spoonman”
Nominees:
Anthrax and Public Enemy, “Bring The Noise” (live)
Megadeth, “99 Ways to Die”
Pantera, “I’m Broken”
Rollins Band, “Liar”
Soundgarden, “Spoonman”
East West
Our 1995 Pick: Pantera, “I’m Broken”
We’re not going to try to convince you that Soundgarden’s “Spoonman” isn’t a great rock song and it is definitely deserving of a Grammy… if they weren’t up against Pantera’s ‘Far Beyond Driven’ cut “I’m Broken” and if they were in the Rock category rather than Metal. The Pantera album still stands as by far the heaviest to ever top the Billboard 200 and should be recognized for its unparalleled achievement. The bluesy opening riff of “Im Broken” was able to hook even some of the more unsuspecting fans and we’re giving it the 1995 trophy.
1996 Winner: Nine Inch Nails, “Happiness in Slavery” (live)
Nominees:
GWAR, “S.F.W.”
Megadeth, “Paranoid”
Metallica, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (live)
White Zombie, “More Human Than Human”
Nine Inch Nails, “Happiness in Slavery” (live)
Our 1996 Pick: White Zombie, “More Human Than Human”
Again, live songs winning a Grammy is weak and in 1996 there were two of them nominated! Throwing in Megadeth’s cover of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” it left us with some slim pickings. Fortunately, White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human” was on the board and we’re rewriting history, giving the groove-riding industrial-tinged phenoms their one and only Grammy. Congrats!
1997 Winner: Rage Against the Machine, “Tire Me”
Nominees:
Korn, “Shoots and Ladders”
Pantera, “Suicide Note, Pt. II”
Rage Against the Machine, “Tire Me”
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, “Hands of Death (Burn Baby Burn)”
White Zombie, “I’m Your Boogieman”
Our 1997 Pick: Rage Against the Machine, “Bulls on Parade”
Okay, this one is a bit weird. Rage Against the Machine were nominated in the Rock and Metal categories in 1997, winning Metal with “Tire Me” and losing Rock with the far superior “Bulls on Parade.” We’re going to meet the Grammys halfway and keep Rage, but forget “Tire Me,” it’s all about “Bulls on Parade!” So the hip-hop / metal hybrids get to keep their award, we just need to change a couple words on that trophy. Do you mind mailing it to us, fellas?
1998 Winner: Tool, “Ænima”
Nominees:
Corrosion of Conformity, “Drowning in a Daydream”
Korn, “No Place to Hide”
Megadeth, “Trust”
Pantera, “Cemetery Gates” (live)
Tool, “Ænima”
Zoo
Our 1998 Pick: Tool, “Ænima”
Tool have essentially become a cult in regards to the undying devotion shown by their legions of fans. ‘Ænima’ was an album that helped put this into play and in 1998, they received the Grammy award for Best Metal Performance. You’re not going to see us put up a fight, especially when the competition wasn’t particularly strong.
1999 Winner: Metallica, “Better Than You”
Nominees:
Judas Priest, “Bullet Train”
Metallica, “Better Than You”
Nashville Pussy, “Fried Chicken and Coffee”
Rage Against the Machine, “No Shelter”
Rammstein, “Du Hast”
Our 1999 Pick: Rammstein, “Du Hast”
It had been 10 years since the Jethro Tull snafu and the Grammys evidently still felt the need to dole out an award to Metallica in every year the band was eligible. We’re not about de facto awards at Loudwire, so when looking over the 1999 nominees there was an obvious choice for who really should have won staring us square in the face. “Du Hast” shattered the perception that a band needed to sing in English to make it on the world stage and the industrial metal sensation Rammstein were only just getting started. The Grammy is yours, guys!
2000 Winner: Black Sabbath, “Iron Man” (live)
Nominees:
Black Sabbath, “Iron Man” (live)
Ministry, “Bad Blood”
Motorhead, “Enter Sandman”
Nine Inch Nails, “Starf–kers, Inc.”
Rob Zombie, “Superbeast”
Epic / Immortal
Our 2000 Pick: Korn, “Freak on a Leash”
Rather than awarding a band for a song that was now 30 years old, it made more sense to us to go with something new and innovative. That’s why if we had it our way, Korn would have won the Best Metal Performance Grammy in 2000 for their all-time hit “Freak on a Leash.” The band was at the height of the nu-metal movement as groove tightened its vice grip on heavy metal, but Korn offered much more with the sinister gothic elements of Jonathan Davis’ voice and that eerie lead playing.
2001 Winner: Deftones, “Elite”
Nominees:
Deftones, “Elite”
Iron Maiden, “The Wicker Man”
Marilyn Manson, “Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes”
Pantera, “Revolution Is My Name”
Slipknot, “Wait and Bleed”
Our 2001 Pick: Slipknot, “Wait and Bleed”
We hate to take away a Grammy from the Deftones, but sometimes life forces you to do things you don’t want to do. Besides, we wouldn’t have to strip them of the award if the Grammys had just given it to Slipknot’s “Wait and Bleed” in the first place. The true winners in 2001, Slipknot were quickly becoming one of the biggest crazes in metal and we’d be foolish not to recognize that. Maybe it’s the benefit of hindsight?
Tool Disscetional
2002 Winner: Tool, “Schism”
Nominees:
Black Sabbath, “The Wizard” (live)
Slayer, “Disciple”
Slipknot, “Left Behind”
SOAD, “Chop Suey!”
Tool, “Schism”
Our 2002 Pick: System of a Down, “Chop Suey!”
In 2002, Tool received their second Grammy award, this time for the sensational track “Schism.” In any other year, we’d be inclined to agree but at this time System of a Down were flexing their spastic muscles as the next big thing. Apologies to Maynard and Co., but “Chop Suey!” can’t be topped, offering a jarring sense of rhythm and catchy yet nonsensical lyrics, positively bursting with contagious energy.
2003 Winner: Korn, “Here to Stay”
Nominees:
P.O.D., “Portrait”
Slipknot, “My Plague”
Stone Sour, “Get Inside”
Rob Zombie, “Never Gonna Stop (The Red Red Kroovy)”
Korn, “Here to Stay”
Tool Dissectional
Our 2003 Pick: Tool, “Lateralus”
Korn’s ‘Untouchables’ continued the band’s album streak with “Here to Stay” serving as the album’s anthem. It was a close call, but since Tool released “Lateralus” as a single within the qualifying window, we just can’t agree with the Grammys here. The song wasn’t even nominated somehow, but maybe it was just too complex for the organization to understand. Fans have spent years dissecting the nuances of the track based off the Fibonacci sequence.
2004 Winner: Metallica, “St. Anger”
Nominees:
Korn, “Did My Time”
Marilyn Manson, “Mobscene”
Metallica, “St. Anger”
Spineshank, “Smothered”
Stone Sour, “Inhale”
Our 2004 Pick: Children of Bodom, “Needled 24/7”
In 2004, it was impossible to avoid the chatter about Metallica’s maligned ‘St. Anger’ album. The band seemed lost, struggling to find their way and the title track was one of the worst representations of metal’s biggest bands. We’re taking the Grammy away and handing it to Children of Bodom, a band who wasn’t even nominated for the song “Needled 24/7.” Here, the Fins started to dabble in more traditional song structure, but didn’t leave behind their neoclassical shredding roots.
2005 Winner: Motorhead, “Whiplash” (Metallica cover)
Nominees:
Cradle of Filth, “Nymphetamine (Overdose)” Feat. Liv Kristine
Hatebreed, “Live for This”
Killswitch Engage, “The End of Heartache”
Motorhead, “Whiplash”
Slipknot, “Vermillion”
Our 2005 Pick: Killswitch Engage, “The End of Heartache”
Since Metallica weren’t eligible in 2005, they gave the Grammy to Motorhead for their cover of ‘Tallica’s “Whiplash.” By this point, the need to gift a golden trophy to anything bearing the band’s name had become, well, sickening. It showed a half-hearted effort to give any recognition to the Best Metal Performance category and if their ears were on the ground, they’d have known that Killswitch Engage’s “The End of Heartache” was at the front of the metalcore revolution, often regarded as the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.
2006 Winner: Slipknot, “Before I Forget”
Nominees:
Ministry, “The Great Satan (Remix)”
Mudvayne, “Determined”
Rammstein, “Mein Teil”
Shadows Fall, “What Drives the Weak”
Slipknot, “Before I Forget”
Our 2006 Pick: Opeth, “Ghost of Perdition”
After failing to properly award Slipknot with a Grammy in 2001, it came five years later for the anthemic single “Before I Forget.” We’re sorry to have to offer an apology to all nine members of the masked troupe, but it must be done. The Best Metal Performance of 2006 goes to Opeth with “Ghost of Perdition.” Is it bold? You betcha! The Swedes had already established their reputation by this point (though it would continue to balloon) and they offered a sense of accessibility amidst their heady brand of death metal meets classic prog.
2007 Winner: Slayer, “Eyes of the Insane”
Nominees:
Lamb of God, “Redneck”
Mastodon, “Colony of Birchmen”
Ministry, “LiesLiesLies”
Stone Sour, “30/30-150”
Slayer, “Eyes of the Insane”
Our 2007 Pick: Mastodon, “Colony of Birchmen”
Honestly, we’re a bit scared to strip Slayer of a Grammy, but since it’s going to Mastodon for the ‘Blood Mountain’ track “Colony of Birchmen,” maybe they won’t put up a fight. Coming straight from the underground, Mastodon unexpectedly seized hold of heavy metal and have been the banner waivers ever since. In 2007, this Georgia quartet had a bit of something for everyone and their widespread appeal came without sacrificing their sound, so hats off, gents!
2008 Winner: Slayer, “Final Six”
Nominees:
As I Lay Dying, “Nothing Left”
King Diamond, “Never Ending Hill”
Machine Head, “Aesthetics of Hate”
Shadows Fall, “Redemption”
Slayer, “Final Six”
Our 2008 Pick: Machine Head, “Aesthetics of Hate”
Yes, we’re taking away not one, but two Grammys awards from thrash icons Slayer. Don’t blame us though because we weren’t the ones who wrote “Aesthetics of Hate.” No, that was Machine Head, so point the blame at Robb Flynn because if he didn’t write this blistering song charged with lyrics about our dearly departed Dimebag Darrell, Slayer would still have that golden gramophone. Flynn did his civic metal duty, firing off the lyrics towards a journalist who bashed Dime in an article about his death and for that we thank him with the Best Metal Performance of 2008.
2009 Winner: Metallica, “My Apocalypse”
Nominees:
DragonForce, “Heroes of Our Time”
Judas Priest, “Nostradamus”
Ministry, “Under My Thumb”
Slipknot, “Psychosocial”
Metallica, “My Apocalypse”
Our 2009 Pick: Slipknot, “Psychosocial”
Well, well, well, would you look at that? By 2009, the Grammys had been awarded Metallica with five awards after botching the one they didn’t get in 1989. Hell, even Motorhead had won for a Metallica cover! In our world of alternate metal history, Slipknot are invited to the stage to accept the award for Best Metal Performance of 2009 for the pounding, pit-ready “Psychosocial.” It isn’t that “My Apocalypse” wasn’t a solid pick, but in regards to a band’s catalog, “Psychosocial” better represents the ‘Knot than “My Apocalypse” does ‘Tallica.
2010 Winner: Judas Priest, “Dissident Aggressor” (live)
Nominees:
Judas Priest, “Dissident Aggressor” (live)
Lamb of God, “Set to Fail”
Megadeth, “Headcrusher”
Ministry, “Senor Peligro” (live)
Slayer, “Hate Worldwide”
Our 2010 Pick: Mastodon, “Oblivion”
“Dissident Aggressor” is an incredible song. How do we know? It held up through decades since being released in 1977. We don’t need a shiny trophy to tell us how much a 33 year old song rules, so let’s give it to Mastodon instead for “Oblivion.” Rob Halford himself is a huge Mastodon fan, so we’re sure he understands why this psych-tinged metal juggernaut should be bestowed the title of Best Metal Performance of 2010.
2011 Winner: Iron Maiden, “El Dorado”
Nominees:
Iron Maiden, “El Dorado”
Korn, “Let the Guilt Go”
Lamb of God, “In Your Words”
Megadeth, “Sudden Death”
Slayer, “World Painted Blood”
Our 2011 Pick: Iron Maiden, “El Dorado”
Iron Maiden have openly expressed their impartial nature towards accolades and awards, choosing to show why they’re best in class onstage rather than with a trophy case. Whether they wanted it or not, they won the Grammy in 2011 and even if we had the power to alter the pages of history, nothing would change here. We agree, “El Dorado,” laced with Maiden’s ever-present sense of epic fantasy, takes it home.
2012 Winner: Foo Fighters, “White Limo”
Nominees:
Dream Theater, “On the Backs of Angels”
Foo Fighters, “White Limo”
Mastodon, “Curl of the Burl”
Megadeth, “Public Enemy No. 1”
Sum 41, “Blood in My Eyes”
Our 2012 Pick: Dream Theater, “On the Backs of Angels”
For two years starting with 2012, the Grammys reverted back to Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance, sticking it to fans of heavy music once again. We’re not going to let that stop us though, so sorry Foo Fighters, but “White Limo” falls short of receiving the award if it were up to us. Since, for our purposes here, it IS up to us, let’s put that gramophone in the hands of one of the most deserving bands, Dream Theater. “On the Backs of Angels” proved the prog perfectionists could keep their ship steady after navigating a highly-publicized drummer switch, featuring some of their most exciting songwriting.
2013 Winner: Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)”
Nominees:
Anthrax, “I’m Alive”
Halestorm, “Love Bites (So Do I)”
Iron Maiden, “Blood Brothers” (live)
Lamb of God, “Ghost Walking”
Marilyn Manson, “No Reflection”
Megadeth, “Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)”
Our 2013 Pick: Marilyn Manson, “No Reflection”
With rock and metal lumped together once again, the Grammys, of course, favored rock and thus, Halestorm won for their song “Love Bites (So Do I),” a great tune. But we think firebrand shock rocker Marilyn Manson should have gotten his first Grammy award thanks to “No Reflection.” The ‘Born Villain’ track’s romping industrial might was met with hook after hook of Manson’s gloom and doom, making for an instant classic.
2014 Winner: Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Nominees:
Anthrax, “T.N.T.”
Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Dream Theater, “The Enemy Inside”
Killswitch Engage, “In Due Time”
Volbeat, “Room 24” feat. King Diamond
Our 2014 Pick: Black Sabbath, “God Is Dead?”
Black Sabbath’s comeback album with Ozzy Osbourne lit up the charts worldwide. In 2014, no other act stood a chance against the heavy metal forebears and we’re not going to be the ones to make a fuss. They got it right! “God Is Dead?” brought the classic Sabbath sound we all know and love with a beefed up, slick modern production, proving the timeless nature of the band’s sound.
2015 Winner: Tenacious D, “The Last in Line” (Dio cover)
Nominees:
Anthrax, “Neon Knights””
Mastodon, “High Road”
Motorhead, “Heartbreaker”
Slipknot, “The Negative One”
Tenacious D, “The Last in Line”
Our 2015 Pick: Slipknot, “The Negative One”
Tenacious D are a fun band not to be taken too seriously. While their love for Ronnie James Dio is admirable and unquestioned, giving them a Grammy for covering “The Last in Line” felt like the joke had finally been taken too far. There were plenty of venerable metal offerings to choose from in 2015, so sorry Jables and K.G., but you might want to consider passing that torch to Slipknot for “The Negative One.” Rebounding after suffering serious lineup changes, the masked icons offered no sonic indication that the band was any worse for the wear.
2016 Winner: Ghost, “Cirice”
Nominees:
August Burns Red, “Identity”
Ghost, “Cirice”
Lamb of God, “512”
Sevendust, “Thank You”
Slipknot, “Custer”
Our 2016 Pick: Ghost, “Cirice”
Ghost’s ascent to stardom has come rather quickly and the future only looked even brighter when the mysterious Satanic clergymen received the Grammy for “Cirice” in 2016. They’ve managed to invoke a similar feeling to the shock rockers of old, capturing attention from their appearance, but this only works when you have the music to back it up and the pop-tinged track has all the hallmarks of a masterfully composed song. There’s nothing to disagree with this time!
2017 Winner: Megadeth, “Dystopia”
Nominees:
Baroness, “Shock Me”
Gojira, “Silvera”
Korn, “Rotting in Vain”
Megadeth, “Dystopia”
Periphery, “The Price is Wrong”
Our 2017 Pick: Megadeth, “Dystopia”
We called it! “Dystopia” not only stomps out its competition here, it stands as one of the best Megadeth songs ever for its hook-laden lead work and lyrical vision of a world in chaos.
2018 Winner: Mastodon, ‘Sultan’s Curse’
With arguably the most in-touch list of candidates for Best Metal Performance, any selection by the Grammys would have been met with applause. But Mastodon have served as innovators in the 21st century and to see them finally get some recognition on this level was the right move to make.
Our 2018 Pick: Meshuggah, “Clockworks”
The metal nominees for 2018 was surprisingly well-rounded and perfectly captured the current state of metal. To really drive the point home, awarding a Grammy to Meshuggah for “Clockworks” could have served as a true turning point from seeming popularity contest to the knock-down, drag-out fight it should have been for the last three decades.
SOURCE: http://loudwire.com/leaked-grammy-winners-greta-van-fleet-lose-best-new-artist/
