Results of The 2018 Kerrang! Readers’ Poll

It’s been a breathtaking year for rock, with returning legends, surprise heroes and exciting new contenders. But what did you guys make of it all? Brace yourselves for the results of the Kerrang! Readers' Poll 2018…

HERO OF THE YEAR

1. Mike Shinoda, Linkin Park
2. Dan Searle, Architects
3. Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco
4. Kyle Pavone, We Came As Romans
5. Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters

In early December, we presented Mike Shinoda with our Person Of The Year title. With a massive smile and an even bigger heart in the face of adversity – not to mention the release of his intensely powerful Post Traumatic debut solo LP in June – Linkin Park’s keys man has navigated the year with care, consideration, and, most importantly, class. The world is in safe hands with Mike leading charge.

SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Mike Shinoda
2. Gerard Way
3. Frank Iero
4. Andy Black
5. Jamie Lenman

From the release of his Post Traumatic EP all the way back in January, to the full album of the same name some five months later, Mike Shinoda’s music has served as an enormous comfort for the metal community in the wake of Chester’s passing. That his songs are as scintillating as they are soothing is testament to Mike’s talents as an artist.

BAND OF THE YEAR

1. Bring Me The Horizon
2. Architects
3. twenty one pilots
4. Greta Van Fleet
5. Parkway Drive

That Sheffield’s finest spent the first eight months of 2018 away from the limelight is testament to the power of their return this past August. Thoroughly deserved, chaps.

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. Bring Me The Horizon – MANTRA
2. Slipknot – All Out Life
3. Architects – Royal Beggars
4. Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
5. Marmozets – Major System Error

‘Do you wanna start a cult with me?’ Horizon asked in their colossal comeback single. The answer? A resounding yes. As if we expected anything less…

THE BAND SAY…

"Thank you a thousand times over to everyone who voted for us. We are overwhelmed with the support shown for MANTRA. You never know how it’s going to go when you take another sonic step, but the reaction from fans and newcomers alike reminds you why it’s so important that we do. From opening with the song at Reading & Leeds three days after it premiered and hearing the crowd sing it like it was already a vintage cut, to the GRAMMY nomination, to this, it’s just been a whirlwind, and makes us so excited for you guys to hear amo. And as far as being Band Of The Year, it’s humbling, and we’re going to make sure we live up to that title in 2019. Thank you, readers, and thank you, Kerrang!. It’s great to be back."

BEST THING ABOUT 2018

1. Nirvana reunion
2. Gerard Way releasing new music
3. Bring Me The Horizon’s secret sets at Reading & Leeds
4. Billie Joe Armstrong’s The Longshot
5. Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic tour

Out of all the things we were secretly hoping for in 2018 (yes, a new Tool album was on that list, but never mind), a reunion of Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear seemed the least likely. Even if you’d asked the band themselves, they’d have said the same. But that’s what made their six-song set at Cal Jam all the more special. If it happens again in the future? Great. But if it doesn’t, Cal Jam served as the perfect tribute to a group of total and utter legends.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

1. Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
2. Bring Me The Horizon – MANTRA
3. Halestorm – Do Not Disturb
4. Slipknot – All Out Life
5. All Time Low – Birthday

There have been many impressive, clever, gripping and interesting clips released this year. But only one where a man literally walked up the side of a building. Not figuratively – as nifty CGI and just the general laws of gravity would have you think. Nope, for Panic!’s smash single High Hopes (also voted for by you lot as one of the Songs Of The Year), frontman Brendon Urie casually strolled to heights of around 75 feet in the name of making a great video. The results – as with everything else Brendon puts his name to – are dazzling.

KERRANG! COVER OF THE YEAR

1. Chester Bennington (K!1731)
2. Mike Shinoda (K!1750)
3. Iron Maiden (K!1734)
4. Oli Sykes (K!1712)
5. Beartooth (K!1738)

In July, we marked the one-year anniversary of Chester Bennington’s passing with the invaluable help of his wife Talinda, mother Susan Eubanks and sister Tobi Knehr. It was a eulogy we were enormously proud of, and we’re honoured that the Linkin Park Family appreciated it, too.

NEW BAND OF THE YEAR

1. Greta Van Fleet
2. FEVER 333
3. iDKHOW
4. Vein
5. Stand Atlantic

From sold-out shows, to a Kerrang! cover and four GRAMMY nominations, there was only ever going to be one winner…

THE BAND SAY…

"What a remarkable honour it is to be voted Best New Band by the Kerrang! readers. 2018 has been a magnificent year, but not without the exceptional love and support from our fans. We’re very much looking forward to seeing you all in 2019!"

LIVE BAND OF THE YEAR

1. Enter Shikari
2. Iron Maiden
3. Bring Me The Horizon
4. Architects
5. Parkway Drive

C’mon, let’s be real: even when Enter Shikari aren’t on the road, they’re still somehow one of the greatest live bands on the planet.

ROU REYNOLDS SAYS…

"A frantic and intense thank you to everyone that voted for us. We put on shows that aim to celebrate community and diversity, and to keep pushing the boundaries of live music. It’s about love, unity, expression and sweat, and it warms our hearts to know that that is acknowledged."

EP OF THE YEAR

1. iDKHOW – 1981 Extended Play
2. FEVER 333 – Made An America
3. Dream State – Recovery
4. Avenged Sevenfold – Black Reign
5. Fall Out Boy – Lake Effect Kid

A thrillingly quirky mix of playfulness and sarcasm, this is a total breath of fresh air.

THE BAND SAY…

"The introduction of this project, and this collection of songs, has meant so much to the both of us. Choosing 1981 Extended Play as EP Of The Year makes it all even more special. Thank you so, so much!"

RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR

1. Radio 1 Rock Show
2. Alex Baker, Kerrang! Radio
3. The Andy Show
4. Awsten & Travis’ Slumber Party
5. Alice Cooper, Planet Rock

Not only is Daniel P. Carter reigning supreme once more – he’s also found time this year to tell you more about rock’s best stuff in Kerrang!’s column. Ace.

DANIEL P. CARTER SAYS…

"Thank you to all the bands – new and established – for putting out great music. It makes my job super exciting and a lot easier. Cheers to the team, Carly and Helen, but most importantly, thank you for listening and voting."

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

1. Download
2. Slam Dunk
3. 2000trees
4. Reading & Leeds
5. Bloodstock

Six months on, we’re still talking about that Guns N’ Roses Saturday night set in the office. Clearly you lot are, too.

ANDY COPPING SAYS…

"It is an honour for Download to win Best Festival Of The Year. The readers of Kerrang! have always been loyal to the festival, and we would be nothing without their support. Thanks for voting for us and see you again in June next year!"

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. Architects – Holy Hell
2. twenty one pilots – Trench
3. Mike Shinoda – Post Traumatic
4. Greta Van Fleet – Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
5. Don Broco – Technology

In our 5K review of the metallers’ eighth album, we claimed Holy Hell was a record “that’s by turns gut-wrenching, hauntingly desolate and emotionally devastating”. Predictably, it resonated just as profoundly with everybody else, too. Bravo, Architects.

DAN SEARLE SAYS…

"Thank you so much for voting Holy Hell as the Album Of The Year! It means a lot to us that fans hold the record in such high regard. All we wanted was to create an album that we felt Tom [Searle] would be proud of, and we honestly didn’t look beyond that objective. To see people all over the world now connecting with the record is a beautiful thing and largely beyond my comprehension, but things like this give me a glimpse into the impact that the album has had. Thank you."

See you in 2019!