5/24/2017

Alternative Press Music Awards 2017

Cody Carson

So, it's that time of the year again. The APMAs are back! This year's host: Andy Black (or Biersack, which ever name you prefer) I'm sad that Jack and Alex aren't back for the 3rd year in a row, but it's said that they'll be there for a live performance! Other performers include Machine Gun Kelly, ONE OK ROCK, Sleeping with Sirens, and Pierce the Veil. Competition doesn't seem as tough as it did last year. I'm a bit disappointed with the nominees, but I still have my favorites. Nominees are:
Dean Butterworth
Best Vocalist: Ben Barlow- Neck Deep, Cody Carson- Set It Off, Derek DiScanio- State Champs, John O'Callaghan- The Maine, Keith Buckley- Every Time I Die, and Lynn Gunn. My choice for best vocalist is hands-down Cody Carson. That boy has an amazing, unique voice on record and live. I believe he has a strong chance at winning along with Derek and Ben.
Best Drummer: Arejay Hale- Halestorm, Aric Improta- Night Verses, Dean Butterworth- Good Charlotte, Frank Zummo- Sum41, Matt Mingus- Dance Gavin Dance, JP "Rook" Cappellety- MGK. My vote for best drummer went to Dean Butterworth. I honestly think that he's going to take home the trophy. It's Good Charlotte for Pete's sake!
Best Bassist: Alex Dean- Architects U.K., Chris Hinkley- I The Mighty, Fat Mike- NOFX, "Fieldy" Arvizu- Korn, Ryan Scott Graham- State Champs, and Sergio Vega- Deftones. My one and only choice for this is Ryan Scott Graham. I know State Champs has a strong fan army, plus Ryan knows what he's doing and he does it well.
Steve Menoian
Best Guitarist: Ben Weinman- The Dillinger Escape Plan, Claudio Sanchez- Coheed and Cambria, Jordan Buckley- Every Time I Die, Reba Myers- Code Orange, Steve Menoian- I Prevail, and Teppei Teranishi- Thrice. Once again, I felt like there was only one choice: Steve Menoian. I Prevail has such strong guitar riffs and hard melodies.
Paramore
Dedicated Fanbase: Melanie Martinez, Motionless in White, Paramore, PVRIS, Sleeping with Sirens, and TwentyOne Pilots. My vote went to Sleeping with Sirens. However, Paramore has a strong chance of winning. I have no doubt in my mind that they will take that trophy home with them, but I'll have my fingers crossed for Sleeping with Sirens. (Of course TwentyOne Pilots has the odds in their favor, but I'm sick of them winning everything)
With Confidence
Best Underground Band: Broadside, Knocked Loose, Movements, Palaye Royale, Silent Planet, and With Confidence. I can say with confidence that With Confidence is going to win this category. They have made a huge impact on the scene and have been my newest obsession. I wouldn't even consider them underground anymore!
Breakthrough Band: Avatar, Creeper, Ice Nine Kills, Moose Blood, ONE OK ROCK, and Waterparks. My vote went to Moose Blood. My boyfriend's went to Waterparks. I love them both so much. I put money on ONE OK ROCK though. They've been smashing it!
ONE OK ROCK
Best Hard Rock Artist: Bullet for my Valentine, Halestorm, Highly Suspect, In This Moment, Korn, The Pretty Reckless. Bullet for my Valentine got my vote. I'm a little bias towards them since they're one of the only Hard Rock artists I listen to, but they really do posses the talent that this reward is dedicated to.
Best Live Band: Beartooth, Dance Gavin Dance, Falling in Reverse, In This Moment, Issues, NOFX. My vote last year went to Issues. It went to the same place this year. It wouldn't surprise me if Beartooth took it home either.
Best Music Video: Highly Suspect- Bloodfeather, I See Stars- Calm Snow, Korn- Insane, Memphis May Fire- This Light I Hold, State Champs- Losing Myself, Sum41- Fake My Own Death. State Champs won me over, just like they'll win this award. Losing Myself is a great song and has a video to match it.
Voldemort music video
Best New Artist Music Video:  K.Flay- Blood in the Cut, Pup- Sleep in the Heat, SWMRS- Palm Trees, Tiny Moving Parts- Common Cold, Watsky- Don't Be Nice, and With Confidence- Voldemort. Again, With Confidence has my support. Voldemort is so catchy and has a great video for a new artist. I wouldn't be upset if SWMRS won though.
Song of the year: A Day To Remember- Paranoia, Andy Black- We Don't Have to Dance, Pierce the Veil- Circles, MGK- Alpha Omega, Real Friends- Mess, and Waterparks- Stupid for You. I went through and had my friends vote for these ones. There were too many to choose from my. I wouldn't be butthurt if any of these bands took home the song of the year title. (However, I'm not the biggest MGK fan)
Artist of the year: A Day to Remember, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, Green Day, MGK, Panic! at the Disco, Pierce the Veil, Sum 41, and The Pretty Reckless. Instead of telling you who I want to win, heres who I DON'T want to win: The Pretty Reckless, MGK, and Fall Out Boy.
The Shadow Side
Album of the year: Andy Black- The Shadow Side, Tonight Alive- Limitless, Architects U.K.- All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, Attila- Chaos, Beartooth- Aggressive, Every Time I Die- Low Teens, I Prevail- Lifelines, Moose Blood- Blush, Pierce the Viel- Misadventures, and Waterparks- Double Dare. I'd like to think that Andy's going to take this one home, but the last four bands listed have my full support.
Looking forward to this year's APMAs?
Go cast your votes! Make every single one count! Who did you vote for?