Kerrang! rewards inspirational Metallica

Rock giants Metallica, Slipknot and Rage Against The Machine have been honoured for their contribution to heavy metal at the Kerrang! Awards.

US metal legends Metallica won the Inspiration award from the magazine which the band collected to a raucous standing ovation.

Presenting the award in London, Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan, said: "Every artist you have seen tonight has been influenced by this band and their classic albums."

Lars Ulrich, Metallica's drummer, said: "There are so many people in this room that inspire us and keep us alive, so I just want to thank everyone for keeping Metallica alive."

Newly reformed rap-rock band Rage Against The Machine won the Hall of Fame award, which has previously gone to Judas Priest and AC/DC, while Slipknot collected the Kerrang! Icon award.

Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor dedicated the prize to the band's drummer Joey Jordison, who was absent due to a broken ankle. Taylor said: "I'm speechless; I don't know what to say. I wish there was more of us here. I just showed up for the booze."

But he pledged to return to the UK later in the year to make up for missing the Reading and Leeds festivals due to Jordison's injury.

He said: "We will be back as soon as the wound heals."

American band 30 Seconds To Mars, fronted by actor Jared Leto, picked up two awards: Best Single and Best International Band.

Leto said: "It's unbelievable to be here and we are accepting this for the people that voted for us."

The Best British Newcomer award was taken by Slave To Gravity.

Lead singer Tommy Gleeson said: "We have been telling everyone we know to vote for the band and have been calling it a vote for change.

"We hope it will inspire other people to have the guts to do something a bit different."

The awards were presented at The Brewery in east London in front of an audience of 400.