American metal Bible Revolver took a cue from their British counterparts like Kerrang! and Metal Hammer by throwing their first annual heavy metal award show a la the Oscars and the Grammys, dubbed the Golden Gods. But instead of only one category dedicated to the world of metal, all the awards like Riff of the Year (to Slipknot), Best Underground Band (to Isis) and Golden God (to Dave Mustaine) were two horns up! Even the storied Rainbow Bar and Grill was awarded "Metal Industry Award" honors by Lemmy Kilmister. And only in our universe can the grooves crafted by Pantera's Vinnie Paul, who was deemed Most Awesomely Good Drummer, be likened to elephant testicles!

Metalheads convened on the swank, posh Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles for two days of golden deity-ness. A few hours pre-show on April 7, Megadeth's bassist (and former White Lion strummer) James LoMenzo was chillin', having a salad at a low-key lunch. Hatebreed, Machine Head, Alice in Chains and members of Unearth, All That Remains,Trivium, Suicide Silence and Slayer were running back and forth from the hotel to the venue, sound-checking, photo opp'ing and walking the pre-show black carpet! Even Tom Araya's spawn was there, accompanying dear old dad.

Noisecreep Test

    Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Mastodon at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Mastodon at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Crowd at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Neurosis at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Neurosis at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Crowd at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

    Baroness at Scion Rock Fest 2009 held at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, February 28, 2009

    Brian Manley for Spinner

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Before posing with Korn's Jonathan Davis and others for a photo shoot backstage, Hatebreed throat Jamey Jasta told Noisecreep, "I am glad that our community is giving all the deserving artists their due," regarding the awards. Host and noted metalhead Brian Posehn, who is taller in person than on TV, told Noisecreep in his trademark dry 'n sly humor, "I am completely psyched to host the first Golden Gods. I just wonder how far they had to go down the list of people they really wanted to host before they got to my name! I am just happy to be asked." Posehn also told us Lamb of God's' Wrath' and Mastodon's 'Crack the Skye' top his current playlist.

Other highlights included Killswitch Engage debuting a new song, "Light in a Darkened World"; Tool's Maynard James Keenan bedecked in a white suit; the Acacia Strain cussing enough to make a sailor blush during their acceptance speech for the MySpace Reader's Choice Award; and Slayer's Dave Lombardo extolling the virtues of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman as they accepted the award for Most Mind-Blowing guitarists. Let's hope this becomes an annual event!

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