Let’s get one thing straight. This isn’t a friendly congratulations. This isn’t a listicle. This is a declaration of war, won and settled. This is the official record of who ran the Manitoba loud music scene last year, and it was written with the force of 33,627 votes.
Each vote was a testament. A fan showing up, day after day, clicking a button until their finger was sore. It was a digital census of who gives a shit, who shows up, and who commands the loyalty of the pit. The Manitoba Loud Music Awards are not an industry award show where a few old men in a backroom decide what’s “important.” This is a verdict handed down from the floorboards up.
Some people walked away with a trophy. A hard-earned piece of hardware that says they were the best in their class. But others? Others waged a full-blown campaign, a scorched-earth assault on the ballot, and left with an armful of gold. They didn’t just win a category. They owned the entire goddamn conversation. They left no room for debate. They simply took it.
This is who bled for it. This is who the scene chose. This is the Class of 2024.
THE TAKEOVER: ABSOLUTE. TOTAL. DOMINANCE.
In the MLMAs, there’s winning, and then there’s conquering. It’s one thing to be the best at what you do. It’s another thing entirely to be the best at everything you touch. These four names didn’t just win their category; they planted a flag, looked at the next category over, and took that one too. This is what a mandate looks like. This is what happens when your grip on the scene is so tight, nobody else can breathe. This is a display of raw power, a testament to a year of relentless grinding that paid off in gold. No questions asked. No prisoners taken.
Murder Capital
Murder Capital came for blood and left with the crown jewels. Taking home both Hardcore Band of The Year AND the coveted Loud Album of The Year is a statement of raw power. It means they didn’t just have the best sound; they had the best songs. Complete and total victory.
The Haileys
The ruling class of Manitoba rock made their claim undeniable. Winning both Rock Band of The Year and Female Fronted Band of The Year shows a level of songwriting, performance, and fan connection that nobody else could touch. They didn’t just lead their category; they defined it.
Doug Douglas
Some guys can play. Other guys can perform. Doug Douglas is the rare bastard who does both better than anyone else. He walked away with trophies for both Guitarist of The Year and Performer of The Year. The message is clear: he’s the most electrifying showman with the deadliest chops.
Trav Anema
This wasn’t a win; it was a hostile takeover of the entire visual medium. Trav Anema’s name was on the trophies for both Photographer of The Year AND Videographer of The Year. He doesn’t just document the scene; his work now defines the very look and feel of Manitoba loud music.
THE GENRE KINGS & THE ANTHEM OF THE YEAR
Winning your genre is like winning a civil war. It means you carry the flag for your entire sound. In Manitoba, these scenes are tribes, and being voted the best is a heavy, glorious burden. It means you are the standard-bearer. You are the sound that everyone else in your lane will be measured against for the next 365 days. It’s a title earned in sweaty clubs and on sticky floors, validated by thousands of votes.
Spectre
In the bloody, contested heartland of Manitoba metal, Spectre rose above the noise. They clawed their way to the top of the heap to claim the throne as Metal Band of The Year. For the next 365 days, they are the undisputed tyrants of heavy.
Hippo
The punk rock race is always a chaotic, beer-soaked brawl. This year, Hippo crashed the party, kicked over the tables, and walked out with the title of Punk Band of The Year. They are the official sound of rebellion, as chosen by the rebels themselves.
Skyraid: “In the Night”
Every year has one song. The one track that gets stuck in your head, blasted from car windows, and played between sets at every show. It’s the song every other band wishes they wrote. This year, that was “In the Night” by Skyraid, the fan-voted Loud Single of The Year.
THE INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS
A band is a machine, but it’s still made of moving parts. These are the critical components; the individual players who are so goddamn good at what they do, the scene had to recognize them by name. These are the engines of the scene’s best bands, the flesh-and-blood warriors who make the whole thing roar. To win here means your skill is undeniable, a force of nature that can’t be ignored even in a wall of sound.
Jay Drieger
Holding down the low end is a thankless job, unless you do it better than anyone else. Jay Drieger’s work on the four-string thunder earned him the title of Bassist of The Year. He’s the anchor that keeps the whole damn thing from flying apart.
Marj Castagne
The backbone. The pulse. The goddamn metronome of mayhem. Marj Castagne’s relentless power and precision behind the kit made her the clear choice for Drummer of The Year. In a category packed with talent, her beat hit the hardest.
Regan Schneider
It takes a special kind of power to cut through a wall of distorted guitars and crashing cymbals. Regan Schneider has that power. Her commanding presence and distinct voice made her the undisputed Vocalist of The Year, rising above a field of incredible screamers and singers.
THE ARCHITECTS, THE FOUNDATION, AND THE FUTURE
This scene doesn’t run on hopes and dreams. It runs on the sweat of the people behind the curtain and the energy of the new blood. It’s an ecosystem. The MLMA was built to recognize every part of it, from the studio wizards to the road warriors, from the ones who write the songs to the ones who build the stage. This is a salute to the architects who build the sound, the foundation that keeps it strong, and the future that will carry the torch.
Phil Castagne
The man who makes the records sound like a goddamn monster. Phil Castagne’s skill at capturing lightning in a bottle earned him Engineer of The Year. This isn’t a technical award; it’s a vote of confidence from the bands who trust him with their sound.
Studio 23
The room where it happens. The home base for loud music. The fans and bands have spoken: Studio 23 is the place you go to lay down your tracks, earning it Studio of The Year. It’s more than a room with mics; it’s the scene’s sonic laboratory.
Graham Downey
In its inaugural year, the Song Writer of The Year award went to the ultimate craftsman. Graham Downey was recognized for his ability to forge the riffs, hooks, and stories that become the anthems we all scream along to. He builds the songs that build the scene.
Back Alley Beers
Another new category, another instant classic. The Podcast of The Year award went to Back Alley Beers, the crew voted as the official voice of the scene. They are the ones keeping the conversation going long after the amps have been turned off.
Suburban Funk Machine
Keeping the classics alive is a sacred duty. Suburban Funk Machine does it with a style and energy that made them the undeniable fan-favorite, earning them Cover/Tribute Band of The Year. They don’t just play the songs; they own them.
Mad Lack
The new blood. The future. Mad Lack exploded onto the scene with enough force to be named Upcoming Band of The Year. They are the ones carrying the torch forward. Remember the name, because you’ll be hearing it again.
Dag Aymont
It all comes back to this. The founder of Badlands Promotions, the man who built this entire platform from nothing, and a former winner for his own musicianship (Bassist of the Year, 2022). Dag Aymont’s win for Ambassador of The Year is the scene officially recognizing the heart that pumps its blood. His #SYLS philosophy is the law of the land.
This is the official record. A 33,627-vote deep testament to who put in the work, who commanded the stage, and who defined the sound of our scene. This isn’t the end of the conversation. It’s the beginning of the next one.
The next gala is booked at The MET. October 11. Be ready.
