Florida's Heavy Metal Underground

1st Annual Orlando METAL Awards — 2001

Dates:: 5.18.01 — 5.25.01
Reporter:: Mattdaddy
Location:: Fairbanks Inn (aka the F.B.I.)
Photos:: Courtesy of © Killer Camera

The Orlando METAL Awards began as a hair-brained conversation between two friends about what could be done to give the Orlando METAL scene a kick in the pants. Loosely based on the original "Tampa Bay Metal Awards" (during the 90's), and another attempted awards show called the "Central Florida Music Awards". The idea was to create something that the fans had never experienced before, attempt to break through the "Band Politics", and overcome the "cliques" that seemingly existed at the time. After all, METAL bands in Orlando had only two places, so the concept of bringing all forms of METAL together during one show in support of one another was ultimately the initial goal.

Unfortunately, no one had any idea what kind they were getting themselves into, or what kind of long lasting effects one simple little concert would have on the Orlando METAL scene. Therefore, not much thought was given to documenting the first OMA, with very little evidence to show.