Classic Rock Presents Prog announced their first annual awards ceremony the other day, with a ton of awesome Roadrunner artists being nominated. Check out some info below:

Welcome to the first annual Progressive Music Awards. After years of entertaining millions of fans the world over, Prog Magazine feels that acknowledging the great progressive artists of the past and present is long overdue. So here we do just that, doffing our caps to a splendid array of artists from over the past 40 years that have seen some of the most imaginative and thought provoking rock music ever created. It continues to enthral us here at Prog Magazine as much as it does you readers who buy the magazine. This is about us giving something back. So have your say, and vote in the first five reader driven categories – you could even win a bumper goody bag full of prog delights from all the nominees and a framed piece of prog artwork from The Flood Gallery. – Jerry Ewing, Editor

BEST LIVE EVENT AWARD

Arguably the most revered progressive rock band on the planet right now, Opeth have certainly challenged their more metal-orientated acolytes in recent times, but few fans would dispute the fact that Opeth continue to pull out all the stops in the live arena. This show was one of their very best.

Click here to vote for Opeth.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The death metal vocals that dominated their early works may be gone forever, but Stockholm’s princes of progress have lost none of their edge or songwriting brilliance. With some of the most imaginative and beautiful songs of their career to date, Heritage sounds like the beginning of a thrilling new chapter for Opeth.

Click here to vote for Heritage.

While the mainstream world finally begins to succumb to the infinite glories of Rush, the rest of us always knew they were something special. However, few people expected that the Canadians’ 19th studio album would be as ridiculously good as Clockwork Angels. A timeless classic to rival the best of their catalogue.

Click here to vote for Clockwork Angels.

When two of prog’s most significant figures joined forces and made an album, most of us had a feeling that it would be a masterpiece. And yes, the debut collaboration between Mikael Akerfeldt and Steven Wilson is just that. It’s also deeply odd, distinctly unsettling and like nothing else on Earth.

Click here to vote for Storm Corrosion.

VIRTUOSO AWARD

Despite recent turbulence in the ranks, Dream Theater remain firmly on top of the prog metal heap. It certainly helps that their guitarist makes virtually everyone else look like a cack-handed goon. Petrucci can play it all and he plays it all brilliantly. The ultimate six-string wizard? Quite possibly.

Click here to vote for John.

GUIDING LIGHT AWARD

From his early days as a progressive death metal pioneer through to his current status as one of the most admired progressive rock artists on the planet, the Opeth frontman has never strayed from his mission to make interesting, beautiful and often complex music that challenges as much as it entertains.

Click here to vote for Mikael.

Modern progressive rock would be a much less interesting and absorbing genre were it not for the efforts of Hemel Hempstead’s prog lord in residence. With Porcupine Tree, his solo work, Storm Corrosion and myriad other projects, Wilson has earned the right to be regarded as a living legend.

Click here to vote for Steven.

Click here to find out more about the first annual Progressive Music Awards.