In Pictures: The Pre-Kerrang! Awards Cocktail Party

How exactly does one prepare oneself for a party of Kerrang! Awards magnitude? Go to a bar around the corner and have a pre-party at which you sup delicious Crystal Head vodka cocktails and have a massive laugh with the cream of the music industry.

Hosted by the lovely people of United Talent Agency – booking agents for Bring Me The Horizon, Bullet For My Valentine, Architects and enough others to put on a very good festival – the bash proved the perfect run-up to the Awards. Have you ever drunk an espresso martini out of a skull? Well, we have now. And we woke up with the hangover to prove it.

Dedicated party animal Ben Ward of London metal titans Orange Goblin was, unsurprisingly, propping up the bar early doors, soon to be joined by Napalm Death singer Barney Greenway among others. But amazingly, everyone present made it to the Awards in time, albeit wonkily…

Watch this year's Kerrang! Awards now:

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