Metal God Honored: Wolf Hoffmann Declared Best Guitarist at 2025 iHeart Awards

Wolf Hoffmann Named Best Heavy Metal Guitarist at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards — A Thunderous Tribute to ACCEPT’s 90s Legacy

Los Angeles, CA – May 2025 — The riffs still roar and the legacy lives louder than ever.

In a night filled with rock legends and rising stars, one name cut through the noise with pure, electrified precision: Wolf Hoffmann, the iconic guitarist of German heavy metal band ACCEPT, was awarded Best Heavy Metal Guitarist at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

The announcement was met with a standing ovation — not just from die-hard metalheads, but from artists across genres who recognize Hoffmann’s impact on the evolution of modern guitar playing.

Accepting the award with humility and thunder, Hoffmann said:

“This isn’t just for me — this is for everyone who’s ever banged their head to ‘Balls to the Wall,’ who discovered metal in the 90s, and who kept this music alive when no one else did. Thank you for remembering. And thank you for still listening.”

A Legacy Forged in Steel

Though ACCEPT’s heyday began in the late 70s and soared through the 80s, it was the gritty, uncompromising evolution of their sound in the 90s that truly sealed Hoffmann’s reputation as a master of metal guitar. Albums like Objection Overruled (1993) and Death Row (1994) showcased not only heavier riffs, but a sharpened precision and classical influence that would later inspire players in bands like Arch Enemy, Trivium, and Sabaton.

Hoffmann’s playing during that era was a balancing act between raw power and melodic discipline — a style that carved a place for ACCEPT in a decade where metal was forced to adapt or disappear.

With his signature Flying V and stoic stage presence, Hoffmann remained a constant force through lineup changes, genre shifts, and cultural upheavals. In the words of Slipknot’s Jim Root, who presented the award:

“Wolf didn’t follow trends — he melted them down and built something heavier.”

A Modern Resurgence

The award comes as Hoffmann and ACCEPT gear up for their 2025 European tour, celebrating over four decades of music and a fanbase that spans generations. Their latest album, Twilight Over Babylon, released in late 2024, climbed metal charts in Germany, Sweden, and the U.S., reigniting global interest in traditional heavy metal with a modern twist.

Hoffmann also continues to be celebrated for his classical-meets-metal solo projects, like Headbangers Symphony, which proved his ability to blend Beethoven with brutality in a way no other guitarist quite has.

What This Award Really Means

In an industry often dominated by newer names and short-lived trends, this award stands as a reminder of endurance, artistry, and impact. Hoffmann’s recognition at the iHeartRadio Awards isn’t just a win for ACCEPT — it’s a win for the entire genre of traditional heavy metal.

As one fan at the event put it:

“They called it old-school. But tonight, Wolf made it feel eternal.”