Headbangers remain loyal to the form. (Associated Press)

Years after the peak of Canadian heavy metal bands like Anvil and Annihilator, the Juno Awards has announced a new category for best metal/hard music album of the year. Until now, heavy metal was part of the hard rock category at Canada's annual awards for the best in music. The recognition from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences came Wednesday, 23 years after the Grammys recognized heavy metal music as a distinct genre.

The belated recognition for a style that has been used since the 1970s by mainstream Canadian bands such as Rush, Loverboy and Sword will likely tease out some new names. Bands such as Quebec's Voivod and Cryptopsy are still active. And the evolving rock scene now includes countless subgenres such as nu-metal, power metal, grindcore, extreme metal, industrial metal, viking metal, folk metal, doom metal, gothic metal, speed metal and sludge metal. The surprising longevity of headbangers - the long hair, the eternal black T-shirts - was cleverly captured in 2006 film, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey.

The Junos added an electronic category last year. There are now 41 award categories, a yawningly large number that ensures most get no recognition at all at the main awards gala. Submissions for the 2012 Junos open Oct. 1 and the awards are set for April 1, 2012 in Ottawa.