Best Rock Video of 2015 – 5th Annual Loudwire Music Awards

Even before the "Vultures Fly" video, Avatar always managed to generate an interesting image. But with their clip for "Vultures Fly" off the Hail the Apocalypse disc, the band served up a chilling narrative on nuclear war with some pretty impressive animation.

Chris Cornell as an old West outlaw getting ready to hang? It may not have been the obvious narrative for "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart," but add in a short film-like feel, actors like Deadwood's W. Earl Brown and go-to video guest star Eric Roberts and a clever ending and Cornell delivered a clip that reminds us that the music video can be a fun storytelling art form.

Straight out of a comic book, The Darkness generated one of the year's more popular videos. "Barbarian" found the band members animated, taking part in the violent and bloody conquest seeking out Ivan the Boneless. It's an eye-catching clip as the action moves panel-to-panel.

Disturbed's return with "The Vengeful One" single was accompanied by one of the year's standout videos. Director Phil Mucci brought his distinct animation-meets-live action look to the clip, which finds Disturbed mascot The Guy riding into town and ready to wreak havoc upon a media conglomerate brainwashing the masses.

A masked skateboarder, a juicing and burning Tim Commerford ... a trash talking Lance Armstrong. No this is not one of Stefon's Saturday Night Live nightclubs, it's the breakout video for "Mountain Lion" from Commerford's band Future User. And yes, Commerford did actually juice and performed the insane stunts in the clip. Talk about suffering for your art.

Hellyeah continued to thrive off of their Blood for Blood album in 2015 and the big song off the disc this year was "Hush," a song penned by Chad Gray about domestic abuse. The clip for the song was equally poignant, portraying the effects of domestic abuse and how a picture perfect family isn't always what it seems.

Marilyn Manson as a healer? He may have spiritual powers but for which side. The stylish, cinematic clip, which features an opening narration from Michael K. Williams, finds Manson as the titular "Mephistopheles of Los Angeles," leading his congregation as they prepare to meet their maker. After watching this clip, it's safe to say that Lazarus has got no dirt on Manson.

Nothing More's Jonny Hawkins penned the song "Jenny" about the struggles his sister and aunt have had in their lives dealing with bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia respectively. When it came time to release the song as a single, the band developed an impactful video that shined a light on mental illness and launched a campaign supporting several organizations that deal with the assorted illnesses.

It's no secret that many people find clowns scary rather than humorous, sensing that there's something more sinister at work. But the Offspring have shown that they can be both with their 2015 video for "Coming for You." In what amounts to a clown version of Fight Club, the comedic violence turns downright brutal until a mime enters the fray.

Seether took the traditional video format and turned it on its ear a little bit with their clip for "Nobody's Praying for Me." The interactive video addressed how personal biases can lead to a rush to judgment in things such as reporting on a potential racial divide in a police shooting. Incorporating the points of view of the officer, the youth and multiple media reports, it shows that further investigation is often needed rather than taking things at face value.