An unsigned band from St Albans are celebrating after scooping two gongs at the Kerrang! Awards.

Enter Shikari, who took their name from a frame in an X-Men comic book, won Best Live Band and the Spirit of Independence Award at last night's ceremony.

The foursome have had a meteoric rise in spite of having no record deal.

In Pictures: 2007 Kerrang! Awards

Their debut album, Take To The Skies, released in March on their own label, reached number four in the chart.

The metal band formed four years ago at school and recorded their early material in the bass player's garage, which he converted into a makeshift studio.

With the fathers of two members acting as their managers, they built up a fan base through MySpace and sold CDs at gigs, which they travelled to in a converted Post Office van.

The boys are known for their good manners. They admit to having qualms about swearing on their album.

Last year they became only the second unsigned act, after The Darkness, to sell out the 2,000-capacity Astoria in London. They have turned down deals with major labels but do have a publishing deal with Universal which funds distribution and marketing.

The Kerrang! Awards were hosted by Scott Ian of Anthrax and held at the Brewery in the East End.

Welsh rockers Lostprophets were named Best British Band for the second year running.

Best British Newcomer went to Watford's Gallows.

Best Single was 30 Seconds To Mars by The Kill.

Nine Inch Nails accepted the Kerrang! Icon Award and Judas Priest were inducted into the Kerrang! Hall of Fame.

Full list of winners

Best British Newcomer - Gallows
Best International Newcomer - Madina Lake
Best Live Band - Enter Shikari
Best Single - The Kill (30 Seconds To Mars)
Best Album - The Blackening (Machine Head)
Best Video - This Ain't A Scene (Fall Out Boy)
Best British Band - Lostprophets
Best International Band - My Chemical Romance
Classic Songwriter - Deftones
Spirit of Independence - Enter Shikari
Hard Rock Hero - Machine Head
Kerrang! Icon - Nine Inch Nails
Kerrang! Hall of Fame - Judas Priest