Metallica, along with The Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) and it's founder Dr Ahmad Starmast have been announced as the recipients of the Polar Music Prize. The 2018 laureates will be announced at a gala ceremony and banquet in Stockholm. Each year the prize honours two laureates, one from the contemporary world and one from the classical world, each being awarded for significant achievement in music. The prize includes 1 million Swedish Kronor (£88,000) and will be handed out in front of the Swedish Royal Family.

This will be the 27th year for the award ceremony and holds quite an impressive hall of fame with previous winners including Sting, Patti Smith, Paul Simon, Chuck Berry and Bjork. Drummer and co-founder of Metallica Lars Ulrich said "Receiving the Polar Music Prize is an incredible thing, it puts us in very distinguished company," on being awarded the laureate. Bandmate and fellow co-foudner James Hetfield added; "I feel very honoured to be in such great company with the others who have accepted the Polar Music Prize."

Dr Sarmast, director of ANIM and recipient of the laureates for the classical music category said he was 'excited, honoured and privileged" to receive the prize alongside the music institute, which he founded in 2010 in response to the civil war's destruction of Afghanistan's musical tradition.