TAIPEI • A band whose music has been hailed as voicing the frustrations of Taiwan's youth over a lack of economic opportunities picked up three gongs last Saturday at the 28th Golden Melody Awards, the biggest in the island's music industry.

No Party For Cao Dong got nods for Best Musical Group, Best New Artist and Song Of The Year with debut album The Servile.

In the event celebrated with performances by home-grown diva A-mei and Japanese rock band Glay, among others, veteran Taiwan rock group Mayday bagged the prize for Best Album In Mandarin.

Taiwanese singer Sangpuy Katatepan, known for performing the ancient tunes of his indigenous Puyuma tribe, went home with the night's biggest award, Album Of The Year.

This is a new category that was created this year and is open to all releases, whether they are in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka or indigenous languages.

Other winners included Taiwan's Eve Ai (Best Female Vocalist, Mandarin) and Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong (Best Male Vocalist, Mandarin), who fended off contenders including Jay Chou.

It was the sixth time that Fong had been nominated for the honour, noted Taiwanese media, but Saturday's triumph marked the first time he made the breakthrough.