Fans of video game Brütal Legend, starring Jack Black, rocked out this Saturday to smash the world record for most people playing air guitar at one time.

The record, conducted at the Download Festival in Donington Park, saw servants of metal shredding frets and wailing on their axes in an orgy of rock godliness.

440 fans gathered at the EA Hub – a purpose-built gaming trailer allowing members of the public to play a variety of titles from publisher Electronic Arts – and, led by Kerrang FM’s Christian Stevenson, rocked out to the MOTÖRHEAD classic 'Ace Of Spades'. An official adjudicator from the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand to authenticate the attempt, which smashed the previous attempt set in 2008 of 318.

Steveneson said: "That was one of the raddest jams I've ever been involved with. The crowd played their air guitars better than Eddie Van Halen! Then they destroyed ’em good and proper. Who cares, right? They can go to the air guitar shop and get another one. Sick to the infinity of sickness! I want a crowd like that at every gig I'm at. Awesometacular – air guitar world records rule!"

Recruited from the festival goers, the air guitar army were rocked out with hardcore favourites The Blackout and celebrity guests. The gnarliest rockers were invited onstage to show off their skills with the South Wales six piece and compete to win a coveted limited-edition Tenacious D electric guitar.

Celebrating Brütal Legend, which hits games consoles this Rocktober 13th in North America and Rocktober 16th in the UK and Europe, the record attempt was inspired by lead character Eddie Riggs, voiced by comedy legend Jack Black. Eddie is a head-banging, Marshall stacking roadie who finds himself transported to a world of heavy metal music where oppressed people yearn for liberation from the an evil Lord. Rock legends OZZY OSBORNE, ROB HALFORD (JUDAS PRIEST), Lita Ford and Lemmy from Motörhead also star.