Wolves Unleashed: The 2019 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Hard Rock/Metal

Time to Crank it Up. Heavy Metal and Hard Rock had five entries this quarter. That's a good showing for a quarter.

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• As I Lay Dying - Shaped by Fire
• Narnia - From Darkness to Light
• Oh Sleeper - Bloodied/Unbowed
• War of Ages - Void
• Wolves at the Gate - Eclipse

It's good to have As I Lay Dying back in the fold. Forgiveness is at the root of Christianity. I am not making any predictions, but I wouldn't be surprised if the eventual winner comes from this quarter. It is that loaded. Rap is the final of the tie trio (that sounds like a bad Southern Gospel Group). Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: September 2019

The Final Rewind of #PVX is here. Ten Years. And we go out with a bang and not a whimper.

The Singles Scene

• Apollo LTD - DNA (Acoustic) 5 Emeralds
• Arilya - Save You 5 Emeralds
• As I Lay Dying - Blinded 5 Emeralds
• Brandon Bee - Breathe on Me, O Jesus 4.25 Emeralds
• Tina Boonstra - Head, Teeth, Hands 4.75 Emeralds
• Dan Bremnes - Up Again (The Remixes) 4.75 Emeralds
• Canyon Hills Worship - Never Gonna Stop 4.75 Emeralds
• Casting Crowns - Praise You In This Storm (New York Sessions) 4.75 Emeralds
• Alvin Cedric - Rescue (Lauren Daigle Cover) 4.50 Emeralds
• Dillon Chase - Paradise 4.75 Emeralds
• The Choir - Mystical World 5 Emeralds
• Cochren and Co - Heart and Soul (The Sienna Sessions) 4.75 Emeralds
• Cochren and Co - One Day 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Phobiac 5 Emeralds
• Amanda Lindsey Cook - Evergreen (Re-Imagined) 5 Emeralds
• Cortes - For The Best 4.25 Emeralds
• Embassy - Undignified 5 Emeralds
• Connor Flanagan - Dangerous (ft Russ Parish) 5 Emeralds
• Hammock - Circular As Our Way 5 Emeralds
• John Hanni - Start To Care 4.75 Emeralds
• Impact - Hope Song 5 Emeralds
• Spencer Kane - If I Can't Have You ft Levi Mitchell (Shawn Mendes Cover) 4.75 Emeralds
• KB - Lincoln 4.75 Emeralds
• KJ-52 - Summertime ft AJ Jenkins 4.75 Emeralds
• Rachael Lampa - He's Good 5 Emeralds
• LEAH - Redemption 5 Emeralds
• Mark Lee - How To Feel Alive 4.75 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Edge of My Seat (Radio Version) ft Cochren and Co 5 Emeralds
• Manafest - Plan for Me ft Melanie Greenwood 5 Emeralds
• Chris McClarney - Valley (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Brea Miles - God Culture (Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - My Love, My Drug 4.75 Emeralds
• Neon Feather - Safe (ft Chris Chron) 5 Emeralds
• Northlander - Occulus 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetboom - Saints 5 Emeralds
• The Porter's Gate - The Earth Shall Know ft Casey J, Leslie Jordan and Urban Doxology 5 Emeralds
• Sidewalk Prophets - Smile 5 Emeralds
• Seth and Nirva Ready - Turning Over Tables ft Michael Tait 5 Emeralds
• RED - The Evening Hate (Alternative Version) 5 Emeralds
• Righteous Vendetta - Kill The Lights 4.75 Emeralds
• Apollo Rojas - Popular Mechanix 3.50 Emeralds
• Angie Rose - Fight Like A Man 4.75 Emeralds
• Roy3ls - Souls 4.75 Emeralds
• Scandroid - New York City Nights (Tommy '86 Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Scandroid - New York City Nights (Tommy '86 Remix Instrumentals) 5 Emeralds
• 7eventh Time Down - Trust (CMC Remix) 4.50 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - So Will I (100 Billion X) 4.75 Emeralds
• Stillman - Draw Near 4.75 Emeralds
• Laura Story - You Cannot Be Stopped 4.75 Emeralds
• Michael Sweet - Son of Man ft Todd La Torre (Queensryche) and Andy James 5 Emeralds
• John Tibbs - Wild Things 4.75 Emeralds
• Bryan and Katie Torwalt - Remember 4.75 Emeralds
• Roy Tosh - Ghost ft Wes Writer and Beacon Light 5 Emeralds
• JSteph - Fake Me Out ft Moflo Music 4.75 Emeralds
• Verses - Letting Go (Re-Imagined) 5 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - Jesus Beautiful 5 Emeralds
• Kim Walker-Smith - Insatiable 5 Emeralds
• We The Kingdom - Holy Water 4.75 Emeralds
• Tauren Wells - Miracle 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - What If 4.75 Emeralds
• Josh Wilson - OK 5 Emeralds
• Zauntee - Fanatic 4.75 Emeralds

The Song Judging is going to be really difficult for #PVX. On to the final group of albums which will not make the finals.

Missing The Mark

• The Belonging Co. - Awe + Wonder (Live) 4.25 Emeralds
• Social Club Misfits - Doom EP 4.25 Emeralds

These releases are at the High End of the cutoff, so it's not that these are bad albums. They are just not award worthy here at Night Beat HQ. Maybe at the Doves, where the standards are more lenient. On to the final standards of perfection for #PVX.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• As I Lay Dying - Shaped by Fire 5 Emeralds
• Jeremy Camp - The Story's Not Over 5 Emeralds
• Circle of Dust - Circle of Dust (Remixes and Rarities)(Deluxe Edition) 5 Emeralds
• David's Tent - Raise Every Voice: David's Tent (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Disciple - Love Letter Kill Shot 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Young and Free - III (Re-Imagined) 5 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Listen More EP 5 Emeralds
• Life Church Worship - God So Good (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Keyondra Lockett - The Heal Reloaded: The Journey Continues 5 Emeralds
• William McDowell - The Cry: A Live Worship Experience From Chattanooga 5 Emeralds
• Out of The Dust - Now More Than Ever 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Rain 5 Emeralds
• RED - Innocence and Instinct (10 Year Anniversary Deluxe Edition) 5 Emeralds
• RNW Music - When It Comes To You 5 Emeralds
• Aaron Shusht - Nothing to Fear 5 Emeralds
• Lindsey Stirling - Artemis 5 Emeralds
• War of Ages - Void 5 Emeralds

Semi-Precious Metals

• Attaboy - Wild 4.50 Emeralds
• The Birdsongs - The Journey: Act II - The War 4.75 Emeralds
• Sean Curran - All Of Us (All Praise) (Live) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Hayden Everett - Hayden Everett EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Danny Gokey - Wanted EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Hollyn - Bye, Sad Girl EP 4.75 Emeralds
• John P. Kee - I Made It Out 4.75 Emeralds
• Jamie Kimmett - Prize Worth Fighting For EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Leeland - Better Word (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Life Center Worship - Acoustic Sessions EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Here Be Lions - I Speak Jesus EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Alive and Breathing EP, Volume 1 4.75 Emeralds
• North Point Inside Out - Wide Open EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• S.O. - Augustine's Legacy 4.75 Emeralds
• Transform - Jericho (ft Sean Be) EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Convoy of Hope: Hope Has A Name 4.75 Emeralds
• Big Daddy Weave - When The Light Comes 4.50 Emeralds

#PVX is in the Bag. Year 11 Begins Now.

Music Video Monday: Resurrection

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. Christian music is all about the resurrection. And forgiveness and redemption. All three things are involved in this edition of Music Video Monday.

We begin with another Choir Video. A lyric video isn't what they used to be these days. Now there isn't much of a difference between a lyric and a regular music video. from Bloodshot this is the lyric video for The Time Has Come.

Next up we have Owl City. The band has released Cinematic this month, and it is an interesting Pop/Dance mix. It is a good example of stretching professionally. This is the video for Lucid Dream.

Finally the resurrection part. There was a metalcore by the name of As I Lay Dying which soared to the top of Night Beat Rankings. And then one of their members was convicted of attempting to hire a hit man to kill his wife. The attempt failed because the hitman was an undercover cop. The band member went to jail. The band broke up and was resurrected as Wovenwar. Two albums were released. Jail sentence over, the member has asked for forgiveness for things said in jail, forgiveness is given and the band is reunited. This is As I Lay Dying, Part Deux, and My Own Grave.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Warm Tones: The 2012 4th Quarter - Hard Rock and Metal

Down to the final two. Our last two genres have seven and six entries each. Very well represented. First up is Hard Rock and Metal. Yes I know that there isn't much difference between this genre and rock, but it was necessary way back at the start to separate them because of the mass of entries. Without ado, Heavy Metal.

• A Bullet for Pretty Boy - Symbiosis
• As I Lay Dying - Awakened
• Becoming The Archetype - I Am
• Gideon - Milestone
• P.O.D. - Murdered Love
• Project 86 - Wait for the Siren
• Wolves at the Gate - Captors

Of the entries Project 86 stood out among the pack. Wait for the Siren garnered perfect album status and is in the final round. Also having a good shot at making the finals are A Bullet for Pretty Boy, Wolves at the Gate, As I Lay Dying, and last years winner Becoming The Archetype bidding for a repeat.

It is not looking good for P.O.D. this time around. Maybe it was the f-bomb, but I don't think so. Murdered Love didn't impress me, and I don't think it will be among the final grouping.

Another thing, we have a shot at a double chance for WATG, because both Captors and We are the Ones are in the running, the latter having been a perfect album. Rock finishes it out. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: The Time Bender

Welcome back to the latest edition of Music Video Monday. We are rapidly going through the Fourth Quarter 2012 Videos. We will wrap things up with the next two weeks, three to a post.

This week we will be doing a bit of harder music. We start off with one of my recent discoveries, and a band that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. White Collar Sideshow is a band that is a little hard to take initially, seeing that they deal with the subject of addictions. I would encourage you to take in my original post on the band first. This is the video for Monster Me from The WitcHunt.

Next up is a metal band that can put out some of the most melodic orchestral sounding arrangements ever. Even if you can't stand metal you will love these guys simply to to the arrangements. Celestial Completion was awarded best Hard Rock/Metal Album last year at the Platinum Vinyl Awards. This year they are back with I Am. This is the video for The Time Bender.

We conclude with a band which just released its album a few weeks ago. As I Lay Dying released Awakened on September 25. This is the official video for A Greater Foundation.

That concludes this edition of Music Video Monday. Next week we wrap up the 4th Quarter on a bit of a lighter note, with videos by Poema, Beckah Shae and Propaganda. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Heart of A Child

Welcome to the latest edition of Music Video Monday, where we at The Night Beat endeavor to bring you the best music videos from among the CCM (at least how I define it) world. We begin with a concept video by Close Your Eyes entitled Carry You off of their album Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts. It's a reminder that Love Survives All, Even Death. We move on to a Live Concert Video. Thrash Fans rejoice. This is As I Lay Dying and Paralyzed, off of their album Decas.
This one goes down as a Hybrid Live/Concept, but we keep it hard. This is Righteous Vendetta and John The Revelator off of Lawless

Back to Concert Video, though done outside, so I guess it goes as Hybrid as well. Beware the Wolves at the Gate and their Heralds. This is off We are The Ones.


We finish with a Concept Video, though I would say it is interesting. Their was an old Minolta Camera ad campaign that said "From the Mind of Minolta". Let's just leave this as "From the Mind of A Plea For Purging". This is Heart of A Child off of The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging. I had originally planned to combine Hard Rock and Rock into One Post, but as I started looking I found too many videos to make that feasible. Next Monday we will continue with Rock. Among other things, it will be Amy Lee time once again. Until then I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Siberian Summer: 2012 PVA 1st Qtr - Hard Rock

Now it's time for the Hard Stuff. Not hard as in difficult, but hard as in LOUD. This was a well represented category this quarter, with six entries. Hey, a minimum PVA field is Seven. (I say minimum because, due to an abundance of entries in some genres, I have decided to expand the final entry pool. I will explain things when I come to it.)

Since I am not really a hard music aficionado these would mostly be debuts if I didn't know otherwise. I have only really heard of one of them. Because of this fact I am going to forgo the album covers and explanations for this post and do things by a simple list.

• Close Your Eyes - Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts 4.25 Emeralds
• As I Lay Dying - Decas 4.25 Emeralds
• In the Midst of Lions - Shadows 4.25 Emeralds
• A Plea for Purging - The Life and Death of A Plea For Purging 4.25 Emeralds
• Righteous Vendetta - Lawless 4.5 Emeralds
• Wolves at the Gate - We are The Ones 5 Emeralds

I try to do these lists alphabetically, but this time coincidentally it also was organized nicely by rating. Plus the fact that WATG was the only Hard Rock band I had any listening experience with, the rest of these are cold impressions. All go in, but only We are the Ones may make it to the finals next year.

One more genre to go. Rock. As always, I am Awaiting Your Reply.