The 2019 Top 10 Albums: The Hard List

Continuing with our revelation of the Best Albums of 2019, I am turning up the volume. In our previous post I revealed the top 10 Soft Albums, and by that I mean Pop, Worship, Gospel and Adult Contemporary. We now go to the Hard List. Rock, Metal, Industrial, Rap. Let's get to it.

1. Wolves At The Gate - Eclipse: The Hardest on so many levels - Volume, Thrash Vocals, Subject Matter. WATG impressed me from the first time I heard them, which
   
   was VxV in 2014 and each album which has followed has showed amazing growth in both music and lyrics. Eclipse is a masterpiece telling of sin and redemption and the power of the Grace of God. These guys would be called Hyper Grace by certain Pharisees (you know who you are). "Forgiveness despite my defiance". A sermon has not been crafted that tells it better.
2. Within Temptation -  Resist: Like the soft list before it, this list seems to have gotten a 1 and 1B, one "Christian" and one "Mainstream". I came across Within Temptation due to a Best women in Metal video on Youtube and I am so glad I did. Sharon den Adel blends her Operatic Vocals with Symphonic Metal which here has the addition of Industrial and Keyboards. I love the majestic sound on songs like Endless War and In Vain. This is one temptation that you wont want to Resist. Better yet, on the Deluxe Version of this album you get the bonus of instrumental tracks, which lets you enjoy the orchestration in all its glory. Not to take away anything from the vocals.
3. Michael Sweet - Ten. Never has an album had a better title. Though the title cut actually is a reference to the Ten Commandments, it could also be the rating for the album (A Perfect 10). The tireless Stryper frontman hits you hard right from the start with his trademark high scream and screaming guitars on Better Part of Me. The intensity barely lets up, though there is time for a ballad to catch your breath.
4. Diviner - Realms of Time. Greek Metal. You wouldn't think the two would be linked, but they are. Diviner is a Metal Band in the vein of Theocracy. Very well crafted.
5. White Collar Sideshow - I Didn't Come Here To Die: The Night Beat has always had a love for industrial music back from the days of Deitiphobia and Aleixa. White Collar Sideshow blends the industrial with country into what they call Arkansas Shock and Roll. TD and Veronica Benton have crafted an album which surpasses a "Fringe" masterpiece (the style of music is on the fringes of CCM) which in my mind surpasses The WitchHunt, which was a formidable task indeed. The Bottom 5 without comments.
6. Scott Stapp - The Space Between The Shadows
7. Seventh Day Slumber - Closer To Chaos
8. Skillet - Victorious
9. Adelaide - Strong + Brave
10. NF - The Search

You know it's a packed list when you have to leave Thi'sl, Andy Hunter, and Scandroid in the Honorable Mentions list, but that is where we are this year. We are done with the top 10 Albums. I will include an EP list later on, but I have a First Quarter Wrap to complete. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Don't Fear The Eclipse

We here at the Night Beat have some things in common with the Legends of CCM. Like a fine wine, we get better with age. Such is the case with Wolves At The Gate (listed on the new album as simply WATG, which with the middle two initials switched, spells the Call Sign of a local talk radio station).

The new album is eclipse, and my only complaint with it is that it wasn't released in January (That's the month the full moon is called the Wolf Moon). WATG is one of those "perfect" metal bands. They've got enough growls and screams to satisfy the metalcore crowd and awesome clean vocals and group harmonies to satisfy the 80's Melodic Metal crowd of which I am part. So I admit to being slightly biased in their favor.

Eclipse is an evangelistic masterpiece, if you listen close enough. Take the title cut, which is the cry of fallen man that is unsure if he can be redeemed.

If I fall away
Will I ever see Your face?
Is it much too late?
Have I gone too far?
Am I on the narrow road?

The Answer is simple. You are never too far gone or have done anything that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse forever.

Though I fall away
It is then I find more grace
Though I'm desolate
Though I've gone too far
Far beyond the narrow road

You lead me home

Of course my favorite song on the album is Drifter, with its screaming guitar solo.

When you fall and drift away, Jesus is always there to save. Will You Believe, Will You Receive. That is all you need to do. This is a long overdue review, so I will be brief. This is a 5 Emerald Metal Masterpiece. Headbangers Rejoice. I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Stirling Silver Edition

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. We hunt out all the best Music Videos and share them with you. This week is no exception. 

We Begin our musical journey with Wolves at The Gate. This is the video for A Voice In The Violence, which is on the recently released album Elcipse.

We Continue our journey with Switchfoot. It seems the Beamers have taken to criticizing the band lately, and they have decided to turn the tables. Good for them. This is Voices, which they did with the extremely beautiful and talented Rock Violinist Lindsey Stirling, who it appears also has to deal with a lot of Beamers.

And we finish our journey with a video by Lindsey Stirling herself. She has recently released an album entitled Artemis, and that brings us full circle this Music Video Monday. How is that. Well, wolves howl at the Full Moon, and Artemis was the Greek Goddess of The Moon among other things. Actually, if Artemis were around today she would be a Conservative Republican. Huntress, Wild Nature (not the Protected fake Environmentalism), Chaste, Guardian of Young Girls and Protectress of Women in Childbirth. The Goddess Liberals would Love To Hate. This is Underground.

That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. You can check out the Night Beat rewind of Artemis by simply clicking on the highlighted title. Until next time, I am Awaitng Your Reply. 

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: July 2019

August is here. There are only two months remaining in #PVX. What a year it has been so far, and the year always seems to go out with a bang. We already know it will be a Victorious August. Let's get to the wrap.

The Singles Scene

• Avalon - Keeper of My Heart 5 Emeralds
• Josh Baldwin - Let The Redeemed 5 Emeralds
• Blindside - Gravedigger 5 Emeralds
• Cody Carnes - Run To The Father 5 Emeralds
• The Choir - In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins Cover) 5 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Unsigned 4.75 Emeralds
• Color Theory - Welcome But Unexpected (Marco Dassi Remix) 4.75 Emeralds
• Disciple - Cuff The Criminal 5 Emeralds
• Elim Sound - Send Revival ft Ian Yates 4.50 Emeralds
• Jordan Feliz - Faith (Radio Version) 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - You Want More From Me 5 Emeralds
• Hillsong Worship - King of Kings 5 Emeralds
• HOUSE (Bethel Church Worship) - Depth of Your Love 5 Emeralds
• Caitie Hurst - How Could I Be Silent (Rogue Sails Remix) 5 Emeralds
• Prafit Josiah - Come Back ft R-Swift 4.25 Emeralds
• KB - Hold Me Back (Latin) (ft Gabriel Rodriguez EMC, Eliud L'Voices, Niko Eme, Tommy Royale) 5 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Split The Sea (David Hamilton Arrangement) 5 Emeralds
• Jamie Kimmett - Love Your Neightbor 4.75 Emeralds
• Land of Color - Morning Song (Acoustic) 4.75 Emeralds
• Legin - On 4.50 Emeralds
• The Lowly Heirs - Center of It All 5 Emeralds
• Steven Malcolm - Summertime ft Jay- Way 4.75 Emeralds
• Manafest - This Is Not The End 4.75 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Dime Adios (Say Goodbye To Me) 4.50 Emeralds
• NF - Time 4.75 Emeralds
• OBB - 7 Billion (Otto Benson Remix) 5 Emeralds
• 116 - Big Wave ft Lecrae, Parris Chariz 4.50 Emeralds
• 116 - California Dreamin ft Lecrae, John Givez 4.75 Emeralds
• Out of The Dust - So Amazing 4.75 Emeralds
• Peabod - Backpack 4.50 Emeralds
• Melanie Penn - I will Trust 4.75 Emeralds
• Planetboom - Praise on Praise 5 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Rain Your Glory Down (Live) 5 Emeralds
• Mac Powell and The Family Reunion - Mess of Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Sarah Reeves - Feel The Waters (Ruslan Remix) 5 Emeralds
• The Rocket Summer - Blankets 4.75 Emeralds
• Root Road - Dragon Drop 5 Emeralds
• V. Rose - Little Getaway 4.75 Emeralds
• V. Rose - Pretty Sad (ft Wande) 4.75 Emeralds
• Royal Company - Faithful is Your Love 5 Emeralds
• Sanctus Real - Jesus Loves You 5 Emeralds
• Beckah Shae - Lioness 5 Emeralds
• Skillet - You Ain't Ready 5 Emeralds
• DJ Steph - Dear Regret (ft Moflo Music) 4.75 Emeralds
• Tedashii - Activate ft Steven Malcolm 4.75 Emeralds
• David Vaters - Red Sea 5 Emeralds
• Vineyard Worship - God of Our Mothers and Fathers 4.50 Emeralds
• War of Ages - Miles Apart 5 Emeralds
• War of Ages - Wrath 5 Emeralds
• We Are Leo - Your Voice 4.75 Emeralds
• We Are Messengers - Power 5 Emeralds
• Matthew West - The God Who Stays 5 Emeralds
• White Collar Sideshow - I Didn't Come Here To Die 5 Emeralds
• Wolves At The Gate - Counterfeit 5 Emeralds

54 Songs this month. The Song Awards will be stacked. On to the albums, and we begin with those that don't make the cut

Missing The Mark

• P Lo Jetson - Jetson Juice EP 4.25 Emeralds
• Dusty Marshall - American Holocaust 4.25 Emeralds

Remember, these aren't bad albums. (Don't worry, I'll let you know when there is one). These just aren't award worthy. Our next list is, however.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• G.L.O.(God's Love Only) - Reborn 5 Emeralds
• NF - The Search 5 Emeralds
• Reflect Love Back (ft Lacey Sturm) - Soundtrack, Volume 1
• Oh Sleeper - Bloodied/Unbowed 5 Emeralds
• Scott Stapp - The Space Between The Shadows 5 Emeralds
• Wolves At The Gate - Eclipse 5 Emeralds

Of course most are between the two extremes.

Semi-Precious Metal

• Meredith Andrews - Faith and Wonder (Alternate Versions EP) 4.75 Emeralds
• Apologetix - Sandwich Platter 4.75 Emeralds
• Kurt Carr - Bless Someone Else 4.50 Emeralds
• Quinten Coblentz - We EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Foldinglights - Subterranean Hum 4.50 Emeralds
• JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise - Miracle Worker (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Housefires - Housefires V (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Influencers Music - Rebels 4.75 Emeralds
• Hannah Kerr - Listen More EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Local Sound - Sunday School EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Catherine Mullins - Sing Like The Battle Is Over 4.50 Emeralds
• New Wine Worship - This Is Love (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Mac Powell and The Family Reunion - Back Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Red Rocks Worship - Spark (Be Still) Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Allan Scott - The Story 4.75 Emeralds
• Silversyde - In The Dark 4.75 Emeralds
• Greg Sykes - No Greater Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Trinity - The In Between 4.75 Emeralds
• John Van Deusen - (I Am) Origami pt 3: A Catacomb Hymn 4.50 Emeralds

That does it for July. August is already cooking. Until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: November 2016

There is quite a lot to be thankful for this November, as we had a full slate of releases. Of course, most of them are Christmas Music, which are not eligible for the Platinum Vinyl Awards. Considering the amount of these releases it is also something to be thankful for. We begin with the aforementioned Christmas Music.

Christmas Music (Non-Eligible)

• Jason Bare - Night Of Wonder 4.75 Emeralds
• Cristabelle Braden - All Is Bright EP 4.25 Emeralds
• For King and Country - Into The Silent Night (Extended) EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Josh Garrels - The Light Came Down 4.50 Emeralds
• Justin C. Gilbert - The Holiday Sessions 5 Emeralds
• JJ Heller - Unto Us 4.50 Emeralds
• LEAH - Christmas Time Is Here 4.75 Emeralds
• Marc Martel - The Silent Night EP 4.50 Emeralds
• We Are Messengers - God With Us 4.25 Emeralds
• Leigh Nash - Christmas Falling (Single) 4.25 Emeralds
• Newsong - The Best Christmas Ever 4.50 Emeralds
• Christy Nockels - The Thrill of Hope 5 Emeralds
• Salt of The Sound - Waiting For The Dawn 5 Emeralds
• Temple Veil - Gift of Christmas (Single) 4.25 Emeralds
• Vocal Few - Snowdrift EP 4.25 Emeralds

That is a whole bunch of Christmas Releases. Now onto the regular stuff. Even in November there is a bit of non-holiday releases. We begin with the songs, or 

The Singles Scene

• King Stevian - Ripcord 3.50 Emeralds
• The Waiting Kind - Heartbeat 4.75 Emeralds

Moving On Without Comment. To the albums. We begin with those that will not be considered for #PlatVnyl8.

Missing The Mark

• Changing Pointe Church - You Remain 3.75 Emeralds
• Lisa Mitts - Where I Belong 3.50 Emeralds
• Tommy Saint - Tommy Saint 3.75 Emeralds
• Skrip - Exposition 3.75 Emeralds

Most of these releases are good, but just not award worthy. Lisa Mitts however the verdict is still out on. Maybe her vocals will grow on me (or improve). But right now think nails and chalkboard. Not so with the next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Future of Forestry - Awakened to The Sound 5 Emeralds
• Wolves at The Gate - Types and Shadows 5 Emeralds   

Yes I know, what about the others. In order to not repeat myself I am leaving this section to the non Christmas Releases. There are also 3 Perfect 5's in the Christmas Section. Our final grouping is for those in between, or as we like to call them here

Semi-Precious Metals

• Canon - Loose Canon, Volume 3 4.50 Emeralds
• Chapel Band - The Gathering 4.75 Emeralds
• Death Requisite - Revisitation 4.75 Emeralds
• Tim Drisdelle -Heights, Part 1 4.75 Emeralds
• Summer Floyd - Ray of Light 4.50 Emeralds
• Meleana - White Walls 4.50 Emeralds
• VaShawn Mitchell - Secret Place: Live In South Africa 4.75 Emeralds
• The Museum - Reclaimed EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Ginny Owens - Love Be The Loudest 4.75 Emeralds
• Chris Quillala - Split The Sky 4.75 Emeralds
• S.O. - These Things Take Time EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - Hits Deep Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Micah Tyler - Different EP 4.75 Emeralds        

Spring Tunes Up: The 2015 3rd Quarter - Industrial Folk

The 3rd Quarter of 2015 is in the bag. The Temperatures are heating up and so is the competition for the honor that is #PlatVnyl6. There were no eligible entries (that I know of, others could be discovered) for Children's Music, Dance/Synthpop, and Remix this quarter. We also combine genres that had too few entrants to merit a seperate post. This quarter we are combining Folk/Folk Rock, Instrumental, Electronic/Industrial, and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. The combined genres amount to 10 potential nominees. So from least to greatest here we go.

Instrumental Music

• Kings Kaleidoscope - Becoming Who We Are (Instrumental)

Electronic/Industrial

• NYVES - Anxiety
• Rapture Ruckus - Invader Deluxe

Folk/Folk Rock

• Sandra McCracken - Psalms 
• Shane and Shane - The Worship Initiative
• Joy Williams - Venus

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• August Burns Red - Found In Far Away Places
• Haste The Day - Coward
• The Ongoing Concept - Handmade
• Wolves at the Gate - Reprise EP

While all these made the initial pool, their fate is uncertain. Especially ones like Joy Williams and The Ongoing Concept. They are on the bubble with a 4.50 rating. We are on our way. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

Night Beat Rewind: May 2015

We seem to be back on Schedule. April is up and linked and now May has been finished with a few days to go. If the release schedule has its Summer Slowdown I may even have the breathing room needed to make a proper #PlatVnyl5 awards ceremony. We did have some individual songs released during May

The Singles Scene

• Salt of The Sound - Dwell Among Us 4.75 Emeralds

Although like the 45 there are two sides to these singles they only usually pick one to announce. So, this month it really is a single single scene. We move on to the albums that did not get included in the pool.

Missing The Mark

• Audio Adrenaline - Sound of The Saints 3.75 Emeralds
• Faith Child - Airborne 3.75 Emeralds
• Jerry Fee - We Are The Voices 3.75 Emeralds
• Gemstones - Blind Elephant 3.75 Emeralds
• Hillsong United - Empires 3.75 Emeralds
• Unspoken - Unplugged 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Tyscot Loud Platinum Mixtape 3.50 Emeralds

What can I say? I know I don't like Audio Adrenaline 3.0. They have made great strides in becoming a band that people will swear they've heard before, and that is the problem. They used to have a fairly unique sound. And with the exception of EDM outreach Hillsong Young and Free everything out of Sydney these days sounds pretty much mailed in. As opposed to our next grouping.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Anberlin - Never Take Friendship Personal Live In New York City 5 Emeralds
• Foreverlin - Still After 5 Emeralds
• Plumb - Exhale 5 Emeralds

Really not much to say here. Anberin (should I say the late Anberlin?) and Plumb are consistently excellent. Foreverlin is a new discovery, yet I like them. Now for those in between the extremes.

Semi-Precious Metals

• 21 Pilots - Blurryface 4.75 Emeralds
• Abandon Kansas - Alligator 4.75 Emeralds
• Blanca - Blanca 4.75 Emeralds
• Cornell Burton, Jr - The Singles EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Elim Sound - Elim 100 4.50 Emeralds
• Emery - You Were Never Alone 4.75 Emeralds
• CJ Emulous - Light It Up 4.50 Emeralds
• Chad Evans - Before and After 4.75 Emeralds
• Fedel - Flaw 4.50 Emeralds
• Mia Feldes - Ashes 4.50 Emeralds
• Fireflight - INNOVA 4.75 Emeralds
• Jon Foreman - The Wonderland: Sunlight EP 4.75 Emeralds
• J Han - Tower Ivory 4.75 Emeralds
• Haste The Day - Coward 4.50 Emeralds
• Lonnie Hunter and Structure - #GETITDONE 4.50 Emeralds
• Illuminate - Charismata 4.25 Emeralds
• Kingdom - Acoustic Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Morgan Harper Nichols - Morgan Harper Nichols 4.50 Emeralds
• Jimmy Needham - Vice and Virtue 4.50 Emeralds
• Northwest Collective - Rejoice: Live From Seattle 4.50 Emeralds
• Pioneer - Passive Agression, Volume 1 4.50 Emeralds
• Planetshakers - Outback Worship Sessions 4.75 Emeralds
• Freddy Rodrigues - Amazed 4.75 Emeralds
• SPEC - Vacancy 4.50 Emeralds
• Gracie Schram - I Am Me 4.50 Emeralds
• Jonathan Singh - City Love Music 4.75 Emeralds
• Wolves at The Gate - Reprise EP 4.75 Emeralds

I am going to do the same thing this month. I will get this posted now and link it up Monday. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Rising Beats: The 2014 Third Quarter - Metal Remixing Instrumental

We are down to one quarter. If this were horse racing, we would be just making the final turn. In this case, the straightaway to the finish line is three months long,. Even soccer's Gooool guy can't hold a note that long.

There were plenty of entries this time around, and as usual, a few genres benefited. Only one genre (Electronic-Industrial) was left out due to no entries, but five genres (Remix, Hard Rock, Instrumental, Adult Contemporary, and Children's) has less than five entries each. Five entries is the mark I have set for a genre to merit its own post. These five will be combined.

Remix Album

• Difference United - New Day Remixes
• Various Artists - Action Bible Remixed

Instrumental Album

• My Epic - Behold (Instrumental) 
• Shai Linne - Lyrical Theology, Pt. 2: Doxology Instrumentals 

Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

• My Epic - Behold (Instrumental)
• Red - Release The Panic: Recalibrated
• Those Who Fear - Death Sentence
• Wolves at The Gate - Vxv 

I have linked all the listings so that you can buy the mp3 version from Amazon, of which The Night Beat is an associate. You will help us at the same time. Pretty Cool, huh. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Want Relief? Love Somebody

Welcome back everyone. Hope You all had a wonderful Fourth of July Weekend. As long as you didn't get a sunburn (not too much of a problem this weekend, at least here in the Northeast) and didn't try to eat more hotdogs in 1o minutes than Joey Chesnut, you should be okay. Hope you enjoyed my Independence Day Rewind.

We've got three videos for you this week. We begin with DJ Maj. This is Broken.
Next up we rock out with Wolves at The Gate. If you can't stand the heat, then perhaps you need to go to them for Relief. 
And finally, we close things out with some welcome relief, at least on the CCM Dance Floor. We welcome back Charmaine, who tells us to Love Somebody.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. We will be back next week with all new videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Night Beat Rewind: June 2014

We have reached the end of the third quarter for the #PlatVnyl5 Eligibility year. I would say it's all downhill from here, but experience teaches that that is hardly true. There will be an August or September release which will come and wow us all. I expect it. As has been the habit of recent times, we begin with a few singles.

The Single Scene

• DJ Maj - Broken (feat Milton Young) 4.50 Emeralds
• Holly Starr - God Is 4.50 Emeralds
• Kevin Max - Infinite 4.75 Emeralds

On to the EP's and Albums. As always, we begin with the releases which will not get a nomination because they missed the bar to get into the pool.

Missing The Mark

• Jon Guerra - Glass 3.75 Emeralds
• Leeland - Live: Christ Be All Around Me 3.75 Emeralds
• Lightfall - Lightfall 3.75 Emeralds
• Tom McConnell - Handiwork 3.50 Emeralds
• Preson Phillips - In Our Winters 3.75 Emeralds

I never really got Leeland. They captured my attention at the start with Sound of Melodies back in 2006, that was back before this blog existed. The song that captured everyone was Tears of The Saints. Since then, it has been all downhill for the band. Everything sounds like what you would expect for a "worship band". There was one perfect release, or Pure Platinum as we call it, and that was from the Metal arena. Wolves at The Gate scored a perfect 5 Emeralds with VxV. The rest of the month was somewhere in between, or what we call

Semi-Precious Metal

• Archer's Rise - Jupiter Bound EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Anthem Lights - Covers Part III 4.75 Emeralds
• Carolina Story - Chapter Two EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Chanel - Trin-I-Tee 5:7 According to Chanel 4.75 Emeralds
• Charmaine - Love Somebody EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Kim Dexter - Reaching 4.50 Emeralds
• Ricky Dillard and New G - Amazing 4.50 Emeralds
• Joe Douglass and Spirit of Praise - Redemption 4.50 Emeralds
• James Eichelberger - Capture 4.50 Emeralds
• 5ive - Ain't Supposed to Be Here 4.75 Emeralds
• Danny Gokey - Hope In Front of Me 4.75 Emeralds
• Michael James Band - The Anthem of A Desperate Heart 4.50 Emeralds
• Jesus Culture Live - Unstoppable Love 4.75 Emeralds
• Mali Music - Mali Is 4.75 Emeralds
• Mississippi Mass Choir - Declaration of Dependence 4.75 Emeralds
• Ann Nesby - Living My Life  4.75 Emeralds
• Owl City - Ultraviolet EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Rekoncyle - Against All Odds 4.50 Emeralds
• Rush of Fools - Carry Us Now 4.75 Emeralds
• Those Who Fear - Death Sentence 4.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Gotee Records: Twenty Years Brand New 4.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Gotta Have Gospel Classics 4.75 Emeralds
• Anita Wilson - Vintage Worship 4.75 Emeralds

That concludes this edition of Night Beat Rewind. Soon we will have the 3rd Quarter announcements. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Music Video Monday: Sway With Me

Welcome to an all new edition of Music Video Monday. We always strive to show you the best videos out there, and sometimes we can show you some inventive ones as well.

Take our first video for example +Archers Rise  is a new band which has taken the pop/dance world by storm. It has a pedigree as well, as one of its founding members came out of Falling Up, one of the best Alternative Bands out there. The video for Sway with me was shot on 30+ iPhones.

Next up we have +Uncle Reece, who is billed as Hip Hop, but the album seems pretty straight up R&B to me. This is He Died & He Rose.
And finally we go to Metal. See, we like to mix things up here at +The WENC Night Beat. This is +wolvesatthegateband and Relief.
That does it for this edition of Music Video Monday. Keep it tuned here as we get the #PlatVnyl4 Season completed and keep tabs on 5. 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.

Pure Platinum Perfection

So I like alliteration. Anyway, since the entries for the 3rd Annual Platinum Vinyl Awards are now over, I can safely put out the first of my best of lists.

The Gold Standard at The Night Beat (Or perhaps it is the Platinum Standard) is the Perfect 5 Emerald Rating. Getting those guarantees the entrant into the final round of the Platinum Vinyl Award Voting. It will be among the entrants which will get an award.

For those new to the WENC Night Beat, the eligibility year is October 1 - September 30. This year there were fifteen Pure Platinum releases. During that time fifteen albums that passed my ears got me to say "wow". Now, since I try to evaluate each genre independently, I have a different bar for each. These fifteen never knew there was a bar, they were so far above it.

One other thing to bring my new readers up to speed before I get to the list. While The WENC Night Beat is committed to bringing you the best in Christian Music, the definition of Christian here is quite loose. If they ever were embraced by the Christian Community, unless they renounced everything and walked away, no one is a KOOK here (that's my acronym for Kicked Out Of (the) Kingdom). Right now the only one who is "Not Christian" who once was is Katy Perry. Now on to the list.

Pure Platinum Perfection

2011 Entries

• Chevelle - Hats Off To The Bull
• Evanescence - Evanescence
• William McDowell - Arise
• Thousand Foot Krutch - Welcome To The Masquerade (Fan Edition)
• Wolves at the Gate - We are the Ones

Chevelle has probably slipped off the Christian Radar and Amy Lee and Company (Evanescence) are one of those K.O.O.K. bands. However, I have it on good authority that Evanescence is solid for performing for the first billion years in heaven (on the other hand SG music is slated for the last 22 seconds of eternity).

2012 Entries

• Abel - Make it Right
• Blessed by a Broken Heart - Feel the Power
• David Crowder Band - Give Us Rest (A Requiem Mass in C) [The Happiest of all Keys]
• Demon Hunter - True Defiance
• Israel & New Breed - Decade
• Lara Landon - Overcome
• Sarah Macintosh - Current
• Petra - Best of the 80's
• Poema - Remembering You
• Project 86 - Wait for the Siren

There you have it, the perfect albums for the 3rd Platinum Vinyl Awards eligibility year. The albums were scattered around the CCM world, with 5 from Rock, 4 from Metal, 2 from Gospel, 2 from Alternative, and one each from Pop and Adult Contemporary. I want to get this out, so I'll update this with my Amazon affiliate link later. Let me know what you think. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.