#PlatVnyl6 The Nominations Begin: Metal Video of The Year

We are down to the final two genre based video awards as we announce the nominees for #PlatVnyl6 Hard Rock/Metal Video of The Year. The Nominees are: Ghosts ft. Jeremy McKinnon by +AugustBurnsRedVEVO ;Knives to the Future by +Project86VEVO ; Slave to Nothing by +FitForAKingVEVO ; Survive by Gideon; and This Goes Out To You by P.O.D.

And yes, we have made a playlist of the videos for your viewing, and voting enjoyment.

Rock Video of The Year is next, and that completes the Genre Videos. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

Shemita Songs: The 2015 Platinum Vinyl Awards 4th Qtr - Metal Dance

Well I guess that's better than Safety Dance. No nasty email and letters, I kind of like the song, especially the version done by The Echoing Green. But that's for another time. We are finally returning to our announcing of the 2015 4th Quarter, and we have come to the final multiple genre post. We are combining Hard Rock/Metal and Dance/Synthpop.

Dance/Synthpop

• Abigail Duhon - More Than Gold - EP
• Owl City - Mobile Orchestra
• Toby Mac - This Is Not A Test

Toby Mac is Back! And that is a good thing. Personally I thought he was mailing it in for the last album. In fact it was the Remix albums that were the best. I think he figured that out as well, and he knocked this one out of the park.

Hard Rock/Metal

• Conveyer - When Given Time to Grow
• P.O.D. - The Awakening

While I liked the previous release by P.O.D., it was a little different. This one is too, but its going back to Satellite, and that is a very good thing. It's all single genre posts from here on in, so until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply

Night Beat Rewind: August 2015

Eleven down, one to go. Once September is done we can put the cover on the #PlatVnyl6 pool and open the #PlatVnyl7 pool for entries. 7 Years. God Is Good. There was one song released in August, and that was the Title Track for Stryper's upcoming album Fallen. It wasn't as good as Yahweh, but you would be very rarely have two perfect songs, even on a perfect album. I give it 4.75 Emeralds.

We begin our album coverage with those releases which, while pretty good (I haven't found a real stinker in years), just aren't platinum.

Missing The Mark

• Between The Trees & Ryan Kirkland - Wanderer 3.75 Emeralds
• Rend Collective Experiment - As Family We Go 3.75 Emeralds
• Jim Sonefeld - Love EP 3.50 Emeralds
• United Pursuit Band - Simple Gospel 3.50 Emeralds
• Various Artists - Top 25 Hymns: The Old Rugged Cross 3.75 Emeralds
• Various Artists - War Room: Music From The Original Motion Picture 3.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Watkins - Chasing After You 3.75 Emeralds

I was very disappointed by Rend Collective, they sounded so ordinary. While I don't know much about United Pursuit, I do know that Michael Ketterer teamed up with Har Megiddo, so I had my expectations. The next group not only met my expectations, they smashed through them.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• JJ Heller - Sound of a Living Heart 5 Emeralds
• Toby Mac - This Is Not A Test 5 Emeralds
• P.O.D. - The Awakening 5 Emeralds
• Pillar - One Love Revolution 5 Emeralds
• Sidewalk Prophets - Something Different 5 Emeralds

All I can say to this quintet is WOW. JJ Heller burst out of her folk mold to be a certified Pop Star. Pillar reformed its original lineup and returned to the rap-core sound that I loved on Fireproof. P.O.D. likewise reached heights like a Satellite, and even Toby Mac has put out his best album in a while. I know, I didn't dote on the Sidewalk Prophets, but they were awesome as well. Now on to the ones in the middle

Semi-Precious Metal

• Brinson - Until We Meet Again 4.75 Emeralds
• Tasha Cobbs - One Place (Live) 4.50 Emeralds
• Disciple - The Best of 2005-2013 4.75 Emeralds
• Abigail Duhon - More Than Gold 4.50 Emeralds
• For A Season - I Will Wait 4.75 Emeralds
• Ghost Ship - Costly 4.50 Emeralds
• Geoffrey Golden - Kingdom Live 4.75 Emeralds
• Travis Greene - Intentional EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Gungor - One Wild Life: Soul 4.75 Emeralds
• Cheri Keaggy - No Longer My Own 4.75 Emeralds
• Bridgett Kern - No One Greater 4.75 Emeralds
• Nichole Nordeman - The Unmaking EP 4.75 Emeralds
• Natasha Owens - No One But You 4.75 Emeralds
• Jeremy Rosado - Heartbeat 4.50 Emeralds
• 7eventh Time Down - #GODISONTHEMOVE 4.75 Emeralds
• Aaron Shust - Doxology 4.75 Emeralds
• Thi'sl - Heavy Is The Head 4.25 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Camden 4.50 Emeralds
• Tony Tillman - Camden (Instrmentals) 4.50 Emeralds
• John Waller - Crazy Faith 4.50 Emeralds
• WARR Acres - Future 4.75 Emeralds

I am going to forgo links once again to get this out. I think I shall go back and do the old ones. If I don't they shall never get done. 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: Dead Man

Welcome back to our 4th Quarter Music Video Monday. There will be only one MVM this week, folks. Last week was special to clear out the Satellites and Sirens videos.

We begin our trip through the 4th Quarter Video Releases with Wolves at the Gate, this is the Official Music Video for Dead Man.

From the big guns to the up and coming. Gideon is the name of this band, and I have not heard much from them until lately. This is No Acceptance.

Back to the big guns. P.O.D. recently came out with an album entitled Murdered Love which created quite a stir in the Christian Music Community. This is the Official Music Video for the Title Cut.

Our last video is somewhat of a rarity. The album didn't make the initial cut to be considered for a Platinum Vinyl Award, but I really liked the video. This is Shipwreck by Your Memorial.

Four videos to get things "started" this quarter. A different genre next week. Until then, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

A Flawed Gem: P.O.D.'s Murdered Love

Sometimes things happen in music which test your consistency. A few months ago I reviewed Thrift Store Jesus by Heath McNease. My less than stellar review of the album even provoked a reaction by Mr. McNease. One of the problems I had with the album was his use of "Freaking", which is the Christian Euphemisms for the other F-Word. I had other problems, which he addressed, but I was disturbed by the use of the word nonetheless. I was not however, offended, which he kept alleging.

I'm not what would consider puritanical. I couldn't be, I'm not a liberal. My problem with the F-Word these days is not because it's offensive or profane. The shock value has long since passed. Today it is just sloppy English. In my opinion there are many other words which can replace it.

This brings me to Murdered Love by Christian Hard Band P.O.D. (The initials stand for Payable on Death). In what seems like a long tradition of Controversy in Christian Music, the album has recently taken the brass ring it would seem. First was the cover. I see a mushroom cloud in the background. In the foreground is either two aliens, one dead (X on the eyes) or humans in gas masks/chemical suits. Either way, I don't see what about the cover almost got them a Parental Advisory label.

The Big Problem with the album is the final song on the album, at least on the General Market edition. The title of the song is I Am, and it contains the F-Word multiple times, though in a muted/bleeped fashion in all you can make out if "fk" on sound. In order for the album to be sold in Christian Bookstores, the song was dropped in a "Christian Release". Personally, I'm not sure what to make of special releases for certain ears. I have yet to see a Parental Advisory on Evanescence, and at the same time I can't remember when I didn't see one on a Katy Perry album. My point is that both started out as "Christian Artists" (Perry recorded as Katy Hudson), and while I still consider Evanescence "Christian" by my taste, Amy Lee proves you can have a successful crossover appeal and never have to make the RIAA nervous. I think it only fair for you to get to experience two of the non controversial tracks (10 of 11). Courtesy of Soundcloud is Eyez and Lost In Forever Higher is destined to get repeat airplay on Christian and Mainstream Radio. Even though Eyez was originally the song released for distribution, that would be rock. The harmonies on Higher are amazing. Personally, this is their best since Satellite.

If you're even remotely knowledgeable about P.O.D., you know this isn't your Happy Happy Band. They deal with the tough situations in life in blatant language. Nobody ever said they were easy to listen to. My final rating 4.5 Emeralds. You could say P.O.D. is back, but it is a solid album, but not their best. I also would recommend you buy the original version. If you are of delicate sensibilities, maybe P.O.D. isn't your style anyway. Until next time, feel free to comment, for I am always Awaiting Your Reply.