Moving Atlas - The Elephant Gun EP, Recorded at Indian Trail Studios
This five-song EP showcases an ultra-modern musical style that fits neatly between emo and metal. Moving Atlas use tight vocal harmonies tinged with primal screams atop heavy guitars and thick, powerful drums to create a very listenable, memorable record.
Tracks like “How We’re Infected,” the highlight, “Elephant Gun” and a haunting (and most unexpected) cover of Sade’s “No Ordinary Love” display this band’s versatility and musical prowess well. The lead track, “Parachute” has even been selected for the soundtrack of an upcoming game on the Nintendo Wii platform. Looks like Moving Atlas are moving on up very quickly indeed. Peep them at myspace.com/movingatlas. (Kevin White)

Michael Schenker Group - In The Midst Of Beauty, Inakustik Music
The enigmatic Michael Schenker has basically regrouped the line up that recorded those classic MSG and MSG II albums from the early ‘80s. Biggest plus is the return of Gary Barden on vocals, whose voice compliments Schenker’s soulful, melodic playing perfectly. Schenker has been on a creative winning streak for ten years, and when you add Barden, keyboardist Don Airey, bassist Neil Murray and drummer Simon Phillips to the mix, you can do anything. “I Want You” sports a gorgeous riff that could only come from Michael Schenker, and Barden and Airey play off that riff perfectly. The album is fantastic, and highlights are everywhere but, for my money, the groove of “I Am The One” is wondrous. When you’ve assembled a super group like this, everything is locked down tight, except maybe the low-key production.
(Dale Lammers)

Billy Idol - The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (Deluxe Edition), Capitol Records
This latest greatest hits compilation from 80’s mega-icon Billy Idol could very well be the guilty pleasure of the year. Who doesn’t sing along with every word when they hear “White Wedding?” Who hasn’t rocked the “Cradle of Love?” This disc spans Idol’s near three-decade career and features two new songs: single “John Wayne” and classic-sounding “New Future Weapon.” The bonus DVD takes you back to the time when the “M” in MTV meant something. All of Idol’s big sexed-up videos are represented including an uncensored version of “Hot in the City.” Sadly though, there is no live footage other than the classic video, “Mony, Mony.” The real disappointment here is the lack of Generation X material. Nevertheless, you will want to let out a “Rebel Yell” while dancing with yourself to this one.
(D.J. Ivie)

Jorn - Lonely Are The Brave, Frontiers Records
Having witnessed the awe-inspiring majesty of seeing Jorn Lande perform live (ProgPower - Atlanta ’06,) it’s very apparent to me that this man is a vocal god. Not only can Jorn sound like virtually anybody he wants to, but his musical identity is the classic rock variety. At his very best, his voice closely resembles David Coverdale, but by no means is Jorn a clone – it’s his natural voice. Had Coverdale never happened, Lande would still sound like this. Although based on a sturdy foundation of classic rock, Lonely Are The Brave is a modern masterpiece. Nobody gets production like this, nobody writes like this and, to the right set of ears, nobody inspires like this. When “Shadow People” finally kicks in with that mid-tempo thump, man oh man, sparks fly. Nobody’s doing this kind of music better than Jorn.
(Dale Lammers)

YES - Songs from Tsongas 35th Anniversary Concert 2004, Image Entertainment
Recorded in May of 2004 at the Tsongas Arena in Boston and released in 2005, this two disc DVD may well be the last of the “Classic Over the Top” live stage productions of YES at their very best. With the giant inflatable moving artwork of Roger Dean rising and hanging over the band, prog masters Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson and Alan White delivered their legendary soundscapes to a capacity crowd.
The drum set looked like something by Dr. Susse with robotic hammers and witches kettles. The band was in prime form as they played “Going for the One,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Your Move / All Good People,” “South Side of the Sky” and an acoustic set which included “Long Distance Runaround,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Roundabout.”
(WiL Wesch)
(Sadly, YES had to cancel this year’s 40th anniversary tour due to health problems of vocalist Jon Anderson.)

Caddis - Caddis, Bad Gravity Records
The self-titled debut from Cowtown’s own Caddis is an unrelenting aural assault of Mastodon-on-speed, breakneck tempos and guitar riffs that would leave Matt Pike (High On Fire, Sleep) green with envy. While sharing six-string and vocal duties, Matt Thomas and Nathan Morris deliver an added sense of urgency to their already frantic doom-meets-crust punk sound. The thunderous footwork of drummer Andrew Tipps drives the band close to the edge, only to make a sharp left turn leaving bassist Ben Schultz’s grimy handprints all over the windshield. Acoustic guitar interludes serve as red lights, giving you just enough time to revel in the beauty before burning out again. Clever time signatures and guitar solos (yeah, wow!) round out the package, making Caddis a force to be reckoned with. (D.J. Ivie)

Million - Thrill Of The Chase, Metal Heaven Records
“I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees.” (Taken from the track “Menace To Society”). Man, it’s a trip to see that bands are still making music like this. This group of persistent and consistent Swedes is one of the two very best bands that country has ever spawned. (You decide who the other one is). Thrill Of The Chase is Million’s very best album, and the unabashedly Deep Purple-ish tones of “The One Above” set this band apart from their Swedish counterparts. But it’s really “Lonely In A Crowded Room” and “Beware Of The Wolf” that have to be heard to be believed. Oh, and “From Heaven To Hell” was inspired by the horrific tsunami of Christmas ‘04. There are songs on this album that could stand toe-to-toe with some of the greatest songs we music fans have ever heard. I’m not kidding.
(Dale Lammers)

God Forbid - Beneath The Scars Of Glory And Progression (DVD), Century Media
There are plenty of music DVD’s on the shelves - ranging from documentaries to live concerts. Well, this one combines both into a two-set, which clocks in at just over three hours. First, you have a 70-minute concert shot at the Starland Ballroom in the band’s home state of New Jersey. The footage and sound are excellent and give a great look at how incredible these guys are live.
The second disc takes you from the band’s conception and follows them on the road. It even includes footage from the show they played at the Palladium Ballroom with Hatebreed in 2007. You get to the see the comedic side of the members as they talk about life on the road and what makes them tick. Also included are God Forbid’s six music videos. This is a must have DVD that will have you hooked on one of metal’s most underrated bands.
(Travis Tutwiler)

Planet P Project - Levittown (Go Out Dancing – Part II), Renaissance Records
The brainchild of multi, multi-talented artist Tony Carey, this is the second installment of the Go Out Dancing trilogy. Like Part I (and every other Planet P Project album before it), Carey wrote, recorded, produced, played and sang every note. This installment deals with his childhood, the rebuilding of the American economy after World War II and the birth of our space program. It also covers the naïve idealism that surrounded that era of our country’s history. Carey’s usual snide, sarcastic lyrics are as thought provoking as they are educational, and any real music aficionado with an ounce of intelligence can truly appreciate where Carey is coming from. Levittown is engaging, atmospheric, smart and extraordinarily well crafted. This is the kind of stuff that should be part of the curriculum of any music appreciation course.
(Dale Lammers)

16Volt - Full Black Habit, Metropolis Records
Industrial pioneer Eric Powell AKA 16Volt is back after a six-year absence with a collection sure to please longtime fans as well as newcomers. Featuring now-deceased Paul Raven (Ministry, Prong) on bass, percussionist Jason Bazinet (SMP), and guitarists Kraig Tyler (Chemlab) plus Steve Pig, 16Volt has the pedigree to push beyond cult status. This album is as good for the dance floor as it is for solo listening with headphones. With every new spin, new knob-twiddling and vocal countermelodies reveal themselves. “Cables and Wires” stands out with its Prodigy-like groove while Powell professes his love of the electronic sort. Showing true depth and introspection, closer “Therapy” is an amazing electronic epic that is the true winner here. Seriously though, there is not one bad track. This is a disc you can throw on to keep your Goth, metalhead, and indie-hipsters happy at the same time.
(D.J. Ivie)

The Ghost Inside - Fury and the Fallen Ones, Mediashare
Why are bands that sound angry springing up like wildflowers in The Golden State? Where Cali’s warm sandy beaches lie, unexpected fragile hardcore metal bands lurk in the umbrellas’ shadows, while they peer into the ocean with a breeze flowing over them. I guess sounding pissed off comes from knowledge that their state is slowly sliding into the deep blue. With all sarcasm aside, The Ghost Inside does produce catchy songs. For example, in “Faith of Forgiveness” the screaming lyrics, “I’ll see you when the sun sets,” will repeat in your mind along with its crunchy breakdown. This band would fit in one’s CD pile if they like As I Lay Dying or early Poison the Well.
(Misty Johnson)

ZionaurA - Chill, Self Recorded
It is very hard to slap a standard label on the style of ZionaurA. Written by long time heavy hitting vocalist Jet Tessmann, Chill delivers eleven fun party tunes that successfully blend Reggae, Latino and “Heavy Chunky Beach Bash” into an album that really works. You can’t help but move to this music. “420” has a happy go lucky Reggae feel with a guitar break that sounds like something from Van Halen. “Toro” combines a Mariachi feel with grunge chord changes.
“Natural Beauty” is a flowing, romantic waltz with occasional heavy melodic guitar riffs that can make you forget what’s going on in the real world. “Last Goodbye” is very well written and comes off like something between the Foo Fighters and Gin Blossoms. Jet’s vocals and harmonies are well produced, and he plays a variety of instruments including guitar and trombone. (WiL Wesch)