Artist: The Letter Black

Album: Hanging On By A Thread

Release Date: 5/4/10

Label: Tooth & Nail Records

Playing some melodic female-fronted hard rock, The Letter Black make a splash in 2010 with their debut full length album, Hanging On By A Thread. One very noticeable thing about this album, is that guitarist Mark Anthony, husband of lead vocalist Sarah Anthony, provides a lot of strong backup vocals. He certainly has a great voice, capable of fronting a band of his own. Despite his contributing vocals throughout the album, Sarah Anthony also provides some soaring vocals of her own, as well as very precise screams.

Opening up with "Fire With Fire", you immediately hear the strong guitar work and riffs heard throughout the album. Contained on Hanging On By A Thread are three tracks from last year's Breaking The Silence EP, being the album's title track as well as "Best of Me" and "Moving On". Luckily on this album, "Best of Me" is not isolated with its pop sound like on Breaking The Silence, but is joined by the other softer ballads "There'll Come A Day" and "More To This". One of the stronger offerings of the bunch comes in "Believe", which contains a Skillet-esque string section and a strong chorus of "I put my faith in the unknown, I put my hope in God alone."

The latter of the album however contains many songs about broken relationships and how they hurt. This does seem to be the general theme of the album, along with a few songs about looking for hope in God. One song that really shines through is the closer "Wounded", which showcases Sarah Anthony's piercing screams and Mark Anthony's strong backup vocals. It was a good choice for a closer, but shows that the album could have used more tracks with its same intensity.

Rating: 7/10 With the release of their debut album Hanging On By A Thread, The Letter Black bring us some female-fronted hard rock, which stylistically is along the lines of Flyleaf and Skillet. Despite a few very strong songs, there a still some weaker ones that all seem to have the same lyrical theme about broken relationships. After all, this is only their debut album, which gives them plenty of time to discover their best sound. Regardless of this, you should still check them out, you may find some good talent.

Mychildren Mybride will release their new single "Terra Firma" on May 18th. It comes off their sophomore album Lost Boy releasing June 8th. They will also be on tour with Haste The Day this June.

Haste The Day will release their new single titled "Travesty" this Tuesday, May 4th. It comes off their upcoming album Attack of the Wolf King. Haste The Day will also be going on tour with Mychildren Mybride this June, which will be followed by the summer long Warped Tour.

Children 18:3 have just posted their new single entitled "Cover Your Eyes" here. It will be available to purchase on iTunes and AmazonMP3 on May 18th. Rain's A Comin' will release on June 29th via Tooth & Nail Records.

Artist: Write This Down

Album: Write This Down

Release Date: 4/20/10

Label: Tooth & Nail Records

Ever so often does a debut come along that is nearly perfect in almost every way. That's the case with Write This Down's debut album. The best way to describe there sound would be Emery meets Underoath with an added pop punk element. The majority of the album does have a constant pop punk sound thrown in with screaming every here and there.

Starting off the debut is "Alarm The Alarm," one of the highlights, featuring lyrics that certainly showcase the band's faith, such as "There is no other name, by which I am saved, I will not be afraid, to trust in You." The metal-driven "Renegade" features a chorus that will be sure to stick and is also one of the heaviest songs on the album.

Write This Down does a very good job on the heavier songs of the album. The Emery-esque "We Shot The Moon" blends heavily layered screams with a fun chorus made up of gang vocals. "Kings and Councilors" features some rather metaphorical lyrics and pop punk hooks. The acoustic-driven "Heaven and Hell" seems a bit out of place on the album, but relentlessly closes it well.

Rating: 9/10 Write This Down have certainly gotten off to a good start with the release of their self-titled debut. This is one of the best debuts I have heard in a while and I would advise you to check WTD out.

Artist: Sixteen Cities

Album: Sixteen Cities

Release Date: 4/20/10

Label: Centricity Music

Pop rock can be a very wide and common genre. Some bands will come out as a success and some as a failed effort. Sixteen Cities easily come out as a refreshing take on some of the typical pop rock, blending a contemporary rock sound along the lines of Nevertheless and Sanctus Real, along with catchy pop melodies.

The light hearted chorus of "Just Wanna Dance" starts off the album with some light pop, followed up by a personal favorite, "Save Me From Myself." The song contains some hooks that hit it just right, with lyrics that come as a plea to God to save us from ourselves. The song "Come As You Are" is pretty self-explanatory, being God telling us to come to Him no matter how hard we're hurt of have sinned. Another song that comes off as an easy success is the closer "Winter," a completely piano-driven song that gives a very emotional message that hits straight to the heart. Although it varies from the style of the album, it is still one of, if not the highest, point of the album. Sixteen Cities, if they get the needed attention, are sure to be big and have no doubt started off on a high note.

Rating: 8/10 The self-titled debut from Sixteen Cities shines though the large genre of generic pop rock. Deep lyrics and a contemporary sound, mixed with a worship sound drive this band a long way. Getting the much needed attention, SC are sure to be big in a matter of time.