Rise

Heavy music that contains just the right amount of melody and hooks for possible crossover success: this formula has been around for eons, but with the patience of record companies (or what's left of them) wearing thin for new bands to score hits by the early 21st century, many up-and-coming artists are racking their brains for that big breakthrough. The debut full-length by Austin, TX, quartet Anew Revolution, 2008's Rise, shows a band very well equipped for a legitimate chance at mainstream appeal. Producer Mudrock (whose credits include working with Avenged Sevenfold and Godsmack) has no problem creating a glossy sheen that also contains metallic grit when needed, as evidenced by such melodic heavy-hitters as "Done" and "Saddest Song." Anew Revolution are certainly not trying to reinvent the hard rock wheel — in fact, they sound quite a bit like countless other bands mining similar sonic terrain — but there's no denying that Rise would fit in perfectly with the majority of modern-day hard rocking chart-toppers.