3 Mile Scream proves they have what it takes to compete in the ever-changing heavy scene. Each song is as brutal as the one that came before it, but it tempers that with strong doses of melody, co-existing in a mixture that is extremely volatile. Everything builds to their premiere cut, "Dare to Question." It clocks in at nearly six minutes and puts each of their talents to the test, taking them to the limit, dangling them over the edge, to which they respond "I dare ya." As if to prove a point, 3 Mile Scream does not hold anything back - they take no prisoners, and they will not be ignored.

Shadows Fall - Fallout from the War
This is a band that I have been aware of for some time, but never really took the time to listen to them, despite owning Of One Blood and War Within. I think my interest in them started rising when I saw their name linked with Killswitch Engage, which, as previously seen, has been growing exponentially in my estimation.

For some reason, I decided to pickup Fallout from the War, a wise choice as it really caught on with me and spent a lengthy amount of time in my CD changer. It isn't a full album, rather it is a revisit to leftover and unfinished cuts from the War Within sessions. They went back to the studio, finished the songs, and recorded a couple of cover tracks. The end result is great, in particular, Jason Bittner's drums have left me in awe. This album, which isn't even a major release for them, has put them on my radar and won them a new fan. The most surprising inclusion is a cover of the Dangerous Toys' song "Teas'n Pleas'n." They even got Toys' singer James McMaster to do the lead vocals.

Bob Dylan - Modern Times
A Dylan fan I am not. Not for any particular reason other than I didn't feel like getting into his music. There is no denying the influence he has had over his lengthy career, and I am familiar with some of his better known songs, but I never went out of my way. Over the past couple of years I have had the opportunity to see him live a couple of times, and his charismatic performance has piqued my interest. Combine that experience with the recent iPod commercial and the excellent reviews this album has gotten, I decided to give it a spin.

Am I ever glad that I did. Modern Times is catchy, groovey, and features a legend at the top of his game. I don't always understand what he is saying, but that is also true of much of the metal I listen to, and it really doesn't matter. This is just a fantastic album that definitely is one of the best of the year, regardless of how little I may have listened to.