Here are MusikBLITZ's top picks from all of the new releases that have come out in April and May:
The Devil Wears Prada's With Roots Above and Branches Below (Ferret Music): "[The album] is much more mature [than our previous two releases]," says singer Mike Hranica of the Christian metalcore band. "I know that's cliché and it's what everyone says, but we've really grown as songwriters. There are songs that are heavier than anything we've ever written.... You'll find lots of orchestral add-ins on the record and the production quality on this record is really special." The Devil Wears Prada will spend the summer performing live as part of the Vans Warped Tour.
Great White's Rising (Shrapnel Records): The "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" rockers are back with a brand new album featuring 11 hot blues-influenced tracks. Produced by keyboardist Michael Lardie, Rising also showcases the talents of other original band members Jack Russell (vocals), Mark Kendall (lead guitar) and Audie Desbrow (drums).
Heaven & Hell's The Devil You Know (Rhino): The first album of all new material in 17 years from legendary Black Sabbath members Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler (along with new drummer Vinny Appice), comes on the heels of the quartet's highly successful 2007 reunion tour. "The band had gotten too good to just walk away," says Dio. "We wanted to show people that we were still capable of giving them new music that measured up to what we'd done in the past."
Hedley's Never Too Late (Fontana International): The Canadian pop/rock outfit's first U.S. release contains 12 songs, including Hedley's seven No. 1 hits from their two double platinum Canadian albums Hedley (2005) and Famous Last Words (2007). Singer Jacob Hoggard, who placed third during the second season of the reality competition Canadian Idol, fronts the band who has opened for such diverse acts as Bon Jovi, Nickelback and Sum 41.
Into The Presence's Into The Presence (Razor & Tie): This experimental mid-tempo rock record featuring drummer Tim Alexander (Primus/A Perfect Circle) and frontman/guitarist Luis Maldonado (a studio/session player who, at 12 years old, studied classical guitar at the University of Arizona) was a longtime coming as the two met over a decade ago and had hoped to work on a major project together ever since. The disc was recorded at Alexander's Arizona home studio with APC's Paz Lenchantin playing bass and her sister Ana Lenchantin on cello.
Lenny Kravitz's Let Love Rule (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition): Kravitz celebrates 20 years after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album with this special 2-CD collection. The original album—featuring songs like "Let Love Rule," "Freedom Train" and "Mr. Cab Driver"—has been re-mastered and includes 18 bonus tracks (13 previously unreleased demos, rare B-sides and live tracks).
The Last Vegas' Whatever Gets You Off (Eleven Seven Music): Dirty, sleazy, fun, party rock songs in the spirit of the '80s hair metal bands is what you get when you listen to The Last Vegas' debut. The Chicago-based band was handpicked by Mötley Crüe during Guitar Center's On-Stage promotion to open up for the Crüe this past winter and the group also received a record and management deal. As an added bonus, Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx co-produced the effort along with Sixx:AM's DJ Ashba and veteran producer Marti Frederiksen.
Duff McKagan's Loaded's Sick (Century Media Records): The 11-year-old punk rock band lead by the ex Guns N' Roses/current Velvet Revolver bassist has finally released its sophomore full-length record. The Seattle-based group—McKagan (lead vocals and guitar), Mike Squires (guitar), Jeff Rouse (bass) and Geoff Reading (drums)—started when McKagan became "sickened by all the crap music going around at the time… So, I put together Loaded to play rock music the way I wanted to do it. We had no great game plan or philosophy. We just wanted to get into the rehearsal room, begin writing songs and play music we felt." 
Prong's Power Of The Damn MiXXXer (13th Planet Records): This collection features alternate takes of songs from industrial metal act Prong's 2007 CD Power Of The Damager remixed by industrial, metal and experimental artists such as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Revolting Cocks and Anthrax’s Rob Caggiano.
Queen's First EP (Hollywood Records): The legendary British band first released this EP in the U.K. on vinyl in 1977. Now it's getting a numbered, limited-edition release in America. The EP features "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy," "Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To…)," "Tenement Funster" and "White Queen (As It Began)," four tunes recorded in the mid-1970s by the band's original lineup of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.
Billy Sheehan's Holy Cow! (Mascot Records): The much-revered bassist (Mr. Big/David Lee Roth/Talas) delivers a new rock album showcasing his amazing talents on both bass and vocals. Contributing to their friend's record are musicians Ray Luzier (Korn), Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big) and Doug Pinnick (King's X).
Jeff Scott Soto's Beautiful Mess (Frontiers Records): This is the first new album in four years from the soulful vocalist who has worked with the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Journey. "This is the album I always wanted to make," Soto says. "Beautiful Mess is all about songs and the singer, not guitar solos and big riffs. The songs are also more soul and R&B laced, as well. I wanted the diversity it has, but I didn't want it to sound confusing to old fans while I am trying to gain new ones."
Various Artists' True Blood—Music From the HBO Original Series (Elektra/Atlantic Records): This CD features music heard during the first season of the much-loved series about vampires in Louisiana, including Jace Everett's sultry theme song "Bad Things," tunes from the Bayou State's natives (like Dr. John, Lucinda Williams and Slim Harpo) and an exclusive new song written expressly for the series, "Bleed 2 Feed," by Lafayette-based swamp rocker CC Adcock.
