10 Years have finally gotten around to releasing new music from their oft-delayed sophomore album Division, which seems like it will finally be released on May 13th. SMNnews.com reports that the band has released 5 high-quality streams of new songs through some Clear Channel website. And you know what? I’m pleasantly surprised.

Gone is the genero-alt-metal riffing and Maynard-aping vocals of Wasteland, and in their place are something a whole lot more interesting and dynamic. The new music runs the gamut from the older style (as in lead single “Beautiful) to almost indie-esque “Actions and Motives” to the atmospheric “Just Can’t Win.” All the songs are tight, solid, and catchy. This is just the kind of evolution in sound 10 Years needed to make to differentiate themselves from the hoardes of radio-friendly hard rock bands. Could Division be one of the great pleasant surprises of 2008?

-VN

[10 Years on Discover New Music]

Projekt Revulsion – er, Revolution – Linkin Suck’s answers to Ozzfest/Summer Sanitarium/summer package tour of your choice, has announced its line-up for this year’s edition, and in addition to headliners The Chester Bennington Comedy Hour, the mainstage will include Chris Cornell, The Bravery, and Ashes Divide. Second stage performers will include Atreyu, 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights, and Armor for Sleep.

Okay, so I’m dying to see Ashes Divide live (or, for that matter, hear their album in its entirety – I don’t know how the label has done such a solid job of preventing it from leaking with only a week left ’til its release, for but good for them), but otherwise, this has to the tour to skip this summer. As of late, Chris Cornell seems to be going out his way to become a caricature of his former self, 10 Years, Hawthorne Heights and Armor for Sleep all blow goats, and even though I liked some of Atreyu’s pre-Lead Sails offerings, their live show is a painful demonstration of how reliant they are on Pro Tools and other studio chicanery.

I don’t know much about The Bravery but they strike me as the kind of band that is listened to exclusively by anorexic hipsters in skinny black jeans. Actually, they seem kind of out of place on this tour.

It’s interesting that Linkin Suck are booking a tour that’s so light on heavy bands. I wonder if that’s because they’re booked elsewhere or because Mike Shitoda and company are deliberately trying to distance themselves from the metal world that has so forcefully and maliciously busted their balls for the past seven years. Debate amongst yourselves while I pray for an Ashes Divide solo tour.

-AR