HRD Radio Report
Each week on HardRockDaddy.com. The HRD Radio Report digs deeper into the weekly Active Rock charts, providing commentary, reviews, recommendations and predictions. It also features opinion pieces on chart action and the music business in general. All exclusive HRD content is featured below the chart:
| RANK (TW) | RANK (LW) | ARTIST | SONG TITLE | SPINS |
| 1 | 2 | FOO FIGHTERS | Making A Fire | 1774 |
| 2 | 4 | PRETTY RECKLESS | Only Love Can Save Me Now | 1734 |
| 3 | 1 | MAMMOTH WVH | Don’t Back Down | 1650 |
| 4 | 3 | VOLBEAT | Wait A Minute My Girl | 1412 |
| 5 | 5 | CHEVELLE | Mars Simula | 1281 |
| 6 | 6 | DAUGHTRY | Heavy Is The Crown | 1216 |
| 7 | 9 | SEETHER | Wasteland | 1152 |
| 8 | 7 | EVANESCENCE | Better Without You | 1139 |
| 9 | 8 | POP EVIL | Survivor | 1136 |
| 10 | 10 | ATREYU | Warrior f/Travis Barker | 1074 |
| 11 | 12 | HALESTORM | Back From The Dead | 934 |
| 12 | 13 | BEARTOOTH | The Past Is Dead | 885 |
| 13 | 14 | FOZZY | Sane | 831 |
| 14 | 16 | AYRON JONES | Supercharged | 804 |
| 15 | 15 | FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH | Darkness Settles In | 769 |
| 16 | 21 | ASKING ALEXANDRIA | Alone Again | 667 |
| 17 | 17 | GRETA VAN FLEET | Built By Nations | 659 |
| 18 | 19 | IRON MAIDEN | The Writing On The Wall | 583 |
| 19 | 18 | DEAD POET SOCIETY | .CoDA. | 566 |
| 20 | 23 | BADFLOWER | Don’t Hate Me | 557 |
| 21 | 20 | ARCHITECTS | Dead Butterflies | 508 |
| 22 | 22 | COHEED AND CAMBRIA | Shoulders | 507 |
| 23 | 24 | FUEL | Hard | 467 |
| 24 | 26 | THRICE | Scavengers | 451 |
| 25 | 27 | STARSET | Infected | 412 |
| 26 | 29 | DIRTY HONEY | The Wire | 320 |
| 27 | 0 | BAD WOLVES | Lifeline | 284 |
| 28 | 31 | TRIVIUM | Feast Of Fire | 256 |
| 29 | 30 | LILITH CZAR | Anarchy | 248 |
| 30 | 28 | NONPOINT | Ruthless | 239 |
| 31 | 33 | BLACK STONE CHERRY | Give Me One Reason | 238 |
| 32 | 37 | DED | Kill Beautiful Things | 211 |
| 33 | 32 | TWIZTID | Envy f/Ice Nine Kills | 211 |
| 34 | 34 | JOYOUS WOLF | Fearless | 205 |
| 35 | 35 | DROPOUT KINGS | Virus f/Shayley Bourget | 194 |
| 36 | 0 | PAPA ROACH | Kill The Noise | 164 |
| 37 | 25 | L.A. RATS | I’ve Been Everywhere | 158 |
| 38 | 43 | DEAD SARA | Heroes | 157 |
| 39 | 36 | GREEN DAY | Pollyanna | 150 |
| 40 | 41 | TREMONTI | If Not For You | 114 |
| 41 | 40 | DOROTHY | What’s Coming To Me | 111 |
| 42 | 49 | AVATAR | Going Hunting | 110 |
| 43 | 39 | KINGDOM COLLAPSE | Unbreakable | 107 |
| 44 | 42 | PAPA ROACH | Swerve f/Jason A. Butler/Sueco | 95 |
| 45 | 45 | WEEZER | All My Favorite Songs f/AJR | 93 |
| 46 | 44 | SAUL | Looking To Fight | 88 |
| 47 | 46 | THE RECORD COMPANY | How High | 87 |
| 48 | 48 | BLIND CHANNEL | Dark Side | 82 |
| 49 | 47 | MANESKIN | I Wanna Be Your Slave | 82 |
| 50 | 52 | WAGE WAR | Circle The Drain | 81 |
BLACKTOP MOJO – “Wicked Woman”
There has been a resurgence of the Led Zeppelin influence permeating the modern hard rock scene in recent years. Some sound like lost Zeppelin tracks, while others just use the bluesy, riff-driven groove of Jimmy Page to give their song a timeless, ‘70s feel. Blacktop Mojo’s “Wicked Woman” falls squarely into the latter category. It’s just another layer to peel back in the seemingly endless onion that is the ever-evolving sound of (in my opinion) the most underrated band in rock and roll today.
While there is a Zeppelin vibe to the “Wicked Woman” opening riff, it also features the intensity of Judas Priest’s “Victim Of Changes,” and the stoner sensibilities of classic Black Sabbath riffs. With each passing release, Matt James continues to cement himself as one of the best vocalists in rock today. Impassioned, soulful, and a boundless range of styles and influences makes James one of the most versatile vocalists as well. But Blacktop Mojo is more than just a lead singer that makes you stand up and take notice.
Ryan Kiefer is a throwback to the days of the guitar gods, effortlessly blending ‘70s hard rock with ‘80s shredding into a modern sound that makes him one of the most impressive guitarists in rock today. James and Kiefer are only allowed to shine because the rest of the band provides an incredible foundation. It’s not just about being tight as a unit though. There is a chemistry with Blacktop Mojo that is virtually unrivaled by other developing artists. Having seen them live in an intimate setting, I can attest that this is not manufactured with studio tools. They are simply one of the best bands around.
It may sound like a familiar refrain coming from me, but I have to wonder again if this track or this album is the one that gets them the recognition that they so richly deserve.
HRD SPIN CONTROL
Hard Rock Daddy recommends the following tracks for airplay on Active Rock Radio…
| ARTIST | SONG TITLE |
| BLACKTOP MOJO | Wicked Woman |
| BLACK LABEL SOCIETY | Set You Free |
| PARALANDRA | Despicable |
| TESLA | Cold Blue Steel |
| ICE NINE KILLS/JACOBY SHADDIX | Hip To Be Scared |
| FROM ASHES TO NEW | Light Up The Sky |
| ROLLING STONES | Living In The Heart Of Love |
| SUECO | Paralyzed |
| LOVE THE HATE | Solid Ground |
| BIG WRECK (f. CHAD KROEGER) | Middle Of Nowhere |
| PSYCHO HILL | Dying Day |
GREATEST GAINERS…
| ARTIST | SONG TITLE | spINcrease |
| BAD WOLVES | Lifeline | 284 |
| PAPA ROACH | Kill The Noise | 164 |
| PRETTY RECKLESS | Only Love Can Save Me Now | 153 |
| ASKING ALEXANDRIA | Alone Again | 153 |
| SEETHER | Wasteland | 123 |