Rock Sweep: December 15, 2012...

I'm back with round two of today's "chart sweeps" where I sample the new songs making their way on to this week's charts in Billboard magazine. Now we're up to the latest on rock radio...

On the aggregate Rock Airplay chart, Muse's "Madness" climbs to the top position for the first time...

Two new songs make their first appearance...first, Cincinnati indie group Walk The Moon are at #48 with their second hit, "Tightrope". The song, which follows their top-20 hit "Anna Sun", is already at #21 on the Modern Rock format. Trust me, their debut album's a keeper, and this song is hard not to get up and dance to...

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..and speaking of dance, EDM star DJ Kaskade is at #50 supporting alt-rockers Neon Trees on "Lessons In Love (All Day, All Night)". The Trees' debut single, "Animal", stopped at #2 in 2009. The new song, at #33 on the Modern Rock list, is their smoothest track so far, and deserves wider attention (see also, the Killers)...

Meanwhile, over on the Modern Rock/Alternative radio format chart, the aforementionned "Madness" enjoys a ninth non-consecutive week on top...

The sole entry at #39 is American folk-rockers the Lumineers' followup to their breakthrough single, "Ho Hey", which topped this chart earlier this year. "Stubborn Love" has the potential to follow the former's success, and it's already in the top-10 on the Triple-A chart....

At the Mainstream Rock format list, Three Days Grace remain at #1 for a thirteenth week with "Chalk Outline"...

The top debut is by California-based hard-rock group Papa Roach at #33 with "Where Did The Angels Go", the second single from their album The Connection. They topped this list once in 2009 with "Lifeline". This one is great to blast from the car speakers, and should continue their renewed hot streak on rock radio...

 Coming in at #38 is Tennessee alt-metal band 10 Years with "Dancing With The Dead", the second single from their Minus The Machine album. Their debut hit, "Wasteland", has been their biggest so far, reaching #2 in 2005...

The final new song on this format's chart is the first for thrash-metal rockers Machine Head, and "Darkness Within" at #40...

Popping in on the Triple-A (album adult alternative, or "hipster rock") radio format, American Idol winner Philip Phillips is still at #1 for a fourth week with "Home"...

The higher of the two singles debuting on this list this week is by the Wallflowers, who just went to #2 with "Reboot The Mission" (which I really thought should have been "bigger" than it was). Their new song, "Love Is A Country" at #26, is a more straightforward rock song with slight country undertones, with Jakob Dylan's pensive lyrics (genetics?)...

Coming in at #28 is Oregon indie-folk band Blind Pilot with "We Are The Tide". It follows "Half Moon", which made the top-20 here in the summer...

Meanwhile at the Active Rock format, Stone Sour's "Absolute Zero" is at #1 for a second week, and the two debuts are by the aforementioned Papa Roach at #32 and 10 Years at #37...

And lastly on the Heritage Rock radio chart, "Chalk Outline" climbs back to #1 for an eighth non-consecutive week, and there are no debuts...

I'll return in an hour and a half with the latest on R&B radio. Rock On!