| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Dino Elefante |
| Record Label: Star Song | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 1986 | Artist Website: Barren Cross |
| Tracks: 9 | Rating: 70% |
| Running Time: 35:05 |
The history of Barren Cross dates back to 1981 when drummer Steve Whitaker and guitarist Ray Parris both answered the same ad placed in a Los Angeles area music paper. After the two recruited vocalist Mike Lee two years later by responding to an ad in the same paper, bassist Jim LaVerde met Lee at church and joined the group the next day during practice. With its line up set, the new four piece unit arrived at the name Barren Cross when Parris watched a TV depiction of Christ’s life in which at the end of the movie He was still hanging on the cross. Parris said to himself, "Jesus rose off the cross, the whole point of our belief in Christianity."
Officially commencing on November 13, 1983, Barren Cross proceeded to gain a large following in the Los Angeles area from playing local clubs, churches and youth groups. The bands first recording, a low budget three song demo, preceded a six song EP entitled Believe, which was released independently after printing 2000 copies. (Please note that the original version of Believe came with a blue cover and white cross, while the second featured a white cover with a blue cross and was pressed on blue vinyl). Barren Cross sent copies of Believe to every possible label, both Christian and secular, and signed a deal upon gaining the interest of Star Song records. Star Song added three more tracks to turn it into the bands 1986 full length debut Rock For The King.
What we have in Rock For The King is good old fashioned, straightforward heavy metal. Barren Cross does, however, give us a bit of variety, ranging from power metal (“Dying Day”), to bluesy metal (“He Loves You”), to driving metal (“Rock For The King”), to speed metal (“Just A Touch”) to technical metal (“It’s All Come True”). The group even delivers an acoustic laced – and very well done – ballad as well (“Light The Flame”).
Fronting Barren Cross is the charismatic Mike Lee with his powerful Dickenson-like voice. Lee also fills in on acoustic guitar while Ray Parris handles all rhythm and lead guitar duties. Quite the talented musician, Parris deserves to rank with contemporaries Oz Fox (Stryper), David Zaffiro (Bloodgood) and Tony Palacios (Guardian). Bassist Jim LaVerde and drummer Steve Whitaker comprise a rhythm section that, for a lack of better words, can best be described as formidable.
Keeping in mind that Rock For The King is a low budget project, production values, disappointingly, stray towards the thin and muddy side of things.
The album opens strongly to the energetic power metal of “Dying Day”. Getting underway to a heavy duty guitar riff, the song plows ahead in stalwart fashion until culminating for a catchy chorus reinforced by backing vocals. Parris steals the show with his fiery lead work. The only complaint worth noting is that Lee’s voice is soaked with a bit too much reverb for my taste. “Dying World” deals with the violent nature of our world:
Take your books and here’s your gun
Take your lunch and wage
Here’s a piece of ribbon if you’re killed
While acting brave
Hit the sirens, nuke the town
Drink the acid rain
Peace will be here late next week
U.P.S. on train
The bluesy “He Loves You” moves at the slower pace when compared to “Dying Day”. Weighty, driving and heavy as all get out, the song plods through its first verse with a commanding rhythm guitar at the forefront of the mix. Playing a reduced role as “He Loves You” reaches its melodic based first chorus, the rhythm guitar returns in full force to sustain the stalwart second chorus that follows. Parris contributes a lengthy guitar solo to a song conveying the bands mission statement:
I there a hole in your heart
You can’t seem to fill
You’ve tried everything
But it’s empty still
Look to the cross
That's where your answer is
He's not hanging there
He lives- The Barren Cross!
“It’s All Come True” stands out with its technical time changes. The song commences to a fast paced guitar driven opening only to decelerate to a bass guitar at the start of its first verse. Regaining the momentum as the rhythm guitar roars back several seconds later, “It’s All Come True” moves forward in full force before giving way to an instrumental section carried by a fiery guitar solo.
Short (2:12) but spirited, “Believe” proves a velocity driven track almost bordering on speed metal. The song stands out with its catchy chorus, repeating its title four straight times in an exuberant manner: “Believe! Believe! Believe! Believe!”. Nice charismatic vocal performance from Lee as well. While I am sure the bands intentions were good, the lyrics here leave you scratching your head:
Give it a chance, freedom at last
Yours for free, take and receive
Better than pot, Jesus rocks
Come and believe
A tasteful acoustic guitar carries “Going Nowhere” through its first minute, including a “prelude” with a well thought out lyrical direction more than making up for that on “Believe”:
Life is short so go and try – grab all you can before you die
Is this you – you’re going nowhere
Someone came and died for you – but you just want your pleasure you
You’re going nowhere
The song abruptly picks up in pace once the rhythm guitar kicks in, impelling things with a plethora of resolve until a brief but hard hitting chorus is achieved. Parris takes center stage with a blistering guitar solo. Great song.
“Rock For The King” is by far the albums heaviest piece. Almost bordering on the heavy handed, the albums title track might not be the catchiest of numbers but still holds up under the all out powerful – and at times anthem-like – feel to its delivery. Shouted backing vocals step forward to shore up “Rock For The King” as it reaches its authoritative chorus:
Oh, the joy will rise when we see
The rider of the white horse
We will ROCK - for the King
We will ROCK
We will ROCK - to the gates
We will stand - stand up
For the King
Parris holds serve with more of his bluesy lead work.
Flat and muffled sounding, “Give Your Life” suffers from the albums worst production. The song moves forward at a steadfast mid-tempo clip from the start, not gaining initiative until achieving a quickly moving chorus underscored by pounding drums. “Give Your Life” presents a no nonsense salvation message:
Jesus said
He’s coming again
The day is near
Well, can’t you hear the voice of
Love, happiness and peace eternally
All these things can be yours for free
Give your life to Jesus…
As “Give Your Life” ends, “Just A Touch” immediately cuts in fast and heavy. An all out speed metal romp, the song rushes through its first and second verse on the way to an adrenalized chorus driven at a frenetic upbeat tempo. Parris’ lead guitar is in line with the songs excited aura.
A blend of acoustic guitar and keyboards gets the ballad “Light The Flame” underway, upholding its emotionally charged verse portions and moving chorus interwoven with a touch of vocal harmonies. As the song picks up in pace, a crisp rhythm guitar steps forward that helps add to the poignant scene. “Light The Flame” features some of the albums most inspired lyrics:
Light the flame
Take hold and know My name
I long to give you he love that’s in My hand
Light the flame
My gift to you has been paid
Receive the King, His crowns await your stand
Please note that in 1990 “Rock For The King” was re-mixed (by Ronnie Montrose) and re-issued on the Enigma sub-label Medusa with new album artwork. Six live tracks were added as well. My thoughts? While the re-mix does clean up the production (the reverb added to the lead vocals on “Dying Day” has been removed), several songs – most notably “Believe” and “Going Nowhere” – come across a bit disjointed and sound better in their original format. Still, get this for the live tracks (many which did not find their way onto Barren Cross’ live album Hotter Than Hell! Live).
Rock For The King allows Barren Cross to showcase the potential which led to it signing with Enigma Records. And that potential in question is displayed on top of the line tracks such as "Dying Day," "He Loves You", "It's All Come True", "Going Nowhere" and "Just A Touch". That said, I do hit the skip button once or twice while the production values could have been improved upon. All around, Rock For The King adds up to a solid debut from a promising young band.
Review by: Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: "Dying Day" (3:25), "He Loves You" (4:34), "It’s All Come True" (4:02), "Believe" (2:12), "Going Nowhere" (4:36), "Rock For The King" (5:00), "Give Your Life" (2:47), "Just A Touch" (3:26), "Light The Flame" (5:31)
Musicians
Mike Lee – Lead Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Ray Parris – Guitars
Jim LaVerde – Bass
Steve Whitaker - Drums
Also Reviewed: Barren Cross – Atomic Arena, Various Artists - California Metal
Reference List
Johnson, Dave. "Progressive Metal Masters." White Throne 5 (1989): 20-22.
Reynolds, Dave. "Kings Battalion: Barren Cross, Christianity's New Metal Force, Are Gonna Be Huge!" Metal Forces 22 (1987): 39.
"Barren Cross Interview." Take A Stand (August 1988): 1-2.
