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Barren Cross Band Picture

Barren Cross

Atomic Arena

Barren Cross Homepage

(click on Artist's name above to return to artist's main page)

Category: CCM Heavy Metal

Year: 1988

Label: Enigma

Catalog Number: D2-73311

Average Rating: 86 / 100 (3 ratings)

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Barren Cross Atomic Arena Album Cover

Personnel
Mike Lee lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Ray Parris rhythm and lead guitars, acoustic guitars, background vocals
Steve Whitaker drums, background vocals
Jim LaVerde bass, synthesizer pedals, background vocals
Tracks
1.  Imaginary Music  4:26
2.  Killers of the Unborn  3:28
3.  In the Eye of the Fire  4:27
4.  Terrorist Child  3:30
5.  Close to the Edge  4:55
6.  Dead Lock  4:18
7.  Cultic Regimes  2:48
8.  Heaven or Nothing  4:10
9.  King of Kings  3:30
10.  Living Dead  6:50
  
Total Running Time:  42:22

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Brutal Metal forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular Barren Cross CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Brutal Metal as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from Barren Cross are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.




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Existing comments about this CD

From: Cephas Date: April 22, 2002 at 9:12
This is not the Barren Cross of 'Rock for the King'! Gone are the operatic vocals, the hooks, the Christ-centered lyrics. What else is left? Well, not much ... Ray Parris can still whale on a guitar. The lyrics are noticeably more mature, too. But, that's about all I can say positively. The rest just sucks. Mike Lee almost never gets out of mid-range vocally, hitting high notes once in a (great) while. Alas, Barren Cross seems to have lost focus here as a classic metal band.

From: eric 31 cali Date: November 30, 2002 at 3:25
an awesome classic.....christian or not! they kicked ass when they were around in (MY) opinion...man i hope that i can get a hold of this one.

From: eric 31 cali Date: November 30, 2002 at 3:25
an awesome classic.....christian or not! they kicked ass when they were around in (MY) opinion...man i hope that i can get a hold of this one.

From: Scott Date: February 5, 2003 at 16:27
I LOVE this album! It is one of the greatest heavy metal albums to come out of the 80's. The sound is a mixture of the heaviest Priest and Maiden. The lyrics deal with social issues like abortion ('Killer of the Unborn'), drugs ('Dead Lock'), destructive cults ('Cultic Regimes') and the responsibilty of the musician to their audience ('Imaginary Music'). The one exception would be 'King of Kings,' a heavy song about Christ. Good production with a big drum sound and raw Mesa Boogie guitar tones.

From: Fat Freddy Date: February 16, 2003 at 18:51
These guys did not deserve to get pigeonholed simply as 'Christian Metal'... because they were one of the best straight-up METAL bands of the late 80s, Christian or non-Christian, and that's the absolute truth. I have spoken.

From: Jason Date: April 4, 2003 at 15:44
Lost the message?!?! Hardly, if anything they got more brutal about it, they just didn't need to keep saying Jesus every other word to get it across. Btw, their new album Rattle Your Cage is incredible!!! Though granted not as classic a style. Peace

From: Dave Date: April 14, 2003 at 6:50
I have to say this is the greatest album they ever recorded. Imaginary Music's Guitar licks are some to rival Eddie Van Halen, Satriani, or Malmsteen. Great production. I loved this.

From: drewman202 Date: April 14, 2003 at 18:12
Barren Cross at their absolute best! Every song rules, even the ballad Heaven or Nothing. More killer axework and Mike Lee's incredible pipes. Jim LaVerde has a cool little base run in the intro of In The Eye Of The Fire. Great drum sound too. It just rocks! Favorite tracks: Imaginary Music, Cultic Regimes, Living Dead.

From: Eduardo Date: April 16, 2003 at 14:27
Awesome

From: Owen Canting Date: February 5, 2004 at 18:32
Well, I think Rock for the King is better than this one. No hay una cancion que supere a Dying Day.

From: Chris Date: May 23, 2004 at 18:13
Normally, I'm into ultra-fast thrash metal, but when I'm in the mood for some classic heavy metal, this CD satisfies my thirst every time! Man, this album rocks! Highlights: In the Eye of the Fire, Close To The Edge, King of Kings, and especially Living Dead

From: marlin daubert Date: May 26, 2004 at 16:14
These guys totally nailed the moment of thier era. If you like heavy metal, you're gonna love this album. Ray Parris is my idol. Nobody strums like him!!!!!!!

From: pdibby Date: July 15, 2004 at 17:28
isn't ray parris a rap star now?

From: juan carlos Date: November 3, 2007 at 2:06
Tremendo discazo de Heavy con sus buenas melodías. Un discazo de verdad y el mejor de Barren Cross. "Killers of the Unborn" y "Dead Lock" sonó en una radio local en la hora de White Metal ya hace mas de una decada (Que años!!!), temazos por cierto asi como todo el disco. Muy completo. y señalar tambien a "Heaven or Nothing" como una joyita de aquellas (Rozan el AOR con esos teclados, recuerdan a un tema de Winger!). La voz a lo Bruce Dickinson, mucho mejor todavia. Buy or Die!! 9.5/10

From: rockhardrock Date: February 13, 2011 at 12:34
This is the 1st album by this band I listened to and just like many of you wrote here on this site and after all things that I read about this group I defenitely agree that the singer has dickinson's voice. the music here is close to maiden's albums powerslave, somewhere in time. so I can say that this one is as good as any maiden album and the lyrics, well something that maiden haven't written until today, they are not worshiping the devil. my faves: imaginary music, deadlock and king of kings.


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