Growing up in the 1980s as a shameless metalhead, there was a certain section of the community who viewed Christian metal as something decidedly uncool. Obviously, those detractors had never heard of Barren Cross, a quartet who burst out of Los Angeles in 1983 like the proverbial bat outta hell. After making waves with their early releases, things really started happening when they scored a deal with Enigma Records, and that’s exactly where this lovely set steps in. Containing their two breakthrough albums (Atomic Arena and State Of Control) and a couple of rare bonus tracks, this is a collection tailor made for fans of classic metal (regardless of religious persuasion) and is guaranteed to get those follicles flying.
CD 1: Atomic Arena
When a band closely align themselves with a movement it can repel as many people as it attracts and I sincerely believe that their overt Christianity kept Barren Cross a cult band. Listening to Atomic Arena’s opening track ‘Imaginary Music’, it can be the only explanation. Here’s a band rocking a distinctly Malice/Lizzy Borden/Armoured Saint sound, and doing it with great aplomb. ‘Imaginary Music’ was a song that shot the band straight to MTV and into a million homes, and all on their own terms; this was a hard, yet melodic, sound and one that ticked all the right boxes from the driving rhythm section to the dexterous guitars and soaring vocals. In fact, Mike Lee’s vocals are a major selling point and bears more than a passing resemblance to Bruce Dickinson and it makes you wonder why Maiden didn’t give Mr. Lee a call when Bruce first departed, although I imagine he’d find the lyrics to ‘Number Of The Beast’ a tad “challenging”. And therein lies Barren Cross’ Achilles Heel; the deep lyrical content found on the pro-life ‘Killers Of The Unborn’ must have been a hard sell to party-obsessed headbangers who wanted songs about kegs of beer and loose women. However, time has been very kind to Barren Cross and while much music from the 1980’s sounds vapid, Atomic Arena still has a freshness surrounding it.
Building on the success of their debut EP (1985’s Believe) and long player (1986’s Rock For The King), by the time 1988’s Atomic Arena rolled round Barren Cross had pretty much developed their signature sound and it’s an album which proudly displays their full arsenal. From the proto-thrash of ‘Cultic Regimes’ to power ballad ‘Heaven Or Nothing’ via power metal-infused ‘Dead Lock’ to epic closer ‘Living Dead’ Atomic Arena tries on lots of different styles and wears them all well. The only real downside to this release is the absence of a second guitarist, a second six stringer would definitely be a boon and give the band more depth, especially when Ray Parris is soloing. However, that’s only a minor complaint and Atomic Arena stands as one of the ‘80s best, regardless of genre.
CD 2: State Of Control
The Christian rock scene could be very insular and inward looking with its own infrastructure, distribution networks and points of sale. That made it doubly hard for bands such as Barren Cross to make commercial inroads, not only did they have to break out of the Christian rock ghetto but they had to break into the mainstream, but thanks to Atomic Arena and their third album State Of Control they muscled their way into the American consciousness. Produced by brothers John and Dino Elefante (whose credits include Petra), the first thing to note about this album is the sound; it is far cleaner and crisper than its predecessor and sounds less muddy. The instruments are separated and the rhythm section is brought to the fore. Jim LaVerde’s bass is more bombastic and it fills the void of a rhythm guitar (see above) whilst Steve Whitaker’s drums seem more dynamic and the two combine to create a snappier sound, and one that cracks like a whip, ensuring tracks such as ‘Inner War’ really pack a punch.
While many Barren Cross fans prefer the rough-hewn charm of Atomic Arena, note-for-note and pound-for-pound the songs on State Of Control more than hold their own. If anything, the crystalline production elevates the band’s songwriting and musicianship by bringing them to the fore and that makes the likes of ‘A Face In The Dark’ far feistier and a sense of danger emanates from the grooves during ‘The Stage Of Intensity’ with acoustic guitars being added for light and shade. The mature sound found on State Of Control is more in tune with Queenrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime and adorning their songs with new textures, and for that reason it just shades its predecessor. Two rare cuts are added as bonus tracks, making this the ultimate edition of a very special album.
Some line-up changes and the liquidation of Enigma Records would later derail the bands career, but they’re now very much in action and playing shows. However, courtesy of Cherry Red Records we now have these two gems of albums back in the world…and thank God for that.
- Atomic Arena/State Of Control is released via Cherry Red Records/Dissonance on 21st February 2025.
Track List:
CD1: Atomic Arena
- Imaginary Music
- Killers Of The Unborn
- In The Eye Of The Fire
- Terrorist Child
- Close To The Edge
- Dead Lock
- Cultic Regimes
- Heaven Or Nothing
- King Of Kings
- Living Dead
CD 2: State Of Control
- State Of Control
- Out Of Time
- Cryin’ Over You
- A Face In The Dark
- The Stage Of Intensity
- Hard Lies
- Inner War
- Love At Full Volume
- Bigotry Man (Who Are You)
- Two Thousand Years
- Your Love Gives
- Escape In The Night
