Albums, Gigs, Festivals and just about anything Christian hard music related new or old can be reviewed here - hopefully by YOU.
Yes, we need your participation. So if you would like to submit an review feel free.
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Albums, Gigs, Festivals and just about anything Christian hard music related new or old can be reviewed here - hopefully by YOU. Yes, we need your participation. So if you would like to submit an review feel free. |
Voice of the Mysterons (Greenbelt 08) If Edgar Allen Poe had every decided to branch out into songwriting after finishing "The Raven", then this is the band he might have written for. The band was formed after Blaster the Rocket Boy/Man's lead singer Otto NoBot (Daniel Petersen) moved to Scotland and met Dougle, who wanted to form a credible christian punk band. The album that they wrote is called "They have pulled down deep heaven on their heads or Come hell or high voltage: an electromagnetic rapture rock shock apocalypse in dramatic dialogue with damned Abaddon's lost lads and lasses". Either it’s the long lonely nights in the Highlands or they must put something in the water up there in Livingstone !!! Peter Willoughby |
Is it possible to define and sum up the Meltdown conferences in a few sentences? It’s certainly not easy. Music (hard music in particular) is definitely key to the event, but I don’t think I could describe it is a music festival. The seminars and bible teaching are first-rate, but it doesn’t feel anything like a regular Christian conference. There is a real feeling of unity and acceptance amongst the attendees even though many of us come from extremely diverse backgrounds. Oh yeah, and God shows up. That can’t be bad, can it!
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Back Pocket Prophet - Transposition EP Brian Bassingthwaighte |
The Irrelevants @ Greenbelt - Meltdown Stage Back Pocket Prophet @ Greenbelt - Meltdown Stage At Greenbelt 2007, Back Pocket Prophet were a four piece unit. Unfortunately, they ran out of food and money. So they drew straws and barbecued the unlucky loser …. well you have to admit that it makes a much better story than someone leaving due to "musical differences". Just for the record, I can assure you that the lost band member is alive and well (and is still friends with them). Last year they were sounding like Iron Maiden, but since then have got heavier, so that now they are more akin to Metallica or Pantera. The lads are committed to what they do and have just released their second EP. Adam is on lead guitar and vocals, Vic on bass and backing vocals, with Thomas "Danger" Power pounding the drums. They launch off with Transposition and DNA (Identity) which has the lyrics "Don’t you know who we are, We are the Sons of God / I belong to heaven, It is my destiny / I am in the Father, He is in me / No longer in darkness". We are encouraged to make some noise, the incentive being free CDs and t-shirts, and if we are loud enough they are going to throw in the drummer as well !!! "Prodigal", "How Can I Deny You" and "One Way Out" is heavier than a herd of elephants on the rampage, as they encourage their fans to do a mosh conga. "We Stand As One" has been dedicated to different people whenever they have played it. In Barnsley, it was for the goth girl kicked to death after trying to protect her goth boyfriend from being beaten up by a gang of youths in a park. This time it was for a 17-year-old lad killed in a motorbike accident after receiving his exam results. It emphasizes that death can come at any time, we need to be prepared and work to build friendships and community within the metal scene. After that rather serious message, they finish off with SOLID. Now if I’ve got this correct it stands for Silhouette Of Light In Darkness. The band is starting to attract serious attention in the christian metal scene. I seriously recommend that you see them perform if you get the chance. |
CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEW |
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In the late 80's hair metal ruled the music scene. Spandex, hair spray and hard rock were in. On the Christian music scene there were a few bands that emerged during this time that really stuck out as leaders and Barren Cross were one of them. Atomic Arena is an amazing album that not only has great music but also deals with real issues like abortion and the unsaved. Their music resembles AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest from the secular music side. Jim LaVerde, bass player with this great band will be a guest speaker at this years Meltdown Retreat. Barren Cross have recently starte dplaying gigs again - few and far between maybe but still a band that are worth seeing live. Unforunately they never made it to the Uk.
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After parting ways with Star Song following the release of its 1986 debut Rock For The King, Barren Cross signed with Enigma Records when the label became impressed by the manner in which it ranked above Metallica on the CMJ reports at certain radio stations. Prior to recording its 1988 Enigma debut Atomic Arena, however, Barren Cross placed the track “Dead Lock” on the California Metal compilation, a number reflecting the growth and maturity gained by the band in its songwriting since the time of Rock For The King. Barren Cross, if anything, continues that trend on Atomic Arena, an album featuring some of the finest moments of the bands career in the area of songwriting. The melodic metal of “Imaginary Music” and driving “Close To The Edge”, for instance, stand out with their catchy chorus hooks and “In The Eye Of The Fire” and “Dead Lock”, two standout pieces reflecting a classic metal feel, an abundance of guitar driven initiative. A speed metal and thrash influence can be found in “Killers Of The Unborn” and “Cultic Regimes” while “Living Dead” – a heavy duty track as you will ever find – almost borders on progressive metal. The versatility of the bands songwriting skills, at the same time, can be found in the metal worship anthem “King Of Kings” along with the customary ballad “Heaven Or Nothing”. My overall feeling is that Barren Cross delivers a lot of variety on Atomic Arena but, due to the quality of the songwriting, the albums fails to turn into a cumbersome listen. Frontman Mike Lee, who helped compose seven of the albums compositions, returns with his charismatic Dickinson-influenced lead vocal style, displaying the full range of this voice on “Imaginary Music” while “Killers Of The Unborn” finds him adding an aggressive element to his delivery. Guitarist Ray Parris makes his presence felt as well, best exhibiting his fast fingered lead work on “Terrorist Child” and “Dead Lock”. However, it is the resounding bass lines of Jim LaVerde and Steve Whitakers steady drumming that ultimately puts in place the solid foundation for the bands sound. To understand my point, just listen to the dominant performance put forth by the two on “In The Eye Of The Fire” and “Living Dead”. The production team of John and Dino Elefante add just the right amount of clean sounding polish without taking away from the bands natural raw energy. The bass and lead guitar both cleanly rise above the mix and underscore a crisp sounding rhythm guitar. The drums pack the needed punch in being placed forward in the mix. Barren Cross, in addition, must not only be commended for the choice of topics it addresses here – ranging from abortion, suicide, cults and substance abuse – but the informative manner in which they present them. Album opener “Imaginary Music” stands out with its superlative melody line. Driven forward by an edgy rhythm guitar backed by a pronounced bass line, “Imaginary Music” culminates for a catchy chorus with a hook of a near commercial capacity. Parris steps forward with a minute of riveting lead guitar work. “Imaginary Music” talks about the phony and fleeting fame that comes with being a rock star: Image you are standing on a stage Introduced to several seconds of open air rhythm guitar, “Killers Of The Unborn” immediately launches into a driving guitar riff bordering on speed metal. After keyboards accentuate the song at the end of its first verse, it moves on to a chorus delivered with an abundance of hard hitting authority. “Killers Of The Unborn” was written from the standpoint of a baby being aborted: I am a child about to die The song, ultimately, conveys the forgiveness offered in Christ: The scar of guilt she's going to wear On “In The Eye Of The Fire” LaVerde puts in place some of the most massive bass lines this reviewer has heard. The song opens, appropriately, to a bass guitar solo before a pounding riff reinforced by double bass propels it to a brief but powerful chorus highlighted by shouted vocal harmonies. “In The Eye Of The Fire” conveys an anti-suicide message: Feels like no hope is ever to be The lyrics to “Terrorist Child”, almost prophetic in light of recent current events, deserve to be included in full: See the fire of a burning rage Terrorist child: if you only knew The playground is their battlefield A crisp rhythm guitar drives “Terrorist Child” through its verse portions hard and heavy, the song not culminating until it obtains a sharp sounding chorus advancing at a spirited upbeat tempo. Parris contributes several seconds of the albums best melodic flavored lead guitar work. The melody to “Close To The Edge” ranks with “Imaginary Music” as the albums finest. Several seconds of slowly moving guitar harmony begins the song before it picks up in pace for the anthem-like riff that stands in support of its verse portions. Tapering off, “Close To The Edge” moves on to a driving chorus giving rise to an abundance of refuse to go away appeal. Parris’ soloing leads the way through an instrumental section ending to a blend of rhythm guitar and keyboards. “Deadlock” is by far the albums strongest track. Initiated by a drum solo, “Deadlock” takes off to an ardent rhythm guitar that moves to the front of the mix in conjunction with Lee’s commanding voice. As the song gains impetus, it arrives at a chorus bolstered in an energetic manner by vocal harmonies. A fiery guitar solo brings out the best in a number dealing with substance abuse: Deadlock: crawling into the dark “Cultic Regimes” – a three minute all out speed metal assault – gets underway to several seconds of insane laughter before proceeding through its verse portions to a double bass driven riff. A chorus that can border on the repetitious, on the other hand, prevents the song from ranking with my favorite tracks here. That being said, those whose musical tastes stray towards the thrash side of things will find a home here. While the lyrics to “Cultic Regimes” can come across a bit blunt, they do not fail in hitting the songs message home: Cultic regimes The brothers Elefante penned “Heaven Or Nothing”, a commercial hard rock ballad I have never been able to warm up to. While there is nothing really wrong with it musically, “Heaven Or Nothing” comes across watered down as a result of the rhythm guitar being placed a bit low in the mix. The exact opposite can be said about the keyboards. In the hands of a powerful metal band like Barren Cross “Heaven Or Nothing” ends up sounding like a forced attempt at commercial success. In other words, it is a good song just NOT a good Barren Cross song. Perhaps a band along the lines of Petra, White Heart or even Stryper would have done things better justice. He's the Rock, the great I Am The progressive influenced metal of the seven minute “Living Dead” ranks with the heaviest of the heavies. The song jumps out of the gate to a muscular combination of rhythm guitar and bass, the two pushing it ahead with a plethora of overriding momentum. “Living Dead” does not slow, however, until it reaches a chorus in which a heavy handed but commanding setting is put into place. Following the songs second chorus, the pace decelerates to a near standstill as Lee details the state of spiritual death: Look in the sky, and tell me what comes to your mind In the end, “Living Dead” invites its listeners to break out of the state of spiritual death: Make the kill between the eyes, the old man say goodbye Finally, it is worth noting that Atomic Arena, which went on to sell a respectable 100, 000 copies, was re-issued in 2004 by Restless Records. Track Listing: “Imaginary Music” (4:26), “Killers Of The Unborn” (3:28), “In The Eye Of The Fire” (4:27), “Terrorist Child” (3:30), “Close To The Edge” (4:55), “Dead Lock” (4:18), “Cultic Regimes” (2:48), “Heaven Or Nothing” (4:10), “King Of Kings” (3:30), “Living Dead” (6:50) Musicians With thanks to www.angelicwarlord.com for the album review |
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The Meltdown Retreat