Barren Cross
State of Control
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
BC is back with another killer record. This one is BC-ness as usual - loud, dark, crunchin', heavy, heavy metal. Mike Lee's powerful voice rocks with authority as the low end of the rhythm section pounds out the heavy beat. Ray Parris shows some improvement in his leads, adding more feeling in his fingers. The lyrical content deals with the issues of child abuse, bigotry, runaways, heartbreak/dating relationships, the rapture, and lying tongues. "Stage of Intensity" is an awesome song, beginning with some classical guitar that flies into 90-miles-an-hour thrash. BC is a tight metal outfit, and this song proves it. It could be the first legitimate thrash tune with keyboards. It sounds like those "Horse Pedals" that Jim LaVerde likes to use (This is an inside joke about a misprint Heaven's Metal ran about Jim's equipment in Issue #16 - We called Taurus Pedals "Horse Pedals."). Mike Lee has a great voice for really heavy metal, thrash included. "Out of Time" is about the rapture, where Jesus returns and those in Him are caught up in the air. The song opens with an audio portion from the popular prophecy movie series "Thief in the Night", where a news broadcaster announces that millions of people "have just disappeared." "Cryin' Over You" is one of the two commercial metal numbers, meaning giant, polished gang BGV's. Thank John and Dino Elefante for the clean production job throughout. The other commercial number is "Hard Lies", which should garner some airplay on secular rock stations. It's got a good hook in the chorus and a couple really hot leads by Ray. "Two Thousand Years" is a bold proclamation of the Gospel: "2,000 years ago there came a Man/ a Man Who was hated and loved, worshiped and killed/ but what was this Man all about? What did He do? For to me to live is Christ, to die is gain/ there's no other name for which I'm saved/ I've got the power, it's in my sight/ 'cause with Him I'm not afraid to die/ Now I will disclose His name, it's Jesus Christ..." It's hard to find a meter in that, but Mike pulls it off with speed. "Inner War" is an honest look at the battle between the Spirit and our flesh. "I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna shout/ I'm the one that wins without a doubt/ the victory's mine in this state of war/ I won't be a slave to sin no more." One line in here is funny: "When I don't sin, baby I'm satisfied." "Love at Full Volume" is another godly love song in the vein of "Heaven or Nothing", except that it's a cruncher. There's no ballads on this tape. This album is hot. It took me two listens to really start getting into the tunes, but I was immediately struck by the sizzling musicianship. These four definitely have their chops down now. I can't wait to hear these songs live. Turn it up and it'll move you.