Various Artists
Premium Cuts
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Well, what can you say about a compilation with this much talent? And, for once, the songs are sequenced in a way that we hear all the songs by each band together; instead of mixed all over the album. Thus, the biggest name on the bill, Barren Cross, has all three of their tunes kickin' off the album. Not waiting a second to catch back up to their State of Control level, "Here I Am" finds the band at peak level. It's got everything BC is known for - straight-ahead power, big catchy BGV's, and the ability to swing into a beautiful melodic mood (during the breath-taking bridge). "Time For Love" keeps things thumpin' with a slight sass attitude groove. "Midnight Son" finds the band riding atop a rumbling 90's bass riff before settling into an almost 80's pop metal hook. Like "Here I Am," the band shifts into low for a short solo and bridge that oozes emotion a la blues.
The voice that will soon rule Christian rock - Robyn Kyle Basauri - makes his debut with Red Sea here with three tunes. Having sung in Jaguar (check out the "Show Me The Way" bonus cut on the Joshua Surrender re-issue), Die Happy, P.K. Mitchell's All Hail The Power and the second Sanctuary Praise album, this guy has got it, man! "Soulshaker" rumbles with an overdriven bass and Whitesnake-style 70's hard rockin' blues attack. There's at least three killer hooks in this song that pull you into its groove. "Dust To Dust" also features that fat, fat bass, and finds Robyn soulfully and carefully belting out his hypnotic notes. Chris Howell's picking here is real tasteful. "Walk On Fire" takes a more basic approach and a melodic pre-chorus melody line. The chorus seems to find Robyn urgent a la Robert Plant. Not his best, yet still very stylish. Chris Howell shines again here with his screamin' leads.
Neon Cross returns with a very different sound than their debut album of 1988 displayed. "Buy My Record" sounds weak as a song, but the humor of the lyrics and the vocal delivery save it. "Mystery of Love" drives a pretty cool riff, yet settles into one of the band's circa '88 grooves. Maybe a second beefy 'n' nasty guitar would fill out the sound better. "In Your Mind" uses some distorted vocals and ends on a straight forward message - "It is the blood of Christ/He is your sacrifice."
"Nothin' But The Blood" and "Amazing Grace" show up here under P.K. Mitchell's from the All Hail The Power album. The new tune by P.K. is "Do You Believe," which shows his musical allegiance to the alternative side of hard music. Can you say grunge? (That's right, the "G-word") P.K. breathes out his vocals with a bad to the bone low register delivery a la Stone Temple Pilots. P.K. does it right and P.K. does it good. It'll be interesting to hear his solo album.
Until then, we'll have to wait a while for full-length new releases by all these artists, but Premium Cuts fills the gap with some greatness. Barren Cross and Red Sea steal the show.