Barren Cross - Atomic Arena

This is were they got their stuff together. Rocking USPM that at certain songs really really crushes. Close to the Edge is such a excellent song, Mike Lee with his both Bruce Dickinson and David Defeis sounding voice is phenomenal in that one. Another highlight is the ripping Living Dead, it so cool to end the album with that one, even if I wonder if it wouldn't have been the perfect opening song. Those two are the best songs but most of the songs here are high quality metal. The lyrics are still of course about Jesus and other controversial topics as abortion and suicide, so if you're easily turned off by that stuff then keep away. But for those who missed out on them and love USPM check out Close to the Edge and Living Dead, you won't regret it.

I like this band, I agree the lyrics can be a turn off sometimes with Christian rock & metal.

Written by majormalfunction on 06.08.2022 at 05:24

Mike Lee with his both Bruce Dickinson and David Defeis sounding voice is phenomenal in that one.

Really crazy how much his voice most of the time sounds like Bruce Dickinson's.

Written by Redel on 13.02.2024 at 09:43

Really crazy how much his voice most of the time sounds like Bruce Dickinson's.

Yeah, a lot of times you can't tell the difference

Written by majormalfunction on 13.02.2024 at 16:31

Written by Redel on 13.02.2024 at 09:43

Really crazy how much his voice most of the time sounds like Bruce Dickinson's.

Yeah, a lot of times you can't tell the difference

And it is all over their albums -- also the instrumentation is not far away from Maiden.
I went through their four albums today. While I would say they are all more or less enjoyable, I must admit that I had enough of this Maiden-ish music that is not Maiden after that journey.

Written by Redel on 13.02.2024 at 16:46

And it is all over their albums -- also the instrumentation is not far away from Maiden.
I went through their four albums today. While I would say they are all more or less enjoyable, I must admit that I had enough of this Maiden-ish music that is not Maiden after that journey.

That's understable. IMO Barren Cross is the perfect substitute for Iron Maiden, so close without feeling like a total ripoff

As majormalfunction did express it on his comments, the main virtue of Barren Cross is sounding so similar as Iron Maiden without getting in the danger line of being a ripoff (take notice of it, Raphael Mendes lol).

Now, talking about the album, without a doubt they improved the formula in comparison with their debut. I would say indeed that I enjoy this one even more than Senjutsu.

Recommended songs: Imaginary Music, In The Eye of the Fire, Close to the Edge, Dead Lock, Cultic Regimes, King of Kings and Living Dead (probably the best one in this album).