RUBICON CROSS (CJ Snare) – Limited Edition EP (2011)

When looking at the band FireHouse over the last eight years (since their last studio album Prime Time) the band’s guitarist Bill Leverty has released three side projects in the form of solo albums yet when looking at the voice behind the band, CJ Snare, there were rumors of him working on solo material ever since 2004.
But with every passing year since, then people began to wonder if he had decided to put such a idea on indefinite hold.

It wasn’t until the last six months that CJ began talking about the idea he was putting together as he had teamed up guitarist Chris Green (of UK bands Pride and Furyon) whom he met when FireHouse was doing a European tour back in ’04.
It might have taken seven years to get off the ground but the project now known as RUBICON CROSS is a hard rocking mega force to be taken very seriously.

The sound of the EP is modernized and edgy hard rock (think ’90s TNT – Tony Harnell years) but with all the melody that both have had in their other bands.
Lead track “Movin’ On” starts off with acoustic guitar and C.J. Snare’s familiar vocals but then kicks-in with an aggressive guitar riff and Snare’s soaring vocals are all over the place.
“Next Worst Enemy” is up next, a track with a modern rock feel and production, quite heavy and groovy. There is some serious six-string work by Chris Green with a monster guitar sound.

“R U Angry” is a killer mid-tempo hard rocker with a powerful chorus that reminds you the latter FireHouse album but with an edge. This song has a huge wall of sound and a pounding rhythm section.
The EP ends with “Shine” and for the first time these guys take a breather and offer up an acoustic ballad typically FireHouse. It’s done with class and you get to hear Snare on a bit more familiar ground. Fans will love this one.

20 years since breaking into the music industry and CJ Snare is still wowing people with his incredible range as every time he belts out a lyric you can feel it impacting your soul. This new project isn’t the exception.
Chris Green’s great musicianship offers intense riffage and very melodic guitar solos.
Hope they bring on a full length album as each one of the songs on this EP play off one another extremely well.
RUBICON CROSS is definitely a welcomed surprise, a project to check out and keep an eye on, as this is some seriously well-done modern hard rock from a couple veterans of the melodic rock scene.
This “Limited Edition EP” is available in physical (CD) format at www.rubiconcross.net (quantities are extremely limited so act fast). The EP is also available on iTunes and Amazon MP3.
Thumbs Up!

1 – Movin’ On
2 – Next Worst Enemy
3 – R U Angry
4 – Shine

C.J. Snare – Lead Vocals
Chris Green – Guitars

www.rubiconcross.net
IF YOU LIKE IT, BUY IT!