BARREN CROSS – Atomic Arena & State Of Control [Dissonance Productions / Cherry Red 2-CD remastered] (2025) *HQ*

HERE ///

Metal and hard rock label from the UK in conjunction with Cherry Red Records are releasing a 22 track double CD package from enduring Christian Metal act BARREN CROSS, featuring two cult albums from the late 80s – both produced by Dino & John Elefante
Housed in a digipak, CD 1 features BARREN CROSS’ second full length studio album from 1988 ‘Atomic Arena’, a commercial yet heavy ten-tracker, while CD 2 features their third studio album ‘State of Control’, originally released in 1989, here including 2 bonus tracks.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1983, Barren Cross produced a powerful brand of classic metal that carried a strong Christian message alongside such contemporaries as Stryper, Bloodgood and Sacred Warrior. Having independently released their debut EP ‘Believe’ in 1985 and quickly followed that with their first full length album ‘Rock For The King’ via Star Song Records, Barren Cross signed to Enigma Records.
Featured on the influential ‘California Metal’ compilation, the band delivered a classy release with ‘Atomic Arena’ that earned vocalist Michael Lee favorable comparisons to Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson.
Follow up album ‘State of Control’ saw the band tour heavily and cultivate a fanbase that went beyond the confines of the Christian scene as a result. This release features two bonus tracks, one of which, ‘Your Love Gives’, was originally only available on the version distributed to Christian bookstores.
‘Atomic Arena’ has been named by Heaven’s Metal magazine as the No.11 Christian Metal Album of All Time, while ‘State of Control’ placed at No.32 on the CMR Top 100 Christian Metal Albums list.
Highly Recommended (contributors get lossless today)

CD 1 – Atomic Arena
01 – Imaginary Music
02 – Killers of the Unborn
03 – In the Eye of the Fire
04 – Terrorist Child
05 – Close to the Edge
06 – Dead Lock
07 – Cultic Regimes
08 – Heaven or Nothing
09 – King of Kings
10 – Living Dead

CD 2 – State Of Control
01 – State of Control
02 – Out of Time
03 – Cryin’ Over You
04 – A Face in the Dark
05 – The Stage of Intensity
06 – Hard Lies
07 – Inner War
08 – Love at Full Volume
09 – Bigotry Man (Who are You)
10 – Two Thousand Years
11 – Your Love Gives (bonus track)
12 – Escape the Night (bonus track)

Mike Lee – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Ray Parris – guitar, background vocals
Steve Whitaker – drums, background vocals
Jim LaVerde – bass, taurus synth pedals, background vocals

additional musicians:
Dino Elefante – background vocals, producer
John Elefante – keyboards, additional vocals, producer

BUY
cherryred.co.uk/barren-cross-atomic-arena-state-of-control-2cd-deluxe-digipack