Reviewed by Paul Moore

Barren Cross got back together to record a couple of tracks in late '93 for a compilation album 'Premium Cuts' and subsequently went on to record this album (their first for five years). Secular metal mag Kerrang, when reporting on the guys getting back together, said that they "...were probably the best Christian metal band ever" and judging by this album they're not far wrong. From the opening chords of the first and title track (a song about Christians who complain about this and that but who don't do anything about it) to the closing track the guys don't put a foot wrong. Musically it's pretty heavy but has some radio friendly choruses. Check out "Here I Am", "Midnight Son" and "Time For Love" with its Aerosmith feel to the mellower tracks "No Time To Run" and "Somewhere Far Away" with its superb acoustic guitar. It all adds up to an excellent album that deserves to leapfrog over British Christian bookstores notorious reluctance to stock metal albums and sell by the bushel. Word are to be congratulated for picking up rights to Rugged.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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