Neon Cross - w/ Frontline Life 5-Song EP + California Metal Tracks

Name: Neon Cross - w/ Frontline Life 5-Song EP + California Metal Tracks
Brand: Neon Cross
SKU: C6
Price: 519.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$ 519.00

Quantity

Includes Frontline Life 5 Song EP Demo + California Metal Tracks
Includes both covers. New and Old.

Neon Cross was a Southern California melodic metal (hair metal) band that rose during the height of the Sunset Strip days.

In 1987 Regency Records asked them to record 2 songs for the California Metal Compilation and the 5-song EP Frontline Life Demo was released in 1987 as well. In 1988 they released their full-length self-titled album which went down as one of the best Christian Rock albums of all time.

Girder is so proud to be including NEON CROSS as part of our LEGENDS OF ROCK series and offering not only the 10 original songs completely remastered, but also 7 bonus tracks, 2 from California Metal I NEED YOUR LOVE and SON OF GOD as well as the complete 5 song EP Demo FRONTLINE LIFE. Completely remastered in a 8 page jewel case along with photos lyrics and songs in the right order as found on the Vinyl. Yes, the Cassette had songs titles in the wrong order on the J-card cover and the Magdallan records release was missing THE BATTLE from FRONTLINE LIFE.

Neon Cross is not just a heavy dose of metal and one of the best classic Christian Metal bands from the 80’s, it is also one of the most original bands. When so many bands were trying to sound like a secular mainstream counterpart, Neon Cross stood out and delivered one stunning metal song after another starting off with the furious riff in the opening song HEARTBREAKER it was a serious relief that when these vocals dropped, “Used to be so loving. Used to be so kind. Now I can’t get through to you, trying all the time… when you gonna open up and Let Him In?” we knew these guys could write songs with the best of them. They had the chops, the delivery, sound, and yes even “the look”, standing up to any metal band to come out of Hollywood in the 80’s.

Remember when you use to buy an album because you just had to have “that song”, only to find out that the rest of the album wasn’t as good? Well, this album was the exception. Every song rocked.

FRONTLINE LIFE, the second song, is a solid rocker with anthem screams and all. WE ARE THE CHILDREN has one of the best guitar intros of the album with speed and toughness. Thank you Don Webster. And those soaring vocals…David Raymond Reeves can shatter your window with those high-pitched screams. You’ll be putting this song repeat.

This album is as much melodic as it is tough driving metal with punch and delivery rarely found in the Christian Metal scene during that time.

Now with the addition of the 2 California Metal tracks as well as the Frontline Live demo, this album is everything you wanted and then some.

Heartbreaker 3:45
Frontline Life 3:31
We Are The Children (Of Our Lord) 4:40
On The Rock 2:41
I'm Not Alone 5:57
Right Time 4:09
Run Into The Light 4:30
Far Cry (From Eden) 4:33
Outta The Way 3:50
Victory 4:04
CALIFORNIA METAL
I Need Your Love (California Metal)
Son of God (California Metal)
FRONTLINE LIFE 5 Song EP
The Battle
Frontline Life
We Are the Children (Of Our Lord)
Far Cry (From Eden)
Victory

Great CD

I love this CD

So Good

The feelings that this album brings out are amazing.

Great Job

Girder records hit a grand slam with this release. I had the original 10 song s/t Neon Cross cd. This is an amazing Remaster. Sounds incredible. The CD arrived quickly and was well packaged also. Definately will purchase from Girder again.

Great

Great quality reissue!

Girder records did a great job remastering this album and getting it onto a disc and MP3 format for the 21st century. The sound is as good as possible given the original masters and it comes with great packaging. It's pretty amazing they there were not only able to get the original album but also both tracks from the California Metal Album. It is a minor quibble, but I think that the except for "The Battle", the Frontline Life demo recordings were unnecessary and would have been best left as bonus on the MP3s that come free with the purchase of the disc since these are simply inferior versions of these songs that also appear earlier on the disc. While I know this is dreaming, it would have been much better to have filled that space of the disc with the three tracts from the 1994 Premium Cuts (Rugged Records) release: "Buy My Record", "Mystery of Love", "In Your Mind".

But why a two star rating? I would rather give it 2.5 stars but that is not possible. My biggest gripe with Neon Cross is that David Raymond sings nearly every note flat and slides between between each transition between notes. What possessed him to sing the cringe-worthy unaccompanied solo on "I'm Not Alone", I can't guess. Guitar solos are serviceable, but nothing to write home about. I will give them credit for putting together some otherwise catchy songs with positive Christ exalting lyrics and decent rhythm guitar riffs, but nothing NC does makes up for the vocals which turn me off.

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