Neon Cross (Regency)Neon Cross
Classic American heavy metal.
Neon Cross (Regency)
1. "Heartbreaker" (3:45)
2. "Frontline Life" (3:31)
3. "We Are The Children (of Our Lord)" (4:40)
4. "On the Rock" (2:41)
5. "I'm Not Alone" (5:57)
6. "Right Time" (4:09)
7. "Run Into the Light" (4:30)
8. "Far Cry (From Eden)" (4:33)
9. "Outta The Way" (3:50)
10. "Victory" (4:04)
Neon Cross' debut is a Christian metal classic (1988), but it is almost impossible to find on cd. (Almost!) For the longest time (like 11 years) I held onto my copy of vinyl until I finally scored a cd copy. In any case, Neon Cross play simplistic Judas Priest inspired heavy metal. What really makes the band, however, is the classic voice of David Raymond Reeves, who has a voice that mixes elements of Ian Gillan and David Coverdale. On "Far Cry" David's high pitched falsetto voice even sounds a bit like Rob Halford. Great disc. The band broke up not long after this album was released.
Neon Cross also have two excellent songs ("Son of God" and "I Need Your Love") on California Metal, a cd that is a bit easier to find than the band's debut, but is still selling consistently for over $20 on eBay. "Son of God" is actually my favorite Neon Cross song.
1994 Neon Cross vocalist David Raymond Reeves and guitarist Dan Webster put the band back together and recorded three excellent songs ("Buy My Record," "Mystery of Love," and "In Your Mind") for Patriot Records' (soon renamed Rugged Records) "Premium Cuts" with a reformed Barren Cross as well. The new cuts echoed the bands earlier heavy metal style. I really thought that "Buy My Record" was a choice song. Unfortunately most reviewers trashed the band as being outdated, so instead of recording a classic metal album in 1995 they recorded:
Neon Cross-Torn (Rugged)
1. "Intro" (:53)
2. "Bitterness" (4:05)
3. "Spinning" (3:45)
4. "No Ones Home" (3:05)
5. "Seasons of Change" (4:18)
6. "'81" (4:35)
7. "Videosmut" (4:02)
8. "Now" (5:23)
9. "Prussian Blue" (3:16)
10. "Backlash" (4:11)
11. "I'm Free" (2:46)
Uh oh, what happened here? Neon Cross decides they need to reform and "get with the times," so to speak. Unfortunately, this bluesy, grunge-based crap doesn't work for them. David Raymond Reeves sounds like he may be singing drunk (ie. "Spinning.") There are a few cool songs like "'Seasons of Change" which has a definite Zeppelin-vibe. The album is not terrible, just nowhere near what I was hoping for. I hardly ever listen to it.