This double-CD set gathers up two 1980s albums from Christian metal band Barren Cross and assembles them in a nice clamshell case. I have to admit that I had trouble with some of the lyrics, but I’m fine with ignoring lyrical content most of the time – and I do it a lot. I am also sure that lyrical content is probably a selling point for some people. Musically, this has a tendency to be a little generic, but there are enough shining stars here to make it work well from start to finish. This is a solid collection that makes for a good introduction to this act. Personally, I’d heard for them years ago, but I’d never actually heard them before.

This has a solid underground, NWOBHM sound. It’s driving and energetic.

There is a real early Iron Maiden vibe to this stomper.

A little rawer, this screamer is not a big change really. I love the bass sound on it, though.

The Iron Maiden thing is all over this song.

While this is not a big change, I really love the slower, guitar solo section mid-track.

This is perhaps a little meaner, but it’s not a big change at all. Then again, when the metal is hitting this hard, that doesn’t really matter.

There is a cartoonish sort of laughing intro on this that really detracts from the song. They fire out from there with more Maiden-like jamming. That intro, along with the fact that the formula is wearing a bit thin, make this one rather lacking.

This is a little more hook laden. It’s more effective than the track that preceded it, but there is better stuff here.

The lyrics get a little over the top for me on this one. The song has more of a power-metal vibe at times, but I don’t think it works that well. The guitar solo is quite tasty, though.

This is a bit more melodic, and there is an almost prog movement later in the track. Those things contribute to this being a highlight of the set.

There is a classy raw metal edge to this track. It has some power metal things in the backing vocals, too. The cut is rather generic, but it works well.

A newscaster opens this, talking about the rapture without calling it that. This is another where I have some trouble getting through it because of the lyrics, but the guitar hooks on this are so mean. So, that helps. The backing vocal hooks seem a little trite, too.

Starting intricate and balladic, this is a nice change of pace. It works out to more of a hair metal kind of song from there after the first verse.

Somehow this one really doesn’t work for me. It’s not that it’s big change because it’s not. It is just that it feels a little “off” somehow.

The picked guitar on this reminds me “I Still Love You” by Kiss at times. This has a nice balance between mellower and more powered up stuff. It also has an adventurous arrangement, getting into thrash zones later. This is one of the strongest and most interesting tracks here.

This is almost a generic hair metal meets power metal tune. It’s not bad, but it pales in comparison to the previous song.

I like this track quite a bit. It’s driving, mean and classy. It’s still a little on the generic side, but it has some great guitar sounds and a cool galloping energy.

Here we have a screaming hot metal tune that works so well.

Driving, rocking metal is on the menu here. It’s not a big change, or a real standout, but it works pretty well.

There is a galloping, driving, energy to this track. It’s another effective piece if not a big change.

This is basically a keyboard driven ballad. It works pretty well, but it definitely feels dated.

Raw, driving and hard-edged, this track isn’t a big change, but it does work pretty well.