Pre-Order Launch October 17th, 7pm CST
Release Date: January 15th, 2025
BOONE'S OVERSTOCK IS THE OFFICIAL STORE FOR RETROACTIVE RECORDS AND IT'S HERE THAT YOU CAN READ ABOUT, LISTEN TO, AND DISCOVER ALL THE DETAILS FOR ADDING THESE CLASSIC TITLES TO YOUR COLLECTION (Highly Recommended)!
****Purchase/Pre-order these Vinyl variations at http://boonesoverstock.com anytime after Thursday, October 17th, 2024, 7pm CST*** That will be when Pre-Orders launch.
***This page is informational only - the listings at Boone's Overstock are not visible and will not be visible until Thursday, October 1yth, 2024 @ 7pm Central Standard Time.
***Use this page to find out pricing, Vinyl Variations and listen to remastered samples / songs on Youtube.
***Only 300 Vinyl are being manufactured for each Barren Cross title. The CDs were reissued and released a few years ago, and there are links to those CD remasters on Boone's at the end of this Blog.
***Once the listings are live and active, you can click on any of the images or titles that are underlined and you will be taken directly to the pre-order page for that item. If you click on the item BEFORE the pre-order date, you will be "no item found" or something snazzy like that.
******Release Date for Barren Cross Vinyl: January 15, 2025. We hope to have them in-stock and shipped before that, but that's the release date.
BARREN CROSS - ATOMIC ARENA (Deadlock Purple Vinyl, 2024, Retroactive) Elefante Produced! $27.97 SALE PRICE
BARREN CROSS - ATOMIC ARENA (Atomic Orange Vinyl, 2024, Retroactive) Must-have Remaster! $32.97 SALE PRICE
- 2024 Mastered for vinyl by Rob Colwell
- 2024 write up by vocalist Mike Lee / Drive
- Includes many rare and hard-to-find band photos with all lyrics inside insert
- First time vinyl reissue
- Limited Edition 300 Units Per Color Vinyl
- Part of the Legends Remastered Series
- Special write up by Retroactive Records owner, Matthew Hunt
- Produced by John & Dino Elefante (Mastedon/Kansas/Pakaderm Records)
- For fans of Stryper, Iron Maiden, Guardian, Dio!
ABOUT THE ALBUM
By the time 1988’s Atomic Arena was released, fans had already been whipped into a feeding frenzy with the song Deadlock being included on the massively popular California Metal Compilation. The song demonstrated a significant leap forward from anything the band had ever done. Fans were demanding more, and it’s hard to believe Barren Cross could have delivered a more perfect album than Atomic Arena. Most noticeably, the songwriting had matured with topics including abortion, suicide, cults and substance abuse – all presented in a skilled manner. Now signed to Enigma Records the band was labelmates with Ratt, Slayer, Poison, and Stryper and MTV’s embrace of the album’s opener, Imaginary Music showed that’s exactly where they belonged. Mike Lee’s charismatic Dickinson-influenced lead vocal style was perfect for an album that featured dominating fast-fingered shredding guitar work, resounding monster bass lines, and drums that pummeled the heart and soul of the most dedicated heavy metal fan. Yes, Atomic Arena was special and that’s why the album was voted #11 on Heaven’s Metal Magazine’s Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All-Time. The 2024 Retroactive Records Atomic Orange vinyl reissue is a collector’s dream featuring a 12x12 full color insert, and write ups from both Retroactive Records owner, and band vocalist, Michael Lee/Drive! Limited to just 300 units. Few metal albums impacted the scene and the kingdom like State of Control. Enjoy! For fans of Stryper, Iron Maiden, Guardian, Dio!
Tracks
Imaginary Music
Killers Of The Unborn
In The Eye Of The Fire
Terrorist Child
Close To The Edge
Dead Lock
Cultic Regimes
Heaven Or Nothing
King Of Kings
Living Dead
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ATOMIC ARENA VINYL AFTER THE PRE-ORDER LAUNCH
BARREN CROSS - STATE OF CONTROL +2 Bonus (Blood Red Vinyl, 2024, Retroactive) Elefante Produced! $27.97 SALE PRICE
BARREN CROSS - STATE OF CONTROL +2 Bonus (Ocean Blue Vinyl, 2024, Retroactive) Elefante Produced! $32.97 SALE PRICE
- 2024 Mastered for vinyl by Rob Colwell
- 2024 write up by vocalist Mike Lee / Drive
- Includes many rare and hard-to-find band photos with all lyrics inside insert
- First time vinyl reissue
- Limited Edition 300 Units Ocean Blue Vinyl
- Part of the Legends Remastered Series
- Special write up by Retroactive Records owner, Matthew Hunt
- Includes the special bonus track only available on the original release distributed to Christian bookstores, Your Love Gives.
- Includes the special bonus track exclusive to those units distributed into the mainstream market, Escape In the Night.
- Produced by John & Dino Elefante (Mastedon/Kansas/Pakaderm Records)
- For fans of Stryper, Iron Maiden, Guardian, Dio!
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Remember those metal cassettes in your collection that had the song titles worn off, and even if you weren’t religious you prayed that it would play just one more time for fear it would wear out? 1989’s State of Control by Barren Cross was that cassette in many-a-metal fan’s collection. Along with Stryper and Guardian, Barren Cross was one of the few bands that actually appealed to metal fans who didn't shop in Christian bookstores for their music. With the band’s third release they once again expanded their lyrical content to tackle real-life issues like racism and relationships. Mike Lee shows more diversity with this vocal performance by channeling his inner Bruce Dickinson with a raspy voice and the operatic vocals showing only for the higher notes and choruses. The impact of producers John and Dino Elefante is significant with State… adding even more AOR pitch-perfect choruses in the background that gives this melodic heavy metal album its fair share of commercial appeal. One thing is for sure, the album includes exquisite rhythm parts, amazing solos, and everything you expect from elite heavy metal which is why it came in at #32 on the CMR Top 100 Christian Metal Albums. The 2024 Retroactive Records Ocean Blue vinyl reissue is a collector’s dream featuring a 12x12 full color insert, and write ups from both Retroactive Records owner, and band vocalist, Michael Lee/Drive! And, as an added And, as a special treat for fans, this reissue includes both bonus tracks, “Your Love Gives” and “Escape in the Night.” Limited to just 300 units. Few metal albums impacted the scene and the kingdom like State of Control. Enjoy! For fans of Stryper, Iron Maiden, Guardian, Dio!
Tracks
State Of Control
Out Of Time
Cryin' Over You
A Face In The Dark
The Stage Of Intensity
Hard Lies
Inner War
Love At Full Volume
Bigotry Man (Who Are You)
Two Thousand Years
Your Love Gives (bonus track exclusive to original release on Benson Records)
Escape In The Night (bonus track exclusive to original release on Enigma Records)
*****BE SURE TO PICK UP YOUR BARREN CROSS & BARREN CROSS RELATED SIDE PROJECT CDs as well!
Click the underlined item and you will be taken directly to the listing.
BARREN CROSS - ROCK FOR THE KING (*NEW-CD, 2014 Remastered Digipak) *Last Copies $45.00
GALE FORCE - SUBHUMAN (*NEW-CD, 2021) (Members of BARREN CROSS (Mike Lee) + DIO) $15.97
HUMAN CODE - BREAK THE SILENCE (CD) Standard Edition (Barren Cross vox/Recon & Deliverance guitarist!) $14.97
HUMAN CODE - BREAK THE SILENCE (CD) Deluxe Ed Bonus Track + LTD Collector Card $18.98
ROCK POWER PRAISE VOLUME 1: THE HYMNS (*NEW-CD, 2020 Remaster) Elite AOR/Metal from Halo, Barren Cross, Guardian, Barren Cross $25.00 (Last copies)
BARREN CROSS - HOTTER THAN HELL! LIVE (*NEW-CD, 2020, Retroactive Records) Must-have Remaster! $9.97 SALE
BARREN CROSS - BIRTH PANGS (*NEW-2-CD Set, Live) $19.99
BARREN CROSS 3-CD BUNDLE ATOMIC ARENA + STATE OF CONTROL + HOTTER THAN HELL! LIVE $34.97 SALE PRICE
BARREN CROSS - ATOMIC ARENA (CD, 2020, Retroactive Records) Must-have Remaster! $13.97 SALE
BARREN CROSS - STATE OF CONTROL +2 BONUS (CD, 2020, Retroactive Records) Must-have Remaster! $13.97