Quite the rarity is the material on this release brought to us by Horror Records, and featuring the songs of the 80's Danish metal group Metal Cross the majority of which only made it to the demo stage. What you get is all of Metal Cross's studio material and additional live performances on a dual LP and an additional 7". There's limited details to found when searching for this group, and it wasn't till I opened their Facebook page that I read where Metal Cross have actually performed live this year.
Like I wrote above all of Metal Cross's studio work is on here along with the live versions of some of those tracks, and as you can see from the track listing below that would have equated to two albums worth of studio material. The first LP consists of those recorded for their two demo tapes The Crucifying The Virgins (1986), and M.A.D.H.O.U.S.E. (1988), plus two further tracks that were from the Metal Outlet compilation release (1987). The second LP and 7" feature material recorded live in Randers, Denmark in 1989 most of those that appear were taken from Metal Cross's last live show back then, also there are seven previously unreleased songs included.
Metal Cross play a blend of classic metal with loads of catchy riffs and tasty solos, and listening to their songs it is surprising that Metal Cross didn't take it further as they should have slotted right into the 80's metal scene, but due to that lack of information I can only guess as to why they didn't. If Metal Cross were presented with the opportunity to re-record the best of those songs appearing here today and give them the appropriate treatment, the results would be impressive. Though if this is to be their only release then I'm glad I got to experience Metal Cross's material because tracks like "Circus Fire", "Nightmare" and their namesake instrumental "Metal Cross" deserve to be heard.
Track Listing
LP 1:
"Crucifying The Virgins" demo 1986:
1.Metal Cross
.Crucifying The Virgins
3.With Heart And Honour
4.Waiting For The Dawn
5.Feed The World
"Metal Outlet" compilation LP 1987:
6.The Evil Eye
7.Call For The Children
"M.A.D.H.O.U.S.E." demo 1988:
8.Circus On Fire
9.Nightmare
10.April 27th
LP 2:
Live at Kulturhuset, Randers, Denmark 16/12-1989:
11.Intro: Also Sprach Zarathustra
12.The Evil Eye
13.The Scarlet Letter
14.Circus On Fire
15.Written In The Sand
16.Vernal Equinox
17.Nightmare
18.Losers Of The Earth
19.Fall Of Cimbria
20.Call For The Children
21.Iron Bars
7":
Live at Kulturhuset, Randers, Denmark 16/12-1989:
22.Crucifying The Virgins
Live at Folkerumssalen/Værket, Randers, Denmark10/02-1989:
23.Insanity