New Singer Dean Kohn studied for two years under renowned vocal teacher, Elizabeth Sabine, who has trained many Hollywood artists such as Don Barnes of .38 Special, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and Michael Sweet of Stryper.
Dean first broke on a large scale in 1988, singing full-time for the underground metal band ATTAKK, which had a huge cult following. Dean would move on to practice and enter pre-production record with Japanese metal band Loudness for their CD, Soldiers of Fortune, though they replaced him. By 1989, Dean was full time in a metal band called Malice, known for their time touring with Slayer. Dean, as many victims of the time and scene fell to drugs and alcohol and left the band and music. Dean announced his coming to Christianity in 1991, but remained under the radar onto now.
Original lead singer Michael Lee has moved on and pursued his solo music project as Barren Cross reunites with new music and a passionate new singer. In 2008 they announced a successful short-term reunion with a few international reunion concerts. Now they have followed that up and announced their return to the studio with new music.
Barren Cross was known for their bold and unwavering outspoken voices on justice and political issues thats were prevalent in their day. Also a defining trademark was their similarity to Iron Maiden. Barren Cross formed on the heels of bands like Stryper, in the early 1980's, and has seen their share of successes since their start in 1983. In 1985 their first EP, Believe, was produced by award winning producers, John & Dino Elefante. "Believe", a independent release, garnered national attention and trade marking their raw metal sound. The following year, Christian label, Star Song Records, released their first full length, and still widely sought after CD, Rock for the King.
The attention, record sales and buzz that was now forming around Barren Cross, attracted mainstream recording label Enigma Records (now Capitol Records) to sign them to their label. Barren Cross took their seat of honor next to label mates, Poison, Ratt, Slayer, Stryper and other legends of classic metal. The Band Released one of their top selling CD's; a full length CD called Atomic Arena on Enigma Records.
In 1989, as a follow up to their Enigma debut, they released a third CD, considered their most successful release, State of Control also on Enigma Records.
By 1990 they saw a full production Live CD on mainstream Medusa Records called Hotter than Hell Live! A few months later, Rock for the King was reissued and has since become a collector's item. Subsequently, the band enjoyed a bit of a break while lead singer Michael Lee pursued another project (becoming writer and lead vocalist for the band, BareBones) until Barren Cross' last release (to date) in 1994 on Christian Label; Rugged Records, the stylistically evolved release, Rattle your Cage. At the height of their career and large audiences, the band faded quickly into oblivion.
Besides six major label releases (five of them full-length), Barren Cross earned their stripes through relentless touring in their day; many full US and World Tours. Their sound and full passion for what they do has earned them respect and airplay on VH1, MTV, countless radio stations and several label and metal compilations. For over twenty years, international music magazines have featured the band consistently, confirming with certainty that this is a band that cannot be limited by time or trends. Their sound is as raw and tight as ever and there is no question that it can only be described as full-fledged rock for the King that will rattle your cage.
As they say, Rock and Roll never dies. There have been many incarnations of Rock and Roll over the years, but perhaps none as engaging as the music culture that erupted out of the scene in the late seventies and eighties. For the first time it seems Rock and Roll had come into it's own, and become more than a style of music. Perhaps if Rock and Roll never dies, then neither will the forefathers of this edge-defying genre that helped develop the culture we are in today.
Barren Cross, legends in their own right, return to the stage of intensity by inviting the music culture back to Arena Rock once again to prove that rock and roll never dies. They are once again here with a sound that will cause their audience to feel, to be challenged and remind us all of the full scale that rock and roll demands.
Barren Cross now invites you back to arena rock, in full passionate stereo with a new talented singer and a refreshed sound. You can't keep a good band down, or from releasing new music.
No Time To Run
Barren Cross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't see the other driver, his vision blurred from liquor
(No time to run) 90 miles an hour to the floor
It sounded like thunder and then it blew into the fire
And the other will never see the light again
(Chorus)
No time to run - cannot change what has been done
No time to run - hey there man what have you done, cannot run
It was the morning after, a mother mourning for her son
She thought about her gun
In a fit of rage, no one stops her now
In the car she shouts "I’m gonna kill him"
(No time to run) 90 miles an hour to the floor
She storms in; she finds him, points the barrel at him
She cries out loud "you killed my son"
(Chorus)
The lyrics to Barren Cross's song "No Time To Run" tell a painful tale of two different people who were consumed by their emotions, leading them to make terrible decisions which they could not undo. In the first verse, it is the story of a drunk driver who speeds up to 90 miles an hour, crashes into another car, and kills its driver. The lyrics "it sounded like thunder and then it blew into the fire" paint a graphic image of the impact and resulting fire. The driver who caused the accident has "no time to run" as he cannot undo what he has done, and the victim will never see the light of day again.
In the second verse, the lyrics narrate the story of a mother who has lost her son and is overcome by grief and anger. She contemplates using her gun, and in a fit of rage, drives her car towards the person she blames for her son's death. She finds him, points the gun at him and screams, "you killed my son." Once again, the lyrics reiterate the line "no time to run," indicating that there was no escaping the consequences of her actions.
The theme of the song seems to be about the importance of resilience and self-control during moments of intense emotion. Both characters in the song let their emotions lead their actions, which ultimately led to tragic outcomes. The song encourages listeners to take charge of their reactions, even when circumstances are difficult, and to avoid making decisions that they cannot undo.
Line by Line Meaning
It was 11:30 when he decided to go home - shouldn't have been alone
He left home late at night but shouldn't have gone alone.
Didn't see the other driver, his vision blurred from liquor
He was drunk and couldn't see the other driver.
(No time to run) 90 miles an hour to the floor
He was driving too fast and couldn't escape danger.
It sounded like thunder and then it blew into the fire
The accident was severe and caused a huge impact.
And the other will never see the light again
The other driver died in the accident.
(Chorus)
The chorus repeats the idea that there is no escaping the consequences of one's actions.
No time to run - cannot change what has been done
It's too late to change the past, so there is no point in running away.
No time to run - run away from what might not have been?
Running away won't change the outcome, so why bother?
No time to run - hey there man what have you done, cannot run
The singer is questioning the person's actions and saying there's no escape from the consequences.
It was the morning after, a mother mourning for her son
The mother was grieving for her deceased son.
She thought about her gun
She considered using her gun for revenge.
In a fit of rage, no one stops her now
She was uncontrollable in her anger.
In the car she shouts "I’m gonna kill him"
She was determined to take revenge on the person responsible.
(No time to run) 90 miles an hour to the floor
She was driving recklessly fast and couldn't run away from the consequences.
She storms in; she finds him, points the barrel at him
She confronts the person and aims her gun at him.
She cries out loud "you killed my son"
She blames the person for her son's death.
(Chorus)
The chorus repeats the idea that there is no escaping the consequences of one's actions.
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.