RUBICON CROSS?

I was just made aware of this new project featuring FIREHOUSE vocalist C.J. Snare and former (UK band) PRIDE guitarist Chris Green. I seem to remember there being talk of the two hooking up years ago but I had long since forgotten about it. Well the band has just released its first recordings in the form of a limited edition EP and after listening to it one can only hope there is substantially more material coming from this project.

The sound of the EP is modernized and aggressively edged hard rock (some would even say metal-ish) but with all the melody that both have had in their other bands. The four songs on the EP are all quality offerings with Snare sounding as strong as ever and Green providing some awesome riffs.

Lead track “Movin’ On” starts off with acoustic guitar and C.J. Snare’s familiar vocals but the tracks kicks in with an aggressive guitar riff and Snare’s soaring vocals are all over the place. “Next Worst Enemy” is up next and the track has the sound of the harder side of a band like NICKELBACK and could have easily come off their “Dark Horse” record. Killer guitar work from Chris Green on this one and just brilliant stuff for the modern rock crowd!

“R U Angry” continues with the aggressive sounds and continues with more awesome guitar work from Green. The EP ends with “Shine” and for the first time these guys take a breather and offer up an acoustic ballad that doesn’t sound out of place among the other more aggressive tunes. It’s done with class and you get to hear Snare on a bit more familiar ground.

RUBICON CROSS is definitely a project to check out and keep an eye on, as this is some seriously well-done modern hard rock from a couple veterans of the melodic rock scene.