Barnabas was a Christian hard rock band that was active from 1977 through 1986. The name of the band was in honor of the New Testament disciple Barnabas. Originating out of the Jesus movement of the 1970s, they are considered one of the pioneers of Christian hard rock and heavy metal, along with Agape, Daniel Band, Jerusalem, and Resurrection Band.
Over their career as a band, Barnabas was based in Los Angeles, Schaumburg, Illinois, Des Moines, Iowa, and Edmond, Oklahoma. Barnabas recorded five studio albums and played a relatively small number of concerts. Throughout their career, the band suffered from attacks by prominent Christian lecturers, which ultimately contributed to their break-up in 1986.
In honor of the 40th Anniversary of legendary Christian metal-maestros Barnabas (1977-2017), all five albums will receive deluxe reissues (12 page booklets + Remastered) by Retroactive Records. Release date is set for November 14th.
PRE-ORDER the first THREE albums “Hear the Light,” “Find Your Heart a Home” and “Approaching Light Speed,” now and receive a FREE AUTOGRAPHED 8×10 of the band! Click here.
When Barnabas embarked on their musical journey with the now critically acclaimed debut release, Hear the Light (1980), there were few bands doing anything like them in the faith community. There was Resurrection Band in Chicago, Bill Mason Band and Ishmael United in the UK, and Andy McCarroll & Moral Support in Ireland. When Hear The Light came out in 1980, it was truly unique punk-esque with a Christian identity. Barnabas, in their early formation, had guitarist Monte Cooley, who could write fast numbers with infectious distortion like no other. What placed Barnabas on top of the rock pile were Nancy Jo Mann’s soaring vocals, backed by a beefy and intricate rhythm section. Songs such as Savior, Directory Assistance, B.C., and Playin’ For Him are reckless and melodic, trademarks of the first album. Hear the Light started it all for a band that would go on to have an immeasurable impact on Christian rock and metal.
The 2017 reissue features a complete remaster by Rob Colwell of Bombworks sound guaranteeing the album has never sounded better. This treasured classic is packaged in a jewel case with a 12 page booklet insert featuring write ups, band history, band pictures, and lyrics that make sure the album has never looked better! Must-have for fans of Agape, Resurrection Band, Daniel Band, Motorhead, and Jerusalem!
Tracklist
1 Saviour
2 There’s A New World Coming
3 Directory Assistance
4 Little Faith
5 He Loves You
6 B.C.
7 Playin’ For Him
8 No More Blues
9 Father Of Lies (A Song About The Other Guy)
10 It’s Up To You
On Find Your Heart A Home, the remastered sound gives the album a second wind. The guitars and bass get their due place in the recording. This second album finds Barnabas losing Monte Cooley and gaining two guitarists, Mick Donner and Kris Brauminger, who play quite proficiently. Keyboards become a staple element due to bassist Mann’s love for full arrangements. Find Your Heart A Home has a myriad of rock variation, from the hard rollicking to the blues-infused and even a bit of funkiness.
Drummer Kris Klingensmith shows a growing maturity in his lyrics. From The Conflict Of Desire:
“Fornicate with millions through the lens of the camera eye, Open wide for children as they stand in the grocery line. Get it on with pictures till the loneliness goes away, Disbelieving anyone knows….The holy life eludes us, a mirage upon upon the sand, The passions that torment us, we jump at their command. Like the tiny fragrant flower that traps the hungry fly, To set our soul on things below will choke us ‘til we die.”
Swordsman and Way Of Destruction are a couple progressive rockers that still sound stellar even after repeated listening. The album ends off with the memorable Southern Woman, reminiscent of Jefferson Starship at their finest. A solid album; consistent yet diversified.
The 2017 reissue features a complete remaster by Rob Colwell of Bombworks sound guaranteeing the album has never sounded better. This treasured classic is packaged in a jewel case with a 12 page booklet insert featuring write ups, band history, band pictures, and lyrics that make sure the album has never looked better! Must-have for fans of Agape, Resurrection Band, Daniel Band, Motorhead, and Jerusalem!
Tracklist
1 Find Your Heart A Home
2 The Conflict Of Desire
3 Way To Destruction
4 Boogie Tyme
5 Swordsman
6 Southern Woman
7 Star
With the 1983 album Approaching Light Speed, Barnabas released what many still consider to be one of the very best albums in Christian progressive metal. With this release the band pulled everything together and upped the “Wow-Factor” to a new level. With the raging guitars of No Freedom launching the album to new heights, the album continued to progress and show artistic growth and maturity in astounding ways. Combine that with cutting-edge lyrics, spacey keyboards interlaced throughout, and textured guitars building to new sonic extremes, and metalheads everywhere were hooked. The recording and the mix of the album also went to new levels, allowing the depth of the music and songs to shine. Each instrument can be heard perfectly, and Nancy Jo’s vocals penetrate the soul. Did we mention the guitars? They are LOUD! They are METAL. And, from this point on, they would define the Barnabas sound.
Any band is lucky to make one album that is truly elite. When I say “elite,” I don’t just mean great songs and great execution. What I mean by “elite” is that this album is something that strikes a chord deep within the souls of many people… that steals the hearts of fans in sweeping fashion… that adds up to much, much more than the sum of it’s parts… something that is truly transcendent. With Approaching Light Speed, Barnabas nailed it. They nailed it with an album that is just as musically, lyrically, and spiritually transcendent in 2017 as it was in 1983. And, let’s get one thing clear: there was NOTHING like this album in Christian music in 1983! The good news at the time was that fans were ready. They were ready for something quality, something authentic, something real. And, with this release Barnabas did what they did on every single album – they wore their hearts of love for God and people on their sleeves. Their new record label, Light Records, encouraged the band to “tone it down a little bit.” Thank God Barnabas chose to be more radical than ever. Their courage and conviction would go on to help them achieve critical acclaim and widespread popularity amongst a growing population of people who needed exactly what they were offering. Approaching Light Speed has been digitally remastered by Bombworks Sound (Rob Colwell) and we are confident the album has never sounded better than now!
This Retroactive Records reissue is packaged in a jewel case featuring a 12 page full color booklet with lyrics and band pictures, and writes-ups from both the label owner, Matthew Hunt, and Doug Peterson of Down The Line Zine. For fans of Rush, Dio, Resurrection Band, Vixen, Daniel Band, and Kansas (if they were metal!).
Tracklist
1 No Freedom 4:30
2 Stormclouds 4:39
3 If Love Brings Love 4:03
4 Waiting For The Aliens 6:10
5 Warrior 3:55
6 Never Felt Better 3:20
7 Subterfuge 5:47
8 Crucifixion 5:59
Final lineup:
Nancy Jo Mann – lead vocals (1979-1986)
Brian Belew – guitar (1982-1986)
Gary Mann – bass and keyboards (1977-1986)
Kris Klingensmith – drums, percussion (1979-1986)
Past members:
Monte Cooley – guitar, vocals (1977-1980)
Lance Johnson – drums (1977-1979)
Carolyn Joy – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1977-1978)
Rojelio (“Roy”) – drums (1979)
Mick Donner – guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals (1980-1982)
Kris Brauninger – guitar, keyboards (1980-1981)
David Storrs – guitar (1977-1979)