Feel the Fire

Description

Feel the Fire is the fourth studio album by the American hard rock/metal band Barnabas, released on Light Records in 1984. The album was recorded during July and August 1984 at Triad Studios in Des Moines, Iowa; with Tom Tucker and the band producing and arranging. Cover artwork by Kernie Erickson.

Featuring Nancy Jo Mann on lead vocals, Brian Belew on guitar, Gary Mann on bass as well as keyboards, and Kris Klingensmith on drums.

Feel the Fire (Legends Remastered)

When you feature actual red hot melting metal on your album cover, you are pretty much setting up fans with high expectations. But the cover is not the only thing melting when you listen to Feel the Fire. This album represents the culmination of Barnabas’ epic quest to perfect their heavy metal sound, burning away the few minor rough spots that Approaching Light Speed produced. This was probably accomplished due in no small part to them being able to keep the line-up from the last album – Nancy Jo Mann, Brian Belew, Kris Klingensmith, and Gary Mann – intact. That was a first for Barnabas. I first heard a Barnabas track on the Heaven’s Metal collection, and set out to find anything I could by the band. All I could find was their next, final album in a discount tape bin. It wasn’t until the Elefante Brothers put out a compilation of Approaching Light Speed and Feel the Fire called The Gospel According to Barnabas that I was able to hear (most) of these songs. «Prelude» starts the album off with creepy, trippy keyboards that leads into a scorching metal instrumental. The first three songs are really three movements of a mini rock opera of sorts – the second part being «The Dream» – shorter progressive metal leaning song that feels like it is setting something up. That something is the epic third act: «Breathless Wonderment». There is a reason this song was chosen for the Heaven’s Metal compilation. Like the first two songs, it begins with keyboards and quiet movements… but then the instruments kick in and leave your jaw on the ground. Following that up had to be hard, so the band decides to go for another keyboard based non-ballad. Again, this was the mid-80s and this could still be done in a metal way. What would have been side 2 jumps out of the gate with the fast and frantic «Feel the Fire», with the band pretty much almost thrashing away before the chorus groove kicks in. «Northern Lights» brings in some progressive metal influences, while «Follow You Up» brings the straight up heavy metal groove. This song was actually first track from this album in the jumbled track list of The Gospel According to Barnabas – and with the massive riffs in this song you can see why. It is hands down a better opening track than many bands ever had – and it is the next to the last track on this album. The last track is pure artful metal bliss and a great album closer: «Suite for the Souls of Our Enemies (Part 1 – Hammer & Sickle)»

As with the other re-issues, the sound and packaging on this one are stellar. But just take a look at that center spread full cover picture of the band. They didn’t just play metal, they looked the part as well. This re-issue is the full meal deal with the booklet – lyrics, pics, credits, and a great write-up to tell you all about the album and the band. And that cover – you just don’t get more metal than that cover art. Of course, all of that led to controversy as many Christians didn’t think bands should be so “of the world” as Barnabas was at the time (did they bother to listen to the lyrics?). But that comes into play more on the next (and sadly last) album. [Matt Crosslin, The Phantom Tollbooth, March 31, 2018]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Prelude” – 2:20
A2. “The Dream” – 2:32
A3. “Breathless Wonderment (The Dream Becomes Reality)” – 6:48
A4. “Hearts” – 7:02

Side Two
B1. “Feel The Fire” – 5:22
B2. “Northern Lights” – 3:45
B3. “Follow You Up” – 5:09
B4. “Suite For The Souls Of Our Enemies (Part I – Hammer & Sickle)” – 5:03

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Light Records. All five albums were remastered by Rob Colwell at Bombworks Sound and re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records in 2017, packaged in jewel cases with 12-page booklet inserts. (All albums were remastered from virgin sealed vinyl or cassette because all master tapes have been destroyed and are unavailable.)

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