Rubicon Cross - Rubicon Cross(Limited Edition) (2014)

RUBICON CROSS, featuring vocalist CJ Snare (from FIREHOUSE) and guitar virtuoso Chris Green (of PRIDE and FURYON)first met while on tour in Europe when they shared the stage at a rock festival in Madrid. A close friendship was forged through sharing a decade of life experience that would ultimately serve as the creative nucleus for this project.


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The advent of the band RUBICON CROSS is rooted in the connection formed between two prolific musicians facing adverse conditions together. The friendship between vocalist CJ Snare and guitarist Chris Green is as solid as the bond that they share as songwriting collaborators and that bond is the creative nucleus for this recording.

The two first met backstage while sharing the same stage at a rock festival in Madrid. From relationship break-ups to standing next to each other as best men at each other’s weddings, they have traveled the bumpy road of life as best friends. CJ is godfather to Chris’ toddler son and for over a decade they have experienced heartaches, hangovers and even transcontinental relocations together. With this kind of solidarity, it was inevitable that they would become bandmates.

For the last two decades, both CJ and Chris have been making a bountiful living practicing their craft. Their career achievements would be the envy of any professional musician: Award winning vocalist, CJ Snare, a native of Tampa, Florida is a founding member, primary songwriter and lead vocalist for the supremely successful, multi-Platinum-selling hard rock outfit, Firehouse. Highly respected London-born guitar virtuoso Chris Green is a founding member of both internationally known metal bands Pride and Furyon.

What initially began as a solo project for CJ soon became a collaborative effort between two like-minded craftsmen. And, as all creative people will attest, the creative process often dictates policy--as opposed to the other way around. Immediately upon the completion of the first song they wrote together, “Moving On,” they knew that it was going to be something completely new and different for them both.

Some projects just have to be made. And for this one, they knew that they would need to do it outside of their other pursuits.

Together they formed RUBICON CROSS. With the addition of Pride/Furyon bassist Simon Farmery (who co-wrote, “Save Me Within”), Seventh Omen drummer Robert Behnke, and second guitarist Jeff Lerman, RUBICON CROSS became a band of brothers, willing to tackle the music, the road, and bring life to these songs of fight, commitment and connection.

The lush melodic core of the songwriting is given a forceful, aggressive boost on this record. From the first single, “Bleed With Me” that starts just as propulsive as it ends to “Kill Or Be Killed” that has a relentless metal drive, RUBICON CROSS is a collection of contemporary heavy music that sits just as comfortably next to hard rock classics as it does modern rock upstarts. The opening track “Locked and Loaded” is featured on the Xbox360 and PS3 game “Dirt Showdown” along side of new rock heavy-hitters Rise Against, Rival Sons and The Parlor Mob.

With all of the life experience, career accomplishments and expert musicianship between them, it was a “no-brainer” for Universal distributed label, INgrooves, to sign them upon hearing the finished tracks on this remarkable debut offering.


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Following the release of the band’s 2003 studio album, ‘Prime Time,’ FireHouse lead vocalist CJ Snare has remained somewhat isolated from the familiar position of recording new material.

Aside from the occasional solo single or collection of re-recorded FireHouse songs which dedicated listeners were already well familiar with, established fans have patiently waited more than a decade to hear Snare offer his voice to a new collection of explosive, in-your-face energetic anthems.

The lengthy wait ends with Rubicon Cross, the new project which features the hard rock frontman at the helm while supported by members of the modern heavy metal groups Seventh Omen, Pride, and Furyon.

We should be quick to note that listeners coming into the band’s eponymous debut album who are expecting a compilation of FireHouse songs should turn away and return with an open mindset; the well-preserved range of Snare does attribute more than enough familiar qualities to attract the FireHouse audience, however Rubicon Cross is band with a sound all their own.

The album’s opening number “Locked and Loaded” sets the tone for the rest of the record, boasting a large anthemic chorus, bottom-heavy bass lines and war machine guitar licks. The song’s properly implemented use of audience roars has it destined to be a Rubicon Cross live stable, while it’s dueling guitar solos, which end up becoming a familiar factor throughout the record, attributes a moderate power metal edge.

“You Will Remember Me” is definitely one of the album’s brightest highlights, which in addition to a cast of solid chord progressions features some brilliant lyrical content from Snare, showing the vocalist taking a vindictive stance against a former significant other. “The best you had/Too late, too bad/You will remember me,” Snare belts while producing some memorable, soaring vocal harmonies, warmly reminiscent of his earlier efforts with the short-lived Maxx Warrior.

In contrast, selections such as “Bleed With Me” and “Kill or Be Killed” have Snare embodying a gravely rumble which, while not the most original, compliments Rubicon Cross’ commanding rhythm section and allows the moments where the singer returns to his familiar range to remain all-the-more standout. “Save Me Within” upon first impression disguises it’s true identity as a traditional glam metal power ballad, complete with articulate acoustic guitar, before locking into high octane mode with unforgiving distortion and menacing overtones.

Hands down the most genuinely surprising moment on the album, “All the Little Things” concludes the effort with a lighthearted punk rocker in the same vein as Green Day, and even shows Snare adopting a singing style slightly reminiscent of Billie Joe Armstrong. The end result actually ends up working better than one might initially think, and could easily serve as a strong choice for a new radio single.

Rubicon Cross’ self-titled debut studio album is a solid introduction to a standout collaboration, which includes one of the more attention-grabbing rosters in the genre. Albeit he never exactly went anywhere, having CJ Snare return on a new album of original material is exciting on it’s own; the fact that the music itself is standout only adds to the elation.



Rubicon Cross:

CJ Snare / Vocals
Chris Green / Lead Guitars
Simon Farmery / Bass
Robert Behnke / Drums
Jeff Lerman / Guitar




"Rubicon Cross" track listing:

01. Locked And Loaded
02. Next Worse Enemy
03. Bleed With Me
04. Save Me Within
05. You Will Remember Me
06. Moving On
07. R U Angry
08. Shine
09. Kill Or Be Killed
10. All The Little Things
11. Moving On (acoustic version)
12. Save Me Within (acoustic version)

Genre: Heavy
Subgenre: Members of Firehouse and Furyon
Bitrate: 320 k
Size: 115.14 MB
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