Cross To Bear

Album: Extremist (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This pandemonium inducing end-of-world soundtrack is the most uncompromising song on Extremist. Ryan Clark commented to Decibel magazine: "Not an ounce of melodic singing. It follows the same kind of style as songs like 'Storm The Gates Of Hell, 'The World Is A Thorn' and 'Crucifix,' which are about as fast and heavy as you'll find on any of our albums. And although we've often started records out with a song like this, to essentially "come out swinging," it felt best to reach this point later on this record."
  • Clark rewrote the bulk of the lyrics for the song around three times before he was satisfied with them. He said: "I had the chorus first, and I knew I'd be shaping the rest of the lyrics around that, but I found it hard to say what I was trying to say. In the end, I think it all works."
  • Clark liked so much the small guitar walk-down, which happens at the top of the bridge (it's derived from the pre-chorus riff), that he ended up building an outro from it. He said: "It has a nasty Pantera-sounding drive that I just felt we had to emphasize, so we essentially took this repetition, and built it bigger and bigger as it progresses."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Mike Scott of The Waterboys

Mike Scott of The WaterboysSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Whole Of The Moon" and "Red Army Blues," and why rock music has "outlived its era of innovation."