Whitecross "Hammer And Nail (USA, Star Song, SSD 8152)"

Whitecross is an American Christian metal band from Illinois, formed in 1985 by singer Scott Wenzel and guitarist Rex Carroll, and re-formed in 2000. The band won three Dove Awards in the 1990s.

Whitecross formed in 1985 in Waukegan, Illinois, releasing their first recording in 1987. Their early albums, which often invite comparisons to Ratt, are laced with fast, technical guitar work. In 1994, Rex Carroll split with lead vocalist Scott Wenzel. Wenzel retained the use of the name "Whitecross" while Carroll went on to form King James with Jimi Bennett. At this point the band's sound underwent a drastic change.

Hammer & Nail is the second album by Christian metal band Whitecross, released on May 23, 1988. It reached No. 15 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart. A review in CCM magazine stated that the album "wages war against mediocrity" so often found in Christian metal.

Track listing

1. "Living on the Edge" 5:13
2. "When the Walls Tumble Down" 3:33
3. "The Hammer and the Nail" 1:35
4. "Take It to the Limit" 4:09
5. "Walk with Me" 4:45
6. "Because of Jesus" 3:41
7. "When the Clock Strikes" 4:34
8. "Resist Him" 4:22
9. "Living in a Lost World" 3:52
10. "Top of the World" 3:43

Originally released by Pure Metal, but reissued after Star Song bought Pure Metal.

Recording information:

Album recorded at Grand Slam Studio, Newark, New Jersey - July to September 1988

Additional recording at Opus Studio, Gurnee, Illinois

Engineer – Doug Oberkircher

Produced By – Joey Powers, Rex Carroll

Executive-Producer – Gavin Morkel