Dead Cross consists of only four members. Vocalist Mike Patton, bassist Justin Pearson, guitarist Michael Crain and drummer Dave Lombardo. Between these four gentlemen, I could list the other bands they currently play in and meet my word count quota in less than five minutes. Suffice to say, these are not guys to rest on their laurels and the literal blood, sweat and tears that each of them have put into Dead Cross’ sophomore effort is evident with every note, beat and scream.
Their debut album, released in 2017 was a hardcore slab dripping with sleazy self-assurance. But for their follow-up, instead of giving us another brutal onslaught (which, let’s face it, this band could do in their sleep), Dead Cross have taken the rule book and tossed it out the goddamn window.
“Love Without Love”, opens ll with an ominous bass-line like a horn leading into battle and concludes with Patton and Pearson trading the most vicious back and forth vocals you’re likely to hear this millennium. If there could ever be any sort of “criticism” levied at the first Dead Cross album, it would be the underutilization of Justin Pearson’s substantial vocal prowess. Patton has the controlled chaos of his voice that never fails but when you have Pearson swooping in like a screech owl, the two of them create an unholy cacophony that’s worth the price of admission alone.
But make no mistake, there’s a lot that be credited to the making of ll, but the real MVP of the proceedings is guitarist Michael Crain, who was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the fall of 2019 as recording on the album had just begun. The subsequent surgery, chemo and radiation would sideline just about anyone in any line of work, but Crain brought that resolve into the studio and continued recording and believe me when I say, that strength comes through in every downstroke. Don’t believe me? Listen to tracks like “Heart Reformer” or “Christian Missile Crisis” and tell me I’m wrong. Hell, the latter tune could very well be the best song in Dead Cross’ brief-but-no-less-substantial catalog. Look, descriptives aside, this album is quality as fuck, so best educate yourself on it now before you see it on everyone’s top lists next month.
