Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Dead Cross - S/T


As the project that reunites multi-faceted vocalist Mike Patton with his former Fantomas band mate Dave Lombardo, Dead Cross was already enticing before a note was played. Throw in Justin Pearson and Michael Crain of renowned hardcore punk group Retox, and the possibilities become endless.

To no one's surprise, Patton is in fine form here, and those used to his more extreme tendencies (such as on Fantomas and Mr. Bungle records) will be pleased to hear that Patton is still just as effective and entrancing when he spitting, shrieking and snarling as he is when he's singing. His manic deliveries are especially welcome considering the relative restraint shown on his last two high-profile records (Faith No More's Sol Invictus and Tomahawk's Oddfellows); any concerns that age has lessened Patton's abilities are put to rest early and often.

Lombardo's drumming prowess is also no secret to anyone who's been paying attention, and his performance here is reliably pummeling. Meanwhile, Pearson and Crain are relegated to "along for the ride" status almost by default; it's not that they're not playing to their abilities, it's just that when you're comparing your abilities to those of perhaps the greatest vocalist and drummer of an entire generation, you're in pretty tough.

Overall, Dead Cross' debut record offers brutality and precision in spades (oh, and a cover of Bauhaus' Bela Lugosi's Dead for extra cool points), and hearing Patton pushing his madcap pipes to their limits for the first time in years is a thrill in and of itself. The songs aren't exactly new standards in hardcore, but anyone who's admired the members of the band aren't likely to be disappointed; it's a small investment of time at under a half hour, but the amount of blood and guts provided proves this to be an album of undeniable value.

August 4, 2017 • Ipecac
Highlights Idiopathic • Obedience School • Grave Slave

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...
Post a Comment
Read more