Dead Cross is something I have been waiting for my whole life and I didn’t even know it. The moment I heard that one of the most prolific vocalists of our time was going to join a punk/hardcore band with Dave Lombardo (Slayer) on the drums, Justin Pearson & Mike Crain from Retox, I was completely sold.
I am convinced that Mike Patton is an alien from another dimension. I mean seriously when I said prolific, I meant it. He has been cranking out killer records since the late 80’s/early 90’s. He is in like 1000 bands and they are all incredible including Mr. Bungle, Faith No More, Tomahawk, Fantomas… just to name a few. Now he has joined Dead Cross and layered his intense, wacky, powerful vocals over some the most killer thrash/punk/hardcore/metal tunes I have heard in a while. Bringing his unique style into this genre isn’t too crazy of an idea, as we got a taste of that with his brief stint in the Dillinger Escape Plan. His range is legendary and it is on full display on this record. From high pitched squeals to low growl screaming to funky talking-like parts and silly sounds. Tracks like “Obedience School” & “Church of the Motherfuckers” are real stand outs to me. They also cover Bauhaus’ classic track “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and to be honest, I like it more than the original.
Dave Lombardo is another beast to be reckoned with. Not only was he part of one of the most important metal records ever recorded (Reign in Blood) but has been performing non-stop since with acts like The Misfits, Suicidal Tendencies and Fantomas. Not to mention he is a Cuban so that practically makes us family! This record shows that even though he is in his fifties, the man can out-drum the majority of the so-called metal drummers out right now. Ripping through tracks like “Shillelagh” & “Idopathic” with intense thrash metal beats that bring me back to the early Slayer days.
My only complaint with this record comes from the two other gentlemen in the band. I know that sounds bad so let me explain. Justin & Mike do a fantastic job with the guitar work on this album but I can hardly hear it. I feel like the guitar & bass are both way too low in the mix. Only the trippy, esoteric guitar squeals stand out on occasion but the big heavy riffs just seem to be missing that “Unf” that I think the album could have benefited from. Now this doesn’t take away from the incredible song writing which is almost perfect. Maybe if I just convince myself that this is actually an old-school metal recording then I can bypass my snobby mixing opinions.
Overall this is a fantastic record that I fully expect to wear out in my car to the point of making my girl hate it. I have been a fan of Patton’s work for many years and he definitely brings a uniqueness to this band that satisfies my needs to hear him in a fast paced, metal, hardcore environment. If you are a fan of any of his work or Slayer or just good fashioned thrash hardcore metal pick it up right now!
Rating: 9/10
Beer pairing: Narragansett Lager
Pre-order the record now which releases on August 4th, 2017 through Ipecac Records
Catch them on the road this Aug-Sept with Secret Chiefs 3 which features Patton’s former Mr. Bungle bandmate Trey Spruance & Joe Lester from Intronaut.
August 10 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory *
August 11 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl
August 12 Phoenix, AZ The Marquee *
August 14 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
August 15 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
August 16 Austin, TX Emo’s
August 18 Tucson, AZ The Rialto Theatre *
August 19 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park
August 21 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
August 23 Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre
August 25 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
August 26 Seattle, WA The Showbox
August 27 Portland Wonder Ballroom
August 29 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
September 8 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
September 10 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
September 11 Boston, MA Royale
September 12 New York, NY Gramercy Theatre
September 13 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw
September 15 Detroit, MI St. Andrew’s Hall
September 16 Chicago, IL Riot Fest *
September 17 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom
September 19 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
September 20 Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
September 23 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
* – Secret Chiefs 3 do not perform
