The Crosses is the literal translation of Die Kreuzen, and was around for a decade, a tribute to that legendary band. Ever since that group’s premature 1992 split, Vocalist Daniel Kubinski has been busying himself with a multitude of projects too numerous to list, but includes Deadfinger, Fuckface, Decapitado, Chainfall, and a collaboration with The Lord a.k.a. Greg Anderson (Goatsnake, Sunn))), Southern Lord Records) on the excellent 2023 track “Palliare.”
Unlike Peter Hook and his band The Light, Dan has taken the brave step of creating something fresh, and the result is Outlier (Triple Eye Industries), the band’s debut EP proper. Joining Dan (Vocals) are Guitarist Jim Potter, Bassist Christopher Ortiz, and Drummer Jesse Sieren. Furthermore, if you like what you hear here, it’s recommended you also pick up 2023’s Beers and Cow (available for free on Bandcamp).
“Nails” is an interesting number, coming across a little like latter-day Bad Brains, think either the Quickness and/or God of Love eras. The Vocals especially recall HR’s seamless ability to shift between feral growls and more of an almost falsetto-like croon. The music, though energetic, has a heavier metallic bite, which gives it an increased sense of gravitas, a great opening statement. “Hate Market” was originally put out as a preview single back in 2024, and you can see why. The shortest track on the record at just under a minute and a half long. This is a slice of pure Crossover(ish) joy that captures the vibe of say a record such as Corrosion of Conformity’s Animosity and tracks such as “Prayer”, itself frantic and stylistically unpredictable, stunning. “Nychthemeron” meaning a full 24-hour period, again highlights the band’s more Metal leanings. In fact, bands such as Norway’s criminally overlooked and underrated Okkultokrati come to mind with their Punky Black Metal, and some Bruce Dickinson-style wailing, but thankfully, nowhere near as over the top or theatrical.
“Natronium” is the last of the newly penned, original material on here, and it’s stunning, definitely a standout on the EP. It contains the dark, sludgy, Post-Punk elements of what you’d find on October File, but mixed in with the blistering speed of the Die Kreuzen material. That description feels wholly inadequate; it simply has to be heard to be believed. Speaking of October File, a cover of “Man in the Trees” is next, and it’s obvious that while the Vocals don’t quite reach the dizzying heights of yesteryear (you can’t stop the march of father time after all), the same sense of claustrophobia and emotional intensity is still conjured. Pretty impressive all told.
Finally comes a cover of “I’ll Never Forget You” and the band’s interpretation of it is blinding. As with Die Kreuzen, Hüsker Dü were too far ahead of their time and never quite managed to reach the same level of success of some of their contemporaries. The track was one of the quicker numbers on Zen Arcade, and boy does it zip along at some pace in The Crosses hands, affording a truly exhilarating conclusion to the album.
It would have been easy for The Crosses to have remained a legacy act, churning out a set of predictable crowd pleasers night after night. Instead, they have decided to bite the bullet and take a risk by composing their own material, and it’s worked! It demonstrates that though older, Kubinski remains as vital, dynamic, and exciting a performer as the twenty-something back in the eighties. A promising start to what will hopefully be a long recording career for the four-piece.
Buy the album here:
https://tripleeye.bandcamp.com/album/outlier
9 / 10
REZA MILLS
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