Single Slam – Seizure and Desist by Dead Cross (Dead Cross)

Dead Cross have just released a new single, Seizure and Desist, from their long awaited debut album, the self titled Dead Cross. Dead Cross are a super group. Originally the band consisted of Mike Crain (Retox), Justin Pearson (The Locust, Head Wound City), Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Gabe Serbian (The Locust, Head Wound City). In late 2016 Gabe was replaced by a new singer, living legend Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr Bungle).

Dead Cross was originally due out in 2016, before line up changes delayed it. After Gabe Serbian left the band, they rerecorded and rewrote the lyrics completely as vocals had already been completed by Gabe before Mike joined. Dead Cross is now due for release on the 4th of August this year. It will be released jointly via Patton’s own Ipecac Recordings and Pearson’s own Three One G label.

Dead Cross have already released a single from their new album. That was called Grave Slave and you can read GBHBL’s opinion of it here.

Grave Slave was a brilliantly addictive track but was also completely bonkers and unstable. Seizure and Desist isn’t quite as unstable but it isn’t far off. The track is 2 minutes and 3 seconds long and starts with a pretty dull effect of just intermittent beeps. After a few seconds the beep becomes consistent, like a flat line, and then BANG! In comes the crazy.

A furiously fast and loose drum beat roars along over a fast riff that ends with a guitar slide. The vocal style is more restrained at first – more Faith No More esque. All the while the drums are played at mindboggling speed. A faster and harder screamed vocal section comes in before a switch back to singing again. The song enters a more rhythmic section with drawn out guitar notes and an almost drum ‘n’ bass like drum beat.

When the song comes back in, the speed and intensity of everything is turned up to 11. Screamed vocals, blistering drums and a fast riff whip you into a frenzy. The wackiness comes in near the end with a mix of different vocals from singing to high pitched screeches to roars and shouts. All of this while the drums are still being bashed at immense speed. The song closes to some really odd echoing synth effects that last for around 30 seconds which is bit much.

Much like Grave Slave I really enjoyed Seizure and Exist as well. It is certainly treads a fine line between genius and insanity and will split music fans that same way I imagine. I find it creative, eccentric and downright entertaining. The music is raw and aggressive and you have to give a nod to Lombardo here. He destroys those drums. The opening and closing effects are probably a bit much – a bit unnecessary. I could happily lose them. Otherwise, I can’t wait to hear more.

Check out Seizure and Desist for yourself here. You can preorder the album, Dead Cross, now from Ipecac Recordings on band camp or from Dead Cross here. You can also pick up music from Dead Cross via the links below. Check the band out on Facebook and Twitter as well for more information.

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