Recording: Crosss

Artist: Crosss

Song: Mind

Recorded at Double Double Land, June 4, 2015.

Crosss - Mind

Crosss' singer/guitarist Andy March doesn't seem like one to go over-the-top in celebration, even for the release of his band's fab new album. In fact, he spent a good amount of the set half-obscured behind a stage curtain as the band mixed together a few old faves with a pile of new stuff. The most notable bonus feature for this release show was the presence of Ami Spears (ex-Ostrich Tuning, now, partner-in-drone with Crosss bassist Scarlett Rose in Schønsee) on keybs throughout, adding a bit more of a goth-y edge to the songs. Spears also sat in with the band on their side-long noise suite "Enthroning the 4 Acts", so hopefully this is a precursor to the band tackling something so loomingly grandiose on stage.

Recording: Crosss

Artist: Crosss

Song: Witching Hour

Recorded in the dungeon of 8-Eleven ("Sonic Boom Record Store Day Afterparty"), April 18, 2015.

Crosss - Witching Hour

Following on an afternoon of live in-stores to help celebrate Record Store Day, Sonic Boom took things across the back alley to keep the vibe rolling with a late-night afterparty in the maze-like basement of the 8-Eleven gallery. The night's "secret guests" opening things up turned out to be sludgemetal/psych-folk unit Crosss — and since I last caught 'em, the bass chair has rotated once more, with Scarlett Rose (also of Schønsee) now holding down the bottom end. The band has been fairly active recently, and she already sounds well-integrated into the trio's sound. The group, meanwhile, is getting ready to launch their new album LO in June with Telephone Explosion, so keep an eye out for some festivities surrounding that.

Recording: Crosss

Artist: Crosss

Song: Interlocutor

Recorded at The Garrison, September 12, 2014.

Crosss - Interlocutor

Full review to follow. The lineup has shifted since I last saw 'em (with The Soupcans' bassist Nick now holding down the bottom end) but the core sound — call it Syd Barrett's Black Sabbath — remains in place. As vocalist/guitarist Andy March howls "recalculate my destiny", one can verily imagine a crew of teenaged AD&D players rolling the d20 to see who takes the next hit off the bong.

Recording: Crosss

Artist: Crosss

Song: Lucky Loki

Recorded at The White House, November 29, 2013.

Crosss - Lucky Loki

Full review to follow. Hamilton-via-Halifax trio Crosss use metal dynamics to mediate their interests in pastoral psychedelic drift and punk sludgegrunge roar — a bracing combo to close out the night at The Beverleys' single release party.

Recording: Crosss

Artist: Crosss

Song: Old Sound^*

Recorded at The Silver Dollar, August 31, 2012.

Crosss - Old Sound

Full review to follow.

^* Thanks to Andrew for passing the title to this one along.