Crosses (band)

Crosses
Also known as †††
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Electronic rock, darkwave, dream pop
Years active 2011–present
Labels Sumerian
Associated acts Deftones, Far
Website crossesmusic.com
Members Chino Moreno
Shaun Lopez
Chuck Doom
Dino Campanella (live only)

Crosses (usually stylized as †††) is the musical side project of Deftones singer Chino Moreno, Far guitarist Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom, based in Los Angeles, California,[1] and formed in 2011.

History

Having recorded together previously,[2] Deftones singer Chino Moreno began recording with childhood friend and neighbor Shaun Lopez, also of the band Far, as well as Chuck Doom.[2] Moreno described the project as "minimal and soothing and it's sort of like the stuff I like listening to when I'm not screaming my head off."[2] With a tentative title of Crosses as the name of the project, they began recording for over four hours a day, completing nearly 16 songs with plans to self-release a series of EPs.[2]

Recorded at Airport Studios in Los Angeles, California,[3] their debut EP was released for free on August 2, 2011,[1][4][5] with a higher quality version made available for purchase on their website.[5] Duff McKagan, of Velvet Revolver and Loaded, contributed additional bass to the song "This Is a Trick" while Chris Robyn of Far performed live drums on the EP. Dino Campanella of the rock band Dredg has also worked as a live drummer for the band.[6]

Crosses contributed a previously unreleased song titled "The Years" to the Batman: Arkham City – The Album, the soundtrack to the game of the same name. It was also featured in the game's Joker trailer.[7]

A second EP from Crosses was released on January 24, 2012.

In 2012, Crosses played the Lollapalooza Chile festival [8] as well as the Quilmes Rock festival.[9]

Crosses released a vinyl single, including the tracks "Option" and "Telepathy" from their first two EPs, for Record Store Day 2012.[10] The band also released an official remix of the Rob Zombie song, "Dragula", appearing on Zombie's 2012 album Mondo Sex Head.

A postulated third Crosses EP was not released, and Moreno put Crosses temporarily on hold while he concluded work with Deftones (the album Koi No Yokan, issued in November 2012) and another side project, Palms, with ex-members of Isis (releasing their debut album, Palms, in June 2013).[11]

In September 2013, Crosses signed with Sumerian Records.[12]

In October 2013, Crosses announced that a full-length album was set to be released on November 26, 2013 through Sumerian, and also posted the new track "The Epilogue" online for streaming.[13] The release date for the band's eponymous debut was later pushed back to February 11, 2014, and the new track "Bitches Brew" was posted online for streaming along with the announcement.[14] On November 26, the date Crosses were originally scheduled to release their debut album, the band instead released a music video for "Bitches Brew" directed by Raul Gonzo.[15] The album contains remastered versions of all songs from the previous two EPs as well as five new tracks (essentially, what would have been EP 3). The track order intermingles new tracks and songs from both EPs.

On April 19, 2014, for Record Store Day, Crosses reissued the first two EPS as well as EP 3, all on colored 10" vinyl.[16]

In 2014, Crosses appeared as part of the Australian music festival Soundwave, followed by a US spring tour.

Style

The musical style of Crosses is often referred to as electronic,[17][18] dream pop[19] or witch house.[20][21][22] However, Carson O'Shoney of Consequence of Sound and Daniel Brockman of The Boston Phoenix note that Crosses only shares a resemblance to witch house in aesthetics and imagery, and not the group's actual music.[23][24] O'Shoney said that Crosses' witch house influence is "noticeable just by looking at the tracklist—every song has at least one † in it. The name of the band is †††. The name of the EP is †. Everything about the EP points to witch house—until you listen to the actual music."[23] The group's decision to use this imagery stems from Chino Moreno's interest in the art and mystique around religion. Moreno however also said, "I didn't want people to think we are a religious band, a satanic band or that we are a witch-house band. It's difficult using a religious symbol, but at the same time, I think in an artistic way, it can totally go somewhere else and I think we are kind of walking that line."[22]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[25]		 AUS
[26]
†††[14] 26 43

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[25]
EP †
  • Released: August 2, 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: LP, digital download
 —
EP ††
  • Released: January 24, 2012
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download
 8
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Alt.		 US
Main.
"Option" [27] 2012 — — EP † and †††
"Telepathy" [28] EP †† and †††
"The Epilogue" [29] 2013 27 40 †††
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s)
"Bitches Brew" 2013 Raul Gonzo[15]
"The Epilogue" 2014

Compilation contributions

Title Year Album
"The Years"[30] 2011 Batman: Arkham City – The Album
"Dragula"[31] 2012 Mondo Sex Head
"The Epilogue" 2014 Soundwave: 2014

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Crosses offer free downloadable digital EP". Kill Your Stereo. August 2, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wiederhorn, Jon (March 30, 2011). "Deftones Frontman Excited for Tour, 'Covers' Album, New Side Project". Noisecreep. AOL. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  3. ↑ EP 1 (digital booklet). Crosses. 2011.
  4. ↑ Adams, Sean (August 2, 2011). "Download: Deftones' Chino Moreno & Shaun Lopez from Far release free Crosses EP". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Deftones / Far Sideproject Release Free EP". Rock Sound. August 2, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  6. ↑ Vince, Neilstein. "How Come You Didn’t Tell Me Dino Campanella was Playing Drums for ††† (Crosses)???". MetalSucks. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  7. ↑ Heisel, Scott (September 6, 2011). "Panic! At the Disco, Coheed and Cambria, Blaqk Audio on Batman: Arkham City soundtrack". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Lollapalooza Chile 2012 Lineup". Lineup.lollapaloozacl.com. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  9. ↑ "†††. Live 2012. Argen†ina". Crossesmusic.com. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "Record Store Day - April 21, 2012". Strictly Discs. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Chino Moreno (Deftones)". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  12. ↑ Brian Kraus. "††† (Crosses, members of Deftones and Far) join the Sumerian Records roster". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ Kraus, Brian (October 5, 2013). "††† (Crosses, members of Deftones and Far on Sumerian Records) stream new single, '†he epilogue'". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Martins, Chris (November 5, 2013). "Stream Crosses' 'Bitches Brew,' Electronic Doom From Deftones' Chino Moreno". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Muller, Marissa (November 25, 2013). "††† (Crosses) Conjure Up Ghosts in 'Bi†ches Brew'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  16. ↑ http://www.teamdeftones.com/2014/03/crosses-to-release-record-store-day.html
  17. ↑ Negrete, Guillermo (August 5, 2011). "Deftones' Chino Moreno Premieres Side Project 'Crosses' With New Free EP". KROQ. CBS Radio. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  18. ↑ Warner, Brett (August 2, 2011). "Deftones Singer Chino Moreno Unveils New Side Project, Crosses †††". Ology. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  19. ↑ Heaney, Gregory. "+++ - (Crosses) +++". Allmusic. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ Galil, Leor (December 13, 2011). "The Best Free Albums of 2011". Forbes. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  21. ↑ Breihan, Tom (August 2, 2011). "Deftones Dude Has a Witch House Project". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Pettigrew, Jason (November 7, 2011). "Interview: Crosses' Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez open up about their elusive band". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 O'Shoney, Carson (August 21, 2011). "Review: EP1". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  24. ↑ Brockman, Daniel (February 28, 2012). "Review: EP2". The Boston Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Crosses Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Discography Crosses". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  27. ↑ Korbel, Meaghann (April 20, 2012). "Alarm's guide to Record Store Day 2012". Alarm. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  28. ↑ Korbel, Meaghann (April 20, 2012). "Alarm's guide to Record Store Day 2012". Alarm. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  29. ↑ "The Epilogue - Crosses". Allmusic. All Media Network. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  30. ↑ Kaye, Ben (September 27, 2011). "Check Out: ††† (Crosses) – 'The Years' (CoS Premiere)". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Rob Zombie's Mondo Sex Head". Yahoo! Finance. Marketwire. June 19, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.

External links