Reviews

A few years ago, I did a radio show in Chicago. My co-host and good friend, recognizing my interest in occasionally screechy, intense music, suggested I listen to a band called Saetia. I did and I loved it. They’re not a band I listen to regularly but, rather, a band that I need at very specific moments in my life. Well, anyway, Philadelphia’s own Hot Cross, contains past members of Saetia, so I had a feeling I was gonna like them. I was right.
 
On their first release for Equal Vision Records, Risk Revival, the Hot Cross crew keeps up their spazzy, emotional take on hardcore and I couldn’t be happier to finally have another album from them. Both of the elements that I loved from their last record (Cryonics) are once again present; blistering, staccato guitar lines, courtesy of Casey Boland, and the frantic vocals of Billy Werner. These two pack every song on Risk Revival with a claustrophobic anxiety that makes for an exhilarating listen. After a brief Spanish guitar style intro, the band blasts into opening track “Exits and Trails,” complete with Boland’s shredding guitar lines and Werner’s declaration of, “Forget my name, forget my number, please pass on invitations that never should have came.” The song contains brief elements of just about everything you will hear on the rest of the record. In essence, if you like this song, you will like the record.
 
The only real downfall to this album is the way in which some of the tracks have been recorded. It seems that in an attempt to create a very live and energetic sounding record, the band decided to leave a few mistakes in. I have no particular problem with that but when the mistake is obvious and detrimental to the song, I take issue. It almost seems impossible to impeccably capture a frenetic and frenzied band like Hot Cross,  but producer (and former member) Josh Jakubowski has done an admirable job with a large, full-sounding recording. There are a few flubbed guitar lines and those moments are my only real complaint.
 
Ultimately, Hot Cross has finally returned and done so in huge fashion. When I listen to this record, I am reminded of other great east coast “screamo” bands like Pg. 99 and City of Caterpillar; those bands would be proud that Hot Cross has picked up their torch and soldiered on. Werner’s lyrics point fingers at just about everyone - as well as himself – and provide a light show for the art school dropout dance party held in purgatory that I picture when listening to this record. This is a fucked up, angry release and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.