BLACK CROSS “Art Offensive”
Perhaps as a product certain band members and their previous hardcore histories, coupled the with growing popularity of bands in the vein of THE EXPLOSION, TRIAL BY FIRE and STRIKE ANYWHERE (how on earth did this not come out on Jade Tree?!?!), “Art Offensive” sounds entirely familar, but hardly uninspired. BLACK CROSS are unmistakably a result of the Louisville Hardcore scene, and the vocals of Rob Pennington are instanteously recognizable from tenure in ENDPOINT and BY THE GRACE OF GOD. I really dig the angle these guys take with their songs, which is truly a charge-ahead kinda thing, mixed with the dirt and squallor that gives hardcore its tenacity. Thankfully, BLACK CROSS didn’t neglect the production qualities of this disc (with J. Robbins at the helm) by seeking out their hardworn sound. To their benefit, BLACK CROSS like to cover a lot of different approaches in tempo to the 12 songs that make up “Art Offense.” The blazing fast third tune “Black Market Cigarettes” seems stunningly distant from the mid-paced, bass-heavy bruiser, “Gift To The Sea,” and when the latter mergers into the almost CONVERGE like intro of “Just Go Outside,” this disc suddenly feels a lot more toothy and head-slamming. “Art Offensive” managers to retain a few distinct moments of catchy melodies as well, giving this disc an amazingly well-rounded character for something that only exists for barely 27 minutes. While certain genres and trends seem to grow staler by the hour, it’s nice to see that BLACK CROSS is doing something exciting, relevant, and with a conscious on its shoulders.
Equal Vision
