The musicians at hand have performed with one another in some form or fashion for years now, and the familiarity surely contributes to how naturally everything flows. Both stringed instrument musicians have also played with THE LOCUST and THE FESTIVAL OF DEAD DEER, respectively. However, the unit also boasts the impressive abilities of RETOX's Justin Pearson on bass and Michael Crain on guitar. The final product-whether we're talking about the debut full-length or the recently released EP, which is also mysteriously self-titled just as the debut was-reaches the high watermarks of the popular, accomplished bands from which the musicians involved are primarily known.ĭEAD CROSS most notably features the talents of former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and Mike Patton of FAITH NO MORE, MR. The band seems to have the hunger of a fresh, new band that's eager to carve its own path. But fortunately for the heavy music public, DEAD CROSS is everything that one would hope for from a super group. In any event, it's far too commonplace for these "all-star" bands to sound and feel like side projects and nothing more due to a greater focus placed upon the members' main bands. Other times, the output sounds like a bunch of friends got together to jam in a garage, which, again, might satisfy the musicians themselves but doesn't offer much worth listening to for their longtime fans. This may be enjoyable for self-serving purposes, but it generally comes across as pointless self-indulgence. Sometimes the world class musicians use these alternate bands as an opportunity to flex their impressive talents. Oftentimes such endeavors fall short of expectations for a variety of reasons. On paper, DEAD CROSS features one of the most impressive super group lineups in history.