Call it a side project or 2/3rds of the latest super group, it won't make the EP ‘†’ any less special. The band members include Deftones front man Chino Moreno, Far’s Shaun Lopez and the unknown Chuck Doom. They have joined forces to collaborate on this atmospheric sound that features the indolent yet sexy beats we’ve come to love from Deftones and the melodic undertow of Far.
There has been a lot of controversy from Ritualz, AKA †‡† who recently tweeted, "only thing I can think of right now is that if you have a blog post about that fat fuck stealing my shit to let people know please" and "woke up to attacks by Deftones fans. Basically they're mad because I came up with the crosses first and they hate everything not Deftones?” So far, the main attention has been on this little outburst which has most likely been done for †‡† own publicity. Let's be honest, he didn't create crosses (as in the symbol †), now, did he? Don't let this petty argument divert the attention from the actual music.
If you are going to listen to this because you love Deftones and you think this is just part of their natural progression then don't, Chino shows his much softer side. Everyone loves Deftones (if you don't, there is something seriously wrong with you), this is closer to Chinos other bit on the side, Team Sleep, than Deftones with his singing very similar way as he does with Team Sleep with electronic music backing him. Chino 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.”
This is not what I expected if I am honest. As Crosses have categorised themselves as electronic rock, I was hoping for Around the Fur meets The Prodigy. This EP was self released on August 2nd, 2011 and produced the bands Shaun Lopez. They are a very chilled and atmospheric electronic rock band with some very good beats. Is this mind blowing? That might be an overstatement however as a starting point this has serious promise. I am always unsure when different band members make a new group, look at Them Crooked Vultures, say what you will, I never thought that either Josh Homme or Dave Grohl could put a foot wrong; and then came TCV who proved me wrong.
The EP is reminiscent of 'Diamond Eyes' with some good synth work and electric drum beats thrown together with some haunting guitar noises with the sexiness of Chinos voice woven into one sound.
The EP is just under 20 minutes long and consists of 5 tracks. 'This is a Trick' is a great opening track. The intro beat is not what you would expect from an electro rock band, it has a rather generic R&B beat but the way that it has been worked and produced it hides it well so it is very forgiving. Chinos voice has been worked on and it is distorted but again, this has not gone over the top. This has R&B at its core with extra bass for a good kick.
'Option' and 'Thholyghost' are pretty chilled, not a fan of the beginning of the tracks as it takes a while for Chinos voice to warm up and do what he does best but when he does, you can feel the passion. The beat on 'Option' is heavier but it has a hint of commercialness. Even though musically this is complex, they make it sound easy. Pain and heartbreak in his voice is yet again, unmistakably beautiful, what you always love about Chino. 'Thholyghost' is much heavier and finally you can hear drumming with a little screaming. This is their darkest songs, not in a metal kind of way; it has an airy gloomy hint to it.
'Bermuda Locket' is my favourite song without a doubt. You could strip it down to someone with a mediocre voice and take the synth and instruments away and lyrically this could stand alone. Thankfully we don't have to do that. This is just a simple, uncomplicated song with a lovely melody. Sexy beat meets sleazy electric rock that you can imagine Chino dancing around to. 'Cross' is my least favourite, it is just an "instrumental". Not sure if that is the right word as throughout the EP there is a lot of not just instrumental work but synth and many other distortive devices used. It is very relaxing however it bores me a little, for me to enjoy something without lyrics it needs to be hard and loud.
What’s next for Crosses? No one knows. I am hoping though that they grow slightly heavier, they have taken a different route to their divided norms, and however they could do what N.E.R.D. did for the R&B industry with their first album. Far have already split; let's hope this isn't the end of Deftones. Many people would be disappointed if Chino takes the Dallas Green route but only time will tell.
I am sure that good things are on the horizon from Crosses as well as many arguments from Far and Deftones followers. You can download the EP for free (poor quality though) by going to their Facebook page www.facebook.com/CrossesMusic or pay for the better quality via iTunes.
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'Bermuda Locket' is my favourite song without a doubt. You could strip it down to someone with a mediocre voice and take the synth and instruments away and lyrically this could stand alone. Thankfully we don't have to do that. This is just a simple, uncomplicated song with a lovely melody. Sexy beat meets sleazy electric rock that you can imagine Chino dancing around to. 'Cross' is my least favourite, it is just an "instrumental". Not sure if that is the right word as throughout the EP there is a lot of not just instrumental work but synth and many other distortive devices used. It is very relaxing however it bores me a little, for me to enjoy something without lyrics it needs to be hard and loud. 
