Dead Cross
American crossover thrash supergroup formed in Southern California.
Dead Cross is an American crossover thrash supergroup from Southern California. The lineup features guitarist Michael Crain (Retox), bassist Justin Pearson (the Locust, Head Wound City, Retox), drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas), and vocalist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantômas). The band officially formed on November 30, 2015, with Crain, Pearson, Lombardo, and vocalist Gabe Serbian; Serbian later left and was replaced by Patton.
The project began when producer Ross Robinson asked Pearson to play session bass on a demo. Pearson later learned Lombardo was also on the demo, and Crain participated as well. Lombardo needed a band for upcoming tour dates, so the three formed a live act in about 12 days, which became Dead Cross. They made their live debut in December 2015. In March 2016, they streamed the song "We'll Sleep When They're Dead." Serbian recorded vocals for the band but left in 2016, and the group chose not to release that version. That December, Patton was announced as the new vocalist; he wrote his own lyrics and recorded them separately over the already-recorded music. The debut album, produced by Robinson, came out on August 4, 2017, through Patton’s Ipecac Recordings and Pearson’s Three One G. The band announced their first tour on May 22, 2017, starting August 10. On August 15, 2017, all four members were arrested in Houston, Texas; they made no public comment on legal advice. A self-titled EP with two new songs and two remixes was released on May 2, 2018. In December 2019, they recorded material for a new album. In June 2020, they covered Black Flag’s "Rise Above." On December 23, 2020, a video for "Skin Of A Redneck" appeared, and social media hinted at an upcoming album. On July 19, 2022, the second album, *II*, was announced and released on October 29 on CD, LP, and tape. A video for the lead single "Reign of Errors" was released the same day. In December 2022, *Rolling Stone* placed "Reign of Error" at number 92 on its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2022.
The band calls themselves a hardcore punk band, but media often labels them thrash metal. Patton described the debut as a traditional hardcore record—direct, visceral, without keyboards or samples—comparing it to bands like the Accüsed, Deep Wound, and Siege.
Current members are Crain, Pearson, Lombardo, and Patton. Former vocalist Gabe Serbian died in 202
- formed
- 2015
- origin
- Southern California, United States
- genre
- Crossover thrash, hardcore punk, thrash metal
- labels
- Ipecac Recordings, Three One G
- members
- Michael Crain, Justin Pearson, Dave Lombardo, Mike Patton
- former_members
- Gabe Serbian
Lore & Background
Dead Cross was formed after bassist Justin Pearson and drummer Dave Lombardo were asked by producer Ross Robinson to play on a demo. Guitarist Michael Crain also took part in those sessions. Lombardo needed to fill tour dates and lacked a band, so the three formed a live band in about 12 days, which became Dead Cross. The band officially formed on November 30, 2015 with vocalist Gabe Serbian, making their live debut that December. In 2016, Serbian left after recording vocals, but the group chose not to release that record. That December, Mike Patton was announced as the new vocalist, recording his own lyrics over the already-recorded music. The debut album, produced by Ross Robinson, was released on August 4, 2017 jointly by Patton's Ipecac Recordings and Pearson's Three One G labels. On August 15, 2017, all four members were arrested in Houston, Texas, and made no public comment on advice of legal counsel. In May 2018, they released a self-titled EP with two new songs and two remixes. During December 2019, they recorded material for a new album. In June 2020, they covered Black Flag's 'Rise Above'. On December 23, 2020, a music video for 'Skin Of A Redneck' was released. On July 19, 2022, the second album 'II' was announced, released on October 29, 2022. The lead single 'Reign of Error' was included in Rolling Stone's The 100 Best Songs of 2022 list at number 92.
Reader's Guide
Dead Cross occupies a unique space in heavy music as a supergroup blending members from influential punk, metal, and experimental acts. The band's significance lies in its fusion of hardcore punk's directness with thrash metal's intensity, a sound that vocalist Mike Patton insisted was 'a traditional hardcore record' despite media classification as thrash metal. Their debut album, produced by Ross Robinson, showcased Patton's ability to adapt his vocal style to a raw, uncompromising framework. The band's legacy is marked by the unusual circumstance of recording an album with one vocalist (Gabe Serbian) and then replacing him with Patton, who wrote entirely new lyrics. Their 2017 arrest in Houston added a layer of notoriety, though the band remained silent on the matter. The 2022 album 'II' and its single 'Reign of Error' receiving recognition from Rolling Stone demonstrates their continued relevance. Dead Cross matters as a project that brought together musicians from disparate backgrounds—Slayer, Faith No More, the Locust—to create music that Patton described as reminiscent of 'bands like the Accüsed, Deep Wound or Siege, stuff that was just brutal, uncompromising and right to the point.'
Did You Know?
- Dead Cross was officially formed on November 30, 2015.
- Original vocalist Gabe Serbian recorded vocals for the debut album, but the band chose not to release that version.
- All four members were arrested in Houston, Texas on August 15, 2017, and made no public comment on advice of legal counsel.
- The band's second album 'II' was released on October 29, 2022, and its lead single 'Reign of Error' was ranked 92nd on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2022 list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Dead Cross?
Dead Cross is an American crossover thrash band based in Southern California. The group brings together musicians drawn from some of the most well-known names in extreme metal and hardcore punk.
Who are the members of Dead Cross?
The lineup features guitarist Michael Crain, bassist Justin Pearson, drummer Dave Lombardo, and vocalist Mike Patton. Gabe Serbian was the original singer before Patton stepped in to replace him.
When and how was Dead Cross formed?
The band officially came together on November 30, 2015. The project started when producer Ross Robinson asked Justin Pearson to lay down session bass for a demo, and the collaboration grew into a full band with Lombardo and Crain joining in.
What genre does Dead Cross play?
Dead Cross sits at the crossroads of crossover thrash, hardcore punk, and thrash metal. Their sound combines aggressive, chugging riff work with the raw speed and intensity of punk.
Why is Dead Cross called a supergroup?
Every member already carries major credibility from high-profile acts—Lombardo from Slayer, Patton from Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, Pearson from the Locust, and Crain from Retox. Stacking that level of individual reputation into one unit is what earns them the supergroup label.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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