Dead Cross

MICHAEL CRAIN AND JUSTIN PEARSON TAKE YOU DEEP INSIDE THE HARDCORE PUNK SUPERGROUP’S LATEST RABID EFFORT, II

- Gregory Adams

MAKING DEAD CROSS’ sophomore album, II, was grueling for Michael Crain, but not because of the music. In the case of high-velocity nailbombs like “Reign of Error,” the guitarist barnstormed through a basic thrash structure the night before cutting it with bassist Justin Pearson (the Locust, Deaf Club) and former Slayer skinsman Dave Lombardo (Mr. Bungle’s Mike Patton added vocals later). Back when they began recording at the end of 2019, though, Crain was also enduring the painful process of fighting an advanced cancer diagnosis with rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.