Black Cross

While Louisville, Kentucky grieved the loss of two of their most prized hardcore bands, By The Grace of God and the National Acrobat, the two bands had already converged to create what is now known as Black Cross. Mixing the noisy melodies of the National Acrobat and the political intensity of By The Grace of God, Black Cross’s latest release Art Offensive is a staple in any hardcore fan’s CD collection. Songs like "Black Market Cigarettes” sting of old school punk, and it is impossible to ignore the calculated indie rock sounds of "Gift to the Sea.” This is a resonating and surprising record, as Black Cross guarantees to be one of this year’s freshest hardcore surprises.