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Cross Examination

The Hung Jury (2006)
Organized Crime

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 23rd 2006

It’s really a shame that thrash has been relegated to some cheap buzzword for horrible metal and hardcore bands to use in their press sheets and liner notes. Real thrash music is not a soulless derivation of metalcore, it’s something that existed long, long before that, and it’s something not many bands around today are keeping true to.

Cross Examination, well they’re a different breed. A hardcore band with heavy thrash tendencies, this raging outfit calls to mind vintage DRI and Cryptic Slaughter; in short, they will tear your head right off your shoulders.

The first noticeable element of the sonic rage this band produces is the vocals. A manic, shrieking delivery commands the helm of this most unstable ship, careening in and out above buzzing guitars and powerful drum fills. Don’t mistake the instability for being a negative quality, though, because that actually couldn’t have been further from the truth. That’s the very thing that makes this band so damn interesting, and so damn worthwhile, that completely off-the-rocker type feeling given off, a feeling that ensures you have no idea whatsoever where the music is going next.

But you can be assured it’s going somewhere, and it’s going there loudly.

The guitar work is absolutely raging song in and song out. Loud, gritty, and totally and completely volatile, it takes the original punk rock ethos and cranks them to eleven. “Bring Me the Head of Beetle Bob” carries that more traditional punk feel, with driving rhythms cascading beneath each vicious riff. The drums keep great time in not only that setting, but also songs like “I Shot the Devil” that feature some wicked solos to really light the proverbial fire under the rest of the band, just adding to the loud and frenzied storm of dissonance that was already firmly in place. Rounding out their sound are some old-school gang vocals, such as those found in “Party Squad Unite” just adding to the `80s hardcore authenticity Cross Examination excel at.

The Hung Jury excels in quite a few areas. It’s loud, it’s brash, and unrelentingly in your face for the 22-minute duration, doing the thrash name proud for every single one of them.

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TheLando (February 13, 2008)

great live band. I knew these guys were a good local band but never got the chance to listen to them. I saw them with outbreak sometime last year. Awesome circle pit.

victim (January 5, 2008)

I was just searchng for a review on Cross Exam's latest release -- a split with Spring Break called Super Party Bros -- but I guess there isn't one.

I saw them at the Fest -- insane live show.

Also, the vocals sound almost exactly like Crucial Unit minus the drunken pirate backing vocals.

Great stuff

Anonymous (November 28, 2006)

this is the fucking sweetest shit ever

SlowStupidHungry (June 26, 2006)

The band I'm touring guitarist for is playing with these guys. Can't wait. Should be an awesome show.

skankin_in_the_pit (June 26, 2006)

"I can't tell from the review.

is this...

Thrash - (Charles bronson, Crucial Unit, Scolastic Deth)

Cross-Over thrash - (Municipal Waste, Holier Than Thou?, DRI, Nuclear Assult, Cryptic Slaughter)

Or Thrash Metal - (Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax, Kreator) ?

Anyway it sounds sweet."

Crossover. I just downloaded a demo on soulseek (I just ordered this, and hadn't heard them previously) and they remind me of Attitude Adjustment more than any of the bands you listed. I can't wait to get this!

Anonymous (June 26, 2006)

I can't tell from the review.

is this...

Thrash - (Charles bronson, Crucial Unit, Scolastic Deth)

Cross-Over thrash - (Municipal Waste, Holier Than Thou?, DRI, Nuclear Assult, Cryptic Slaughter)

Or Thrash Metal - (Slayer, Exodus, Anthrax, Kreator) ?

Anyway it sounds sweet.

Anonymous (June 26, 2006)

st. louis represent!!!

xote (June 24, 2006)

great band

crossover owns

Anonymous (June 24, 2006)

this is great stuff, all those victory and trustkill bands can go and fuck themselves

Anonymous (June 23, 2006)

I largely blame crossover (and SOD to a great extent) for introducing the meathead moshtards and their idiotic show violence into hardcore music in the 1980's. Why is it that every band I hear calling people "faggots" from the stage these days always seem to play at least one SOD cover? That aside, crossover musically has always been pretty okay. I mean, "Eye for and Eye" is a fucking classic, as is pretty much anything Hirax did.

-Ken

GreenVandal (June 23, 2006)

What an amazing font....

gladimnotemo (June 23, 2006)

I have this band's demo, wrapped in an Arby's sandwich wrapper. It's cool. I'm supposed to get this in the mail anyday now.

I think MW is a big band right now, like Will said, and is popularizing this type of music, but I think 50% of MW's fanbase will not get into anything more DIY like this, which is a shame.

etwiels88 (June 23, 2006)

Oh yeah

etwiels88 (June 23, 2006)

Fuck yeah, this band rules so hard. I have the video from their Record Release Show. Snow sleds down stairs, circle pits around basement support poles, dudes hanging from the ceilings...Awesome.

Anonymous (June 23, 2006)

Fuck yes!

SlowStupidHungry (June 23, 2006)

Oh yeah, Anchors, you missed the boat again because I'm betting money that "I Shot the Devil" is a Suicidals cover. JESUS, MAN! GET IT TOGETHER!

Bandana thrash 4 life!

SlowStupidHungry (June 23, 2006)

Maybe it's just because I go to underground shows or whatever, but I've been noticing a huge trend of people getting into this music again. Especially since Municipal Waste hit it slightly big.

Crossover is okay, not really my thing. Cryptic Slaughter fucking own. I have this crossover LP by a band called the Dehumanizers if anyone wants to buy it. If I want metal in my hardcore, though, I'll probably put on a powerviolence record.