Cross My Heart

Cross My Heart emerged as an early emo outfit whose press coverage frequently highlighted the inventively pained quality of their songwriting, with vocalist Ryan Shelkett readily exploring themes of sorrow, regret, and renewal. Based in Baltimore, the quartet—completed by Evan Tanner on drums, Christopher Camden on bass, and Dwayne Bruner handling guitar and vocals—issued a self-titled EP during 1999. The next year saw the arrival of their album Temporary Contemporary, which effectively demonstrated the band's dynamic ability to deliver emotionally intense and intricate compositions. In 2003 the group put out the EP titled The Reason I Failed History.