Biography
Philadelphia's Hot Cross emerged as a potent blend of hardcore intensity and screamo vocals, drawn from the combined skills of musicians previously active in bands like Saetia, Southpaw, Joshua Fit for Battle, You and I, and Off Minor. The resulting sound steered clear of typical side-project limitations, developing instead into a distinctive and demanding force. The group formed in 2000 when percussionist Greg Drudy, formerly of Saetia and Southpaw, joined guitarist Matt Smith, ex-Off Minor and also part of She's Hit! alongside Drudy, plus vocalist and guitarist Adam Marino from Saetia and Errortype: 11, with the shared goal of creating rapid, aggressive, and stripped-down punk.
To fill the bass role, the trio recruited Josh Jakubowski, late of Joshua Fit for Battle, yet Marino soon departed due to scheduling demands from Errortype: 11. After initial rehearsals as a three-piece unit, Casey Boland, previously in You and I, entered as an additional guitarist, enabling focused work on new material. Seeking a more commanding vocalist, the band forwarded its demo to Billy Werner, another Saetia and She's Hit! alumnus then abroad for studies. Werner committed fully upon his return, delivering his debut performance with Hot Cross within days of arriving back in the United States.
Following appearances on various compilations, the band issued its debut EP, A New Set of Lungs, in early 2003, then a split single with Light the Fuse and Run several months afterward. By year's end, Hot Cross delivered its first full-length release, Cryonics, via the independent Level Plane imprint. Smith and Jakubowski swapped bass and guitar duties for the follow-up, 2004's Fair Trades and Farewells, though Jakubowski exited after roughly six months of subsequent touring to focus on engineering. The split remained cordial, and the remaining quartet enlisted him to capture their third album, Risk Revival, issued by Equal Vision Records in February 2007.
To fill the bass role, the trio recruited Josh Jakubowski, late of Joshua Fit for Battle, yet Marino soon departed due to scheduling demands from Errortype: 11. After initial rehearsals as a three-piece unit, Casey Boland, previously in You and I, entered as an additional guitarist, enabling focused work on new material. Seeking a more commanding vocalist, the band forwarded its demo to Billy Werner, another Saetia and She's Hit! alumnus then abroad for studies. Werner committed fully upon his return, delivering his debut performance with Hot Cross within days of arriving back in the United States.
Following appearances on various compilations, the band issued its debut EP, A New Set of Lungs, in early 2003, then a split single with Light the Fuse and Run several months afterward. By year's end, Hot Cross delivered its first full-length release, Cryonics, via the independent Level Plane imprint. Smith and Jakubowski swapped bass and guitar duties for the follow-up, 2004's Fair Trades and Farewells, though Jakubowski exited after roughly six months of subsequent touring to focus on engineering. The split remained cordial, and the remaining quartet enlisted him to capture their third album, Risk Revival, issued by Equal Vision Records in February 2007.
Albums