Photo by: Chris Eichenseer
Official press release:
Black Cross Hotel, the Chicago-based industrial post-punk outfit featuring members of The Atlas Moth and Stabbing Westward, release Songs for Switches on Oct. 31 via Someoddpilot Records.
Album pre-orders, including a limited edition blood red swirl vinyl variant, are available now: https://someoddpilotrecords.bandcamp.com/.
A preview of Songs for Switches arrives today with the release of “The House God Doesn’t Visit” and its accompanying video. The track recalls Wax Trax-era industrial music; growling bass and gnarled guitars collide with icy synths and a pounding chorus, serving as the perfect introduction to the album’s dark, exhilarating sound.
Vocalist Dee DeEmme explains:
“This record is not all salacious fantasy; there’s a practical side to maintaining any well-run subculture. The album is a collection of lessons learned, from the joy of finding someone who truly gets you to the importance of asking for what you want and preserving a part of yourself in the process.”
Andrew Ragin (also of The Atlas Moth) shares:
“Some of us are horror junkies and our favorite movies often serve as the backdrop and inspiration for our songs. Most songs start as a sort of alternate movie score and then we let all of our various influences and interests take hold without gearing towards any specific genre. With a foot planted firmly in the dark and spooky, everyone gets to play with these themes and styles, which makes for an eclectic blend of metal, dark wave, punk, ’90s alternative and even hair metal.”
Initially conceived during the pandemic as a horror-inspired industrial-metal side project from synth alchemist Andrew Ragin (The Atlas Moth) and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos (Stabbing Westward), the project quickly evolved into a full band with Mike Miczek (Earthburner, Broken Hope, The Atlas Moth) on drums, producer/engineer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Corrections House) on bass, and DeEmme (Whipped) on vocals.
Songs for Switches was recorded at Electrical Audio studio (once owned and operated by the late Steve Albini) and completed at Parker’s own Hypercube studio, both in Chicago. The album arrives via Someoddpilot Records, an offshoot of the acclaimed Chicago branding studio responsible for creative campaigns and logos for Pitchfork, Lollapalooza, Empty Bottle, and other cornerstones of the city’s music culture.
Songs For Switches track listing:
- “Eyes From Nowhere”
- “Rot Together”
- “The House God Doesn’t Visit”
- “Song for Switches”
- “Typo”
- “Blood Dance”
- “Church Basement”
- “Teeth”
- “How To Be Unburdened”
- “2AFPT”
Black Cross Hotel tour dates with Blood Lemon:
10/29 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
10/30 Indianapolis, IN – Healer
10/31 Tolono, IL – Loose Cobra
11/01 Athens, OH – The Union
11/02 Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit
11/03 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar