Chicago industrial post-punk collective Black Cross Hotel, featuring members of The Atlas Moth and Stabbing Westward, will release their new album Songs for Switches on October 31 via Someoddpilot Records. The band has unveiled the video for the album’s lead single, “The House God Doesn’t Visit,” directed by John Scott.
Formed during the pandemic as a horror-inspired side project by Andrew Ragin (The Atlas Moth) and Marcus Eliopulos (Stabbing Westward), the project has since expanded to include drummer Mike Miczek (Earthburner, Broken Hope, The Atlas Moth), producer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Corrections House) on bass, and vocalist DeEmme (Whipped). Songs for Switches was tracked at Chicago’s Electrical Audio and completed at Parker’s Hypercube studio.
DeEmme comments:
“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.”
Ragin adds:
“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.”
Watch the clip below and pre-order the album here:
Track List:
01) Eyes From Nowhere
02) Rot Together
03) The House God Doesn’t Visit
04) Song for Switches
05) Typo
06) Blood Dance
07) Church Basement
08) Teeth
09) How To Be Unburdened
10) 2AFPT
Tour Dates:
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
Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 dates are with Blood Lemon.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Chris Eichenseer
