††† (Crosses)

††† is the eponymous debut album of the supergroup made up of Chino Moreno (Deftones), Shaun Lopez (Far), and Chuck Doom. Far away from Deftones’ pummeling nu metal, Crosses offers a mercurial amalgamation of goth rock, new wave, glitch, metal, and industrial, creating a dramatic soundtrack to an intoxicating love gone awry. ††† plays like a teenage nightmare, with Moreno’s forlorn, moody vocals and pitch black lyrics overlaid with carefully pitched synth lines, quietly crushing guitars, and haunting melodies. Exploring topics like his relationship with religious symbolism, sex, sexuality and fear, Crosses’ debut is as devastating as it is beautiful.