Black Cross Hotel, the Chicago-based industrial quintet featuring members of The Atlas Moth and Stabbing Westward, unleash “Eyes From Nowhere,” the opening track from their forthcoming album, Songs for Switches (Oct. 31, Someoddpilot Records. The dystopian anthem arrives with an accompanying lyric video.
Pre-orders, including a limited edition blood red swirl vinyl variant, are available now: https://someoddpilotrecords.bandcamp.com/.
“’Eyes From Nowhere’ started with me channeling a raw, Jesus Lizard-type energy, then Marcus and Andrew pulled it in a completely unexpected direction – right into dark, punk-fueled Depeche Mode,” explains Sanford Parker, bassist and producer of the new album.
“To me, this track screams “RoboCop (1987),’” keyboardist Andrew Ragin adds. “It’s a sophisticated blend of elements that explores identity, humanity, and the consequences of unchecked corporatism through the story of a murdered police officer transformed into a cyborg.”
Black Cross Hotel celebrate Songs For Switches’ upcoming release with two Chicago events: an intimate album listening party on Oct. 24 at Public Works, followed by their hometown record release show on Oct. 29 at Empty Bottle.
Black Cross Hotel previously released the single “The House God Doesn’t Visit,” with XS Rock noting it’s “classic industrial sound” and Metal Nerd saying it “recalls Wax Trax-era industrial music.”
Born as a horror-inspired industrial-metal side project from synth alchemist Ragin (The Atlas Moth) and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos (Stabbing Westward), Black Cross Hotel quickly grew into a full band with Mike Miczek (Earthburner, Broken Hope, The Atlas Moth) on drums, producer/engineer Parker (Minsk, Corrections House) on bass, and DeEmme (Whipped) on vocals.
Songs for Switches was recorded at Electrical Audio studio 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.
Black Cross Hotel tour dates:
October 29 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
October 30 Indianapolis, IN Healer
October 31 Tolono, IL Loose Cobra
November 1 Athens, OH The Union
November 2 Pittsburgh, PA Spirit
November 3 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 dates are with Blood Lemon. Tickets are available now.
Photo credit: Chris Eichenseer
Black Cross Hotel is Dee DeEmme (vocals), Marcus Eliopulos (guitar), Mike Miczek (drums), Sanford Parker (bass), and Andrew Ragin (synths). The Chicago based quintet released HEX, a DIY-debut, in 2022, with the Chicago Reader describing the eight-song release as “a shivery delight.”