SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ††† (CROSSES) – GOODNIGHT, GOD BLESS, I LOVE U, DELETE.

††† (CROSSES)
GOODNIGHT, GOD BLESS, I LOVE U, DELETE.
WARNER RECORDS

By all means, Crosses should be considered more than a simple offshoot for Deftones’ vocalist, Chino Moreno’s creativity. Having formed in 2014 with their debut, eponymous album, 2020 saw a revival in the goth synthpop band. Having released numerous singles in the last two years, along with 2022’s EP, Permanent Radiant, Crosses have returned with their second full-length album, and their strongest release to date, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.

Crosses open their album with a nostalgic tone that feels equally indebted to industrial music as it is entirely fresh and modern. “Pleasure” sounds as though it could have been cooked up by Trent Reznor in 10050 Cielo Drive, only more melodic, which, if possible, makes the opening track feel equally as haunting as The Downward Spiral. Like much of the record, “Pleasure” is a masterclass in electronic songwriting as cold synths and percussive beats develop organically with each new passage. It really sets the tone for how the rest of Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. will unfold. “Invisible Hand”, the following song, plays with this idea in the context of a more spacious soundscape. The song is lush with beautiful melodies and glossy textures, only for Moreno’s vocals to erupt violently and for the sound of broken glass to replace where you’d expect to hear a crashing cymbal, or for the bass to quake at deafening levels.

Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. is such a cinematic album experience. From the slow burning intensity of “Last Rites” to the neon vibes of “Pulseplagg”, there is so much to enjoy across the 15 songs without a weak moment. The Robert Smith (The Cure) collaboration on “Girls Float † Boys Cry” is an emotional throwback to classic synthpop, with Smith’s vocals acting as the perfect foil to Moreno. The definite highlight on the record, however, is “Big Youth”, which features a verse from Run The Jewels’ El-P. The beat is the song in this case. The lack of bass in the verse, only for that bouncy kick texture to come in during the pre-chorus and drive the song away from its melodic flow towards something much darker with Moreno’s vocals escalating to heighten a sense of danger is incredible. “Big Youth” is the perfect synthesis of synthpop and hip-hop as Crosses and El-P chart completely new and exciting territory.

Without a doubt, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. is a stroke of creative brilliance, establishing Crosses as essential for fans of Moreno, but, to a far greater extent, to the genre of synthpop. Their alternative take on the genre is beautifully moody, driven by a sense of yearning that both challenges and conforms to the style. Ultimately, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. is an incredibly modern album that revels in a sleek sense of darkness, making for an exhilarating musical experience that is sure to stand among the best records of the year and one of Moreno’s greatest artistic statements.

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