Punk Band, Cross Dog, Cuts Through the Noise with Politically-Charged Song, “Jane Roe”
Cross Dog is a noisy, experimental, bass-driven hardcore punk band from Peterborough, Ontario. The second release from their upcoming LP is the politically-charged “Jane Roe.” The moniker of “Jane Roe” is used here to represent every single person who is forced to fight for their reproductive rights and access to abortions — a fight that is taking place not only in the US, but here in Canada despite its legal status since 1988. Cross Dog’s All Hard Feelings LP is out June 7th on Stomp Records.
“I wrote this song as someone who has been saved by this choice; as someone who has witnessed what happens to unwanted or underserved children in our society; as someone who believes that forced birth is morally wrong,” says lead vocalist Tracy A. “It is intended to be an anthem of solidarity, strength, and empowerment.”
“Don’t try to dictate
A choice you’ll never make
It’s clear your only goals are to oppress and take control”
Formed in 2013, the intentional omission of a guitarist from the lineup leaves Cross Dog lacking absolutely nothing. Affirming the power in the rule of three, Tracy A (vocals), Mark Rand (bass), and Mikey Reid (drums) explode with a multiplicative force that betrays the finite bounds of their instrumental limitations.
Cross Dog’s All Hard Feelings LP is as noisy and sonically relentless as it is thoughtful. The album has its feet firmly planted in hardcore punk rock, but doesn’t shy away from varied influences of noise rock, heavy metal, and rock and roll. The riffs, coming from a lone bass guitar supplemented by an arsenal of effects pedals and amplifiers, are as heavy as possible without sacrificing clarity. The rhythms are pummeling and are played with the sole purpose of making listeners bang their heads. The vocals are aggressive and in-your-face, while lyrically connecting with listeners through dominant themes of social equity and mental health. Aptly titled, the lyrics journey from the public to the personal, confronting the sociological, psychological, and emotional challenges that many of us face in this life, yet do so in a way that somehow feels simultaneously universal and deeply individual.
The record was recorded at High Wattage Cottage, produced and engineered by Scott Middleton (ex-Cancer Bats), and features guest appearances by The Anti-Queens.
