An unmissable rising artist, emerging from the darkness of deep thought and nostalgia – capturing a creative freedom and identity that’s unmistakable. Kross Irwin reaches immense new plains of introspective artistry and sharp lyrical expression, blending genres with precision and heart, for the brand new album CATHEDRAL.
His most revealing and impressive release yet, CATHEDRAL showcases the established and pristine creative edge of Kross Irwin’s music, seamlessly blending compositional awareness, depth and delicacy, with subtle twists of emo rap, pop-punk, trap and alternative rock.
It’s an all-consuming listen, and the sheer artistic mastery and emotional ache of I WISH I WAS MORE INVOLVED makes for a perfect introduction.
Perhaps highlighting an awareness of audience and arrangement more than ever this time, the switch to the upbeat bounce and colourful chaos of STARING AT THE WORLD, even with its juxtaposed darkness of lyric, is brilliant.
The song is fascinating and smart, and these revelations feel relatable but original in their framing. The music also explodes into some retro electronic pulsating intensity during its final fifth, and this suits the looping sentiments of the song and its heartache amazingly well.
GAG is incredible afterwards, hypnotic in its again careful pairing of personal turmoil and musical uplift. Then we revert to the nineties style riff-led emo rock aura, for the rise and fall verses of LOOKING AT A WALL – a subtle and slow-burning anthem, with a faultless unity between the voices and the beat.
As the project continues, this high-energy production style proceeds to intrigue and uplift – letting you feel the excitement of the mix, at the same time as the heavy melancholy and humanity of the words and performances.
BLOOD ON MY JEANS is the perfect example, and is boldly unique in its steady uniting of darkness and apparent musical joy. The heavy distortion, the fragments and warping, the dynamic between Kross Irwin and a featured North Grimm, even the story – meandering between optimism and lostness. It’s an intoxicating moment, with an addictive earworm of an instrumental break and tune.
Next Kross brings things down a little for KILL YOUR PRIDE, a mellow drum hit drawing comparisons with Wildest Moments, and intensely passionate vocals raining through with another gritty story and poetic presence that begs for you to tune in closely.
You’re also then kept all the more captivated, by the euphoric outcry and embrace of REST OF MY LIFE. And again, I MIGHT NEVER KNOW feels beautifully well-placed afterwards.
Towards the finish, HAVE YOU EVER? is fiercely memorable, the melody and the rising intensity, the direct addressing of the listener, the profound and painful references and topical ideas. It’s a stylistically simple but gripping track, and likely to get you hitting play again before proceeding.
Then finally, a touch of melodic warmth, joy, nostalgic comfort and hazy distortion. BEFORE I LEARNED AN INSTRUMENT leans into drug use and therapy, with a twist of relatable regret but also possibility, in this title idea; and in the ultimate resounding concept and tune.
While the music engages and entertains, moves you, from the first listen, it’s only with repeat visits to the true depths of CATHEDRAL that you really start to piece together these diary-like expressions and stories.
Kross Irwin holds nothing back, seems to write from a deeply personal, intimate perspective, and yet with the music and production, accesses a fresh realm that effectively appeals to fans of a multitude of genres.
Balance is key, for the contrast and the impact, between both the subject and the sound, and the unfiltered lyrics and clearly professionally captured arrangements.
For modern hip hop fans, emo kids, indie pop and electro lovers – CATHEDRAL is a gem of an album to lose yourself within. While the scene feels overwhelmed with half-assed efforts and AI-generated stories and songs, Kross Irwin brings a level of personal realism, talent, effort, emotion, and originality, and this album celebrates those qualities over and over.
Find Kross Irwin on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud or visit his Website.
