Bleached Cross "Exhumed"

With Exhumed, Chicago’s Bleached Cross close the book on the sessions that birthed their self-titled debut, while also cracking open the door to what comes next. The release gathers the unearthed B-side “Despise,” remixes from The True Faith and Trevor Vaughan’s Meatman project, and raw demos that trace the band’s early evolution. It’s both a retrospective and a forward glance, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the band’s creative process.

True to its name, Exhumed unearths sounds that are cold, cavernous, and unrelenting—hallmarks of Bleached Cross’ oppressive post-punk aesthetic. Even in skeletal demo form, the band’s command of atmosphere and tension is undeniable, while the remixes refract their gloom into fresh, jagged dimensions. This is music that thrives on bleak textures and haunted introspection, a ritual of unease that lingers long after the final notes fade.

As a document, Exhumed is both a capstone and a seed: it completes one cycle while signaling the next chapter in Bleached Cross’ descent into shadow. For anyone who has yet to be initiated into their world, this release is a reminder that the door is still open, the candle still burning, and the ritual only beginning.