Portland’s Old Cross has returned with Always Have Your Back, a new single that blends melodic punk precision with emotional grit. Released via Zomie! Media Records, the track adds another strong chapter to the band’s evolving catalog—one that already includes 2020’s Daggers and last year’s Dead End Lullabies.
With Always Have Your Back, Old Cross leans into the sound they’ve steadily sharpened: high-octane punk with big melodies, introspective lyrics, and no wasted motion. The guitars are clean but driving, the rhythm section tight and urgent, and the vocals sit right at the emotional edge—never overreaching, just cutting straight through.
Emerging from Portland’s rich punk tradition, Old Cross occupies a lane that nods to early-2000s melodic punk and emo-core, but with more maturity and less gloss. Think the emotion of Alkaline Trio, the dynamics of Hot Water Music, and the hooks of Samiam—but it’s their own voice that ultimately shines through.
Always Have Your Back feels like a statement track. It’s direct, confident, and deeply human—punk that wears its heart on its sleeve but never loses its teeth. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, this is a strong reminder that Old Cross remains one of the most consistent and compelling voices in melodic punk right now.
