“‘Heart Reformer’ was as much fun to write as it is to listen to,” says Crain. “It’s a classic DEAD CROSS song. It’s a pit stirrer and a fist pumper!” The short-film-like clip, which takes the track’s title literally, was directed and edited by Dark Details (a.k.a. Chris J. Cunningham)

DEAD CROSS broke the news of “II”‘s impending arrival with the release of “Reign Of Error”, a track Stereogum described as a “freaked-out, blisteringly fast” single, and Consequence said “is a blaster, with Lombardo‘s double-kick drum anchoring the controlled chaos.” The one-minute and forty-five second wake-up call of a song is matched with a Displaced/Replaced-crafted clip that offers a scathing critique of the U.S. Supreme Court. Loudwire described the clip as “insane” and Brooklyn Vegan dubbed it “apocalyptic.”

“II”, while both a raucous hardcore collection, and at times, a politically charged opus, has its roots in friendship, with the band rallying together after Crain received a surprise cancer diagnosis.

“Words can’t even begin to describe how much this album means to me. It’s birthed of pain and uncertainty,” adds Crain. “The slow, excruciatingly painful, and nauseating recovery from cancer treatments were the catalyst for every riff and note on this album. However, my will to live and be with my brothers Justin, Dave, Mike, and co-producer Ross Robinson, got me out of bed and running into the studio every day to get it all on tape.”

“II” track listing:

1. Love Without Love
   02. Animal Espionage
   03. Heart Reformer
   04. Strong And Wrong
   05. Ants And Dragons
   06. Nightclub Canary
   07. Christian Missile Crisis
   08. Reign Of Error
   09. Imposter Syndrome

The “II” album cover was created by Eric Livingston and can be seen below.