Converge Recent News

Critics Rave About Converge's New Album

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:11:00 -0800

After months of anticipation, groundbreaking metal/hardcore band Converge has released their highly anticipated new album, Axe To Fall.

Three years after their celebrated album No Heroes, critics agree that metal and hardcore's most aggressive band, Converge, have delivered one of the best albums of their career and one of the best metal/hardcore albums of the year. Not only has Axe To Fall been praised by metal and hardcore fans and critics, but it's also captured the undivided attention of indie and rock audiences, exposing one of underground metal/hardcore's most uncompromising bands to mainstream audiences around the world.

Converge are currently blowing minds and filling pits across the US on tour with Mastodon, High on Fire and Dethklok. Don't miss an exhilarating performance from the world's most aggressive band.

WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT AXE TO FALL:

"...a record that rivals "Jane Doe" and anything else that's come out this year" - Decibel (10/10)

"...your entire genre just saw its bar raised another 50 feet." - Revolver (4.5/5)

"thrilling, shattering, explosive" - PopMatters (9/10)

"Converge are this generation's Black Flag" - Pitchfork (8.5/10)

"The band still sounds like Converge, but like a Converge that's been around for 19 years and continues adding distinctively new details to their attack." - Stereogum.com

"...they've earned a reputation so formidable it'd give a lesser band performance anxiety." - Chicago Reader

"Converge merges the speed of hardcore, the virtuosity of metal and the guttural agonies of thrash, and its seventh album, "Axe to Fall," hurtles through a new batch of imprecations and apocalypses." - New York Times

"The kings of underground hardcore metal deliver so consistently that it becomes an exercise in finding new ways to say, "They still shred." - Inked

"The 13 songs encapsulate so much bitterness, rage, and fury in their brief, flickering existence, we might as well be talking about a Dali painting or an allegorical poem" - Outburn (10/10)

"perhaps the Massachusetts foursome's most accomplished record to date." - BBC

""Axe to Fall" is a big step forward for them" - Allmusic.com (4.5/5)

"Boston, MA, metal heads Converge have captured the destructive force of a wrecking ball in the song ("Axe To Fall")... and it rocks!" - SPIN.com

"If the world's really going to hell in a handbasket, this could well herald in the horsemen" - Kerrang! (4/5)

"...a corrosive symphony of punishing hardcore, unexpected touches of space rock and back-breaking metal, all held together by Bannon's psychoanalytical lyrics." - Boston Herald

""Axe to Fall" is a blistering metallic masterpiece" - Riverfront Times

""Axe", in all its variety, is far and away the most accessible - and dare I say the most fun - music Converge have made." - The Boston Phoenix

""Axe to Fall" encapsulates the creative arc of a long career, and proves that intelligence and imagination rule, no matter how thuggish the initial impulse." - The Big Takeover

"... Converge are showing neither the barest hint of slippage or fatigue whilst penning some of the most frantic, ferocious and God damn unrelenting music of their lives" - Rock Sound (UK) (9/10)

"...their furious extreme-metal jams churn with a tightly honed precision the band abjured on 2006's raw No Heroes and 2004's sludgy "You Fail Me."" - LA Weekly

""Axe to Fall" is a dazzling array of white-hot metal riffing in amongst colossal grooves and thick-textured soundscapes. To even be causing the debate of whether or not it's a better album than ‘Jane Doe' is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the quality of the band's latest and perhaps greatest." - Metal Hammer (UK)

""Axe" is a rampage of intricate drumming and six-string heroics." - Cleveland Scene

""Axe to Fall" is like mainlining adrenaline" - Westword

""Axe to Fall," shreds pretty damn hard" - Miami New Times

"There's plenty of other goodies to sink your teeth into on "Axe to Fall"" - Shockhound.com

"Is there any other group more qualified than Converge to hold the 'Most Influential Hardcore Band of the Last Decade' title?" - Lambgoat.com (8/10)

""Axe to Fall" is 110% CONVERGE and has easily succeeded in meeting (and quite possibly surpassing) everyone's expectations." - Apeshit.org

"Even though they cemented their place in the metal hall of fame years ago, Converge continues to challenge themselves and release music that blows every other band out of the water." - Absolutepunk.net (90%)

"possibly the best album of Converge's career." - Metalinjection.net (4.5/5)

""Axe to Fall" features some of the band's tightest, most interesting songwriting, as well as providing one of the most satisfying repeat listens of any Converge album." - Metalsucks.net (4.5/5)

"Truly, with "Axe To Fall" the band have proudly delivered another cornerstone album in their already impressive discography. A ravenous sonic envelopment that defines all their best traits, while trailblazing for future avenues yet to be fully explored." - ThePrp.com (5/5)

"Metalcore album of the year" - TheMetalUnderground.com (4.5/5)

"one of the best heavy metal albums of 2009, if not the best." - Ultimate-Guitar.com (9.3/10)

"Converge has elected growth over rote, choosing to create an album of challenging depth and horrifying beauty that still respects and builds on the balls-to-the-wall ferocity of the band's previous work." - Blogcritics.org

"Converge has yet again proven why they are one of the most revered underground bands ever to lay music to tape. "Axe to Fall" isn't just another album - it represents the anger, the sadness and the unrest faced by us all in this time of socioeconomic instability and fear. It is the sound of discontent and the cry of the masses. Let us stand together and sing its praises.
- Decoymusic.com (5/5)

Converge Tour Dates:

11/04: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/05: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire 11/07: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/08: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphit w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/11: Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/12: Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Music Hall w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/14: Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/16: Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/17: Mesa, AZ @ Marquee Theatre w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/18: Las Vegas, House of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/20: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/21: San Jose, CA @ Event Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
05/28: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more

Converge Premieres New Video For "Axe To Fall" On FEARNet

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:10:00 -0700

In anticipation of one of 2009’s most anticipated metal/hardcore albums, CONVERGE has debuted their video for the record’s title track on Fearnet.com today. Watch this enthralling nightmarish vision HERE

From the dark recesses of director Craig Murray’s mind comes the horror inspired music video for “Axe To Fall.” Capturing the song’s break-neck speed and ferocity perfectly, the short follows excruciating scenes of torture and masochism that give birth to an awe inspiring bio-mechanical abomination.

Converge recently debuted the teeth gnashing title track from Axe To Fall on SPIN.com, who said “this foursome smash, crash, and destroy with foot-stomping appeal: Like a dropping guillotine, a screeching guitar riff falls into a cacophony of heavy guitar distortion, swelling bass, breakneck drum fills, and the hardcore screams of frontman Jacob Bannon.”

The year’s most aggressive album, Axe To Fall, is set for release on October 20 via Epitaph Records (vinyl on Deathwish Inc.). Fans can pre-order the album from Kingsroad Merch or Deathwish Inc. Converge is currently on tour with Mastodon and Dethklok.

Converge Tour Dates:

10/07: Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/09: Salt Lake City, UT @ Great Saltair w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/10: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/12: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/13: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/14: Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/15: Nutty's North @ Sioux Falls, SD w/ High On Fire
10/16: St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/17: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/18: Milwaukee, WI @ Eagle's Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/19: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ High On Fire
10/20: Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/21: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/22: London, ON @ London Music Hall w/ High On Fire
10/23: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/24: Buffalo, NY @ The Fairgrounds w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/25: Albany, NY @ Armory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/27: Boston, MA @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/29: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/30: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/31: Washington, DC @ Patriot Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/01: Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/03: Norfolk, VA @ Norva w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/04: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/05: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/07: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/08: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphit w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/11: Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/12: Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Music Hall w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/14: Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/16: Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/17: Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Ampitheater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/18: Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/20: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/21: San Jose, CA @ Event Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
05/28: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/29: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/30: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more

Converge Unveils New Song On Spin.com; 'Axe To Fall' Pre-Order Starts Today!

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:09:00 -0700

In preparation for the release of their magnum opus Axe To Fall on October 20, essential hardcore pioneers Converge have debuted the title track from their forthcoming release on SPIN.com today and have launched a pre-order e-store for 2009's most anticipated hardcore-metal album.

In August Converge released the first track from Axe To Fall, "Dark Horse," which Stereogum praised as having "everything you could want from a Converge song -- knotty guitars, deep hardcore breakdowns, gnarled howls, and a triumphant blast of a finish -- along with an updated dark-progressive feel you'll find threaded throughout." Since its release the internet was set ablaze with swirling speculation of metal album of the year and mass critical acclaim.

Now, a month from release Converge have unveiled their teeth gnashing title track from Axe To Fall on SPIN.com who say "this foursome smash, crash, and destroy with foot-stomping appeal: Like a dropping guillotine, a screeching guitar riff falls into a cacophony of heavy guitar distortion, swelling bass, breakneck drum fills, and the hardcore screams of frontman Jacob Bannon."

Listen to "Axe To Fall" HERE

After two decades of crafting some of the most influential, groundbreaking and important music in the history of hardcore and amassing a worldwide cult following, the rabid demand for Converge's seventh studio release and what many critics believe to be the best metal-hardcore album of 2009, Axe To Fall, is at an all time high.

Starting today, Converge and Epitaph are offering multi-tiered pre-order packages through KingsRoadMerch.com and DeathWishInc.com for the year's most ferocious, face-melting album. Details are below.

Fans can also pickup Axe To Fall beginning October 20 on Converge's impending tour with Mastodon and Dethklok. Tour dates are below.

Kings Road Merch Converge E-Store

Pre-Order Options:

- CD Only
- CD and T-Shirt
- CD and Silkscreened Print
- CD, T-Shirt, and Silkscreened Print
- 12" LP Only (Exclusive color to the Converge E-Store)
- 12" LP (Exclusive vinyl color to the Converge Estore) and T-Shirt
- T-Shirt Only

Notes:

- This T-Shirt is Part 1 of a 3 Part Axe To Fall Apparel series, and it is only available in the Converge E-Store.

- The vinyl color of Axe To Fall available through the Converge E-Store will not be available anywhere else, ever.

- The Silkscreened Print is limited to 1000, and is only available through this Pre-order package in the Converge E-Store.

- CD versions of all Converge titles are now in stock, and new and classic Converge apparel are coming in daily, keep an eye out.

Deathwish Converge E-Store

Pre-Order Options:

- CD Only
- 12" LP Only (Three awesome vinyl colors, all exclusive to the DW Estore)
- 12" LP and T-Shirt
- T-Shirt Only

Notes:

- This T-Shirt is Part 2 of a 3 Part Axe To Fall Apparel series, and it is only available in the DW E-Store.

- The 3 vinyl colors of Axe To Fall available through the DW E-Store will not be available anywhere else, ever.

- Don't forget there are two other GREAT releases up now for Pre-order in the DW E-Store: Rise And Fall "Our Circle..." and Doomriders "Darkness..."

Converge Tour Dates:

09/24: Durham, NH @ UNH w/ Doomriders
09/28: Iowa City, IA @ The Picador w/ TBA
09/29: Gillette, WY @ Knights Of Columbus w/ TBA
10/02: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/03: Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/04: Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/06: Calgary, AB @ Big Four Building w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/07: Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/09: Salt Lake City, UT @ Great Saltair w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/10: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/12: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/13: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/14: Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/15: Nutty's North @ Sioux Falls, SD w/ High On Fire
10/16: St. Paul, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/17: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/18: Milwaukee, WI @ Eagle's Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/19: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ High On Fire
10/20: Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/21: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/22: London, ON @ London Music Hall w/ High On Fire
10/23: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/24: Buffalo, NY @ The Fairgrounds w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/25: Albany, NY @ Armory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/27: Boston, MA @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/29: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/30: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/31: Washington, DC @ Patriot Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/01: Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/03: Norfolk, VA @ Norva w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/04: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/05: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/07: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/08: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphit w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/11: Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/12: Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Music Hall w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/14: Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/16: Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/17: Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Ampitheater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/18: Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/20: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/21: San Jose, CA @ Event Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
05/28: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/29: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/30: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more

Converge's 'Axe To Fall' On October 20

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:08:00 -0700

Essential Hardcore Outfit Announces New Album and Fall Tour

Groundbreaking hardcore-metal band Converge will release their long anticipated new studio album, Axe To Fall, on October 20 via Epitaph (vinyl on Deathwish). Considered one of the most intense, important, and influential metal/hardcore bands ever, Converge continue their uncompromising evolution, experimenting and manipulating the fiercest form of music with the most aggressive album of the year, Axe To Fall.

Fitting like a puzzle piece in their all but flawless catalog, Axe To Fall is an undeniable progression in the band’s canon of cacophonous sound, dexterous skill and ingenious art, as thirteen of the most viciously powerful songs Converge has ever written reign down on listeners in a surge of sonic fury. True to their meticulous DIY style, guitarist Kurt Ballou helmed production duties once again from his infamous GodCity studios in Salem, MA.

Without warning, Converge lets their metal flag fly on Axe To Fall when drummer Ben Koller’s galloping beats meet Ballou’s lightning fast riffs as bassist Nate Newton provides a pummeling backbone and vocalist Jacob Bannon takes command with menacing growls on the album’s shattering opener “Dark Horse.” Perhaps Converge’s heaviest music they’ve ever recorded, the foursome invited a slew friends to contribute to the album, and the result was a wall of metal-infused hardcore on a level that’s never been heard before.

Songs like the hardcore pit-swirling “Effigy” (feat. Steve Brodsky/Lead guitar, Adam McGrath/Guitar, J.R. Connors/Drums), the furiously relentless neck-breaker “Wishing Well” (feat. Ulf Cederlund/Lead guitar/backing vocals) and the blazing thrash-track “Cutter” (feat. John Pettibone/backing vocals) keep the album moving with power and energy. As defiant as ever, Bannon roars through songs about despair and self-indulgent choices warning that “we'll show the demons for what they are.” As the album comes to a close it takes a doom-ridden turn as Neurosis’ Steve Von Till shares vocal duties with Bannon on the brooding track “Cruel Bloom” and Genghis Tron’s Mookie Singerman providing lead vocals on the beautifully dark post-metal album closer “Wretched World.”

After 19 years as a band, Converge still maintain the steadfast individuality and uncompromising artistic vision they had when they formed. The band has been credited with giving rise to a genre of music and influencing bands worldwide, yet by never wavering have created a sound that is entirely their own.

With the release of Axe To Fall on the horizon, Converge are readying an arsenal of music from their storied catalog to unleash on audiences across the US when they tour with Mastodon, Dethklok and High On Fire in October.

Prepare yourself for the year’s most vicious album, Axe To Fall.

Axe To Fall Tracklisting:

1. Dark Horse
2. Reap What You Sow
3. Axe To Fall
4. Effigy
5. Worms Will Feed
6. Wishing Well
7. Damages
8. Losing Battle
9. Dead Beat
10. Cutter
11. Slave Driver
12. Cruel Bloom
13. Wretched World

Converge Tour Dates:

09/05: Los Angeles, CA @ F Yeah Fest w/ Fucked Up, Cold Cave, and more
09/24: Durham, NH @ UNH w/ TBA
09/28: Iowa City, IA @ The Picador w/ TBA
09/29: Gillette, WY @ Knights Of Columbus w/ TBA
10/02: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/03: Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/04: Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/06: Calgary, AB @ Big Four Building w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/07: Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/09: Salt Lake City, UT @ Great Saltair w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/10: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/12: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/13: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/14: Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/15: Nutty's North @ Sioux Falls, SD w/ High On Fire
10/16: St. Paul, MN @ Myth w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/17: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/18: Milwaukee, WI @ Eagle's Auditorium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/19: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ High On Fire
10/20: Columbus, OH @ LC Pavilion w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/21: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/23: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/24: Buffalo, NY @ The Fairgrounds w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/25: Albany, NY @ Armory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/27: Boston, MA @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/30: New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
10/31: Washington, DC @ Patriot Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/01: Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/05: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/07: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/08: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphit w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/11: Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/12: Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Music Hall w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/14: Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/16: Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/17: Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Ampitheater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/18: Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
05/28: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/29: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
05/30: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more

CONVERGE RECORDING NEW ALBUM

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:05:00 -0700

Want to know what Converge has been up to? Right now they’re in the studio recording a new album over @ at Godcity (Kurt Ballou’s studio). Get up to the minute news and updates at the links below:

www.twitter.com/Convergecult
www.convergecult.com

CONVERGE ON RYAN'S ROCK SHOW THIS WEEK!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:04:00 -0700

Monday, April 28, 2008 - "People, as open minded as they claim to be about music usually aren't. They project what they want you to be... and if you deviate from that you're a sellout," exclaims CONVERGE bassist Nate Newton.

Newton of CONVERGE comes on RYAN'S ROCK SHOW this week to discuss the past decade of the band, the changes in the music industry, and dealing with closed-minded fans.

RYAN'S ROCK SHOW'S program featuring CONVERGE is available for stream and download at www.ryansrockshow.com.

RYAN'S ROCK SHOW is a weekly radio program featuring the cream of the crop of innovative bands and artists. As an alternative to mainstream corporate radio, RYAN'S ROCK SHOW provides listeners with interviews of today's pioneers, as well as showcases new music that pushes the envelope of the music industry.

CONVERGE: Lambs For Lions Tour 2K8

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:01:00 -0800

Converge will be hitting the road next month with The Red Chord, Genghis Tron on the Lambs For Lions Tour 2K8. Make sure to check for dates near you below.

No Heroes, out now!

Lambs For Lions Tour 2K8 Dates:

(w/ Neurosis and Special guests)
02/16: Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
02/17: Seattle, WA @ Neumo's

(w/ The Red Chord, Baroness, Genghis Tron)
03/30: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
04/01: NYC, NY @ The Blender Theatre @ Gramercy
04/02: Buffalo, NY @ Showplace Theatre
04/03: Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's Downunder
04/04: Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
04/05: Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club
04/06: Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club
04/07: Milwaukee, WI @ Richfield Chalet
04/08: Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
04/09: Sioux Falls, SD @ Nutty's North
04/10: Iowa City, IA @ The Picador
04/11: Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
04/12: Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
04/13: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
04/15: Boise, ID @ The Venue
04/16: Portland, OR @ Satyricon
04/18: Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
04/19: Pomona, CA @ Glasshouse
04/20: Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse Music Venue

(w/ The Red Chord, Coliseum, Genghis Tron)
04/22: Austin, TX @ Red 7
04/23: Dallas, TX @ The Door
04/24: Houston, TX @ Red Room @ Meridian
04/25: New Orleans, LA @ The High Ground
04/26: St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
04/27: Orlando, FL @ The Social
05/01: Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar
05/02: Pittsburgh, PA @ The School
05/03: Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom

Review of Converge at the HOB Orlando

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:02:00 -0800

by Alicia Lyman

There were mixed reviews from many fans, fellow musicians, and industry folk about the set Converge was developing as I waited to meet their tour manager by the back stage entrance to House of Blues Orlando. From this perspective I could see the entire crowd, most of stage left, and most of the security guards throughout the venue a little confused as to why there wasn't more moshing. There were little sects throughout the sea of people that were chanting along, and pumping their fists to drummer Ben Koller's beat; but on the contrary, some were just standing there, wondering what was going on.

After their set I eventually got backstage to interview Ben and front-man Jacob Bannon. It was the second date on the 'Mastotour' and I asked how they felt about the show. Jacob said, 'It was a big stage, but you know a good vibe.' Ben added, 'It was definitely a concert at Disney World, so we were kind of out of our element. We would've rather played a show in Albany, New York at a dirt bar, but it was pretty fun.'

Click here mvwire.com to read more.

Converge to hit the road with Mastodon!

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:01:00 -0800

CONVERGE TAKES NO HEROES ON THE ROAD
Amid Weighty Praise, U.S. Tour with Mastodon Resumes January 26th

Converge "the iconic Boston-based pioneers of metalcore" will embark on the third leg of its U.S. trek in support of its recent Epitaph full length No Heroes on January 26th in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The four week East Coast trek will wrap in Norfolk, VA on February 18th.

Praising the esteemed foursome, Alternative Press wrote, "Converge play like sadists forcing their gear through table saws". They've made it impossible for anyone else to eclipse them. Elsewhere, Decibel called No Heroes "their most balanced album yet" proclaiming, "Converge have fully returned to the aggressive sound they pioneered." And hard rock bible Kerrang! championed the group as "the perfect antidote" to "singalong, chirpy, radio-friendly rock."

"We don't really do lighthearted," frontman Jake Bannon says in a recent issue of the latter. "We're a different kind of animal. There's an energy and violent nature to these songs. We're always going to make that high volume, highly emotional music. It's hardcore metal, man."

Steeped in raw emotion, pure adrenaline and brute force, the follow up to 2004's You Fail Me was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou, who doubles as a producer and engineer, and counts explosive numbers like "Heartache", "Hellbound", "Grim Heart Black Rose" and "Trophy Scars" among its fourteen tracks. As inventive as they are discordant, the cult group (which also counts bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller) has been touted by All Music Guide as "one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the punk underground."
With most of the songs on No Heroes tracked in their entirety in just one or two takes, Converge has captured its ferocious, urgent sound undiluted. "What we do is very different than what's happening in the mainstream," Bannon says. "I think we're a weird amalgamation of stuff that doesn't really exist anymore that's somewhere between the thrash world, the hardcore world, the punk world and the alt-rock world. We just went and did our thing on this record rather than try to make a name for ourselves or dilute our approach." From Bannon's captivating artwork and introspective lyrics to Ballou's masterful production techniques, Converge's artistic vision has always separated the band from their peers, and No Heroes is no exception. "A lot of the bands that people consider to be our contemporaries don't share that attention to detail," Ballou admits. "With us, everything is carefully crafted and intentional, which is kind of ironic considering to a lot of people our music is just a wall of noise," he continues. "I think a lot of what exists now is just decoration and we're simply not decoration. "No Heroes, which dropped on October 24th via Epitaph, debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top New Artist (Heatseekers) survey.
Here are Converge's upcoming tour dates with Mastodon:

1/26/2007 Culture Room Ft. Lauderdale FL
1/27/2007 House of Blues Lake Buena Vista FL
1/28/2007 Jannus Landing St. Petersburg FL
1/30/2007 Beta Bar Tallahassee FL
1/31/2007 40 Watt Club Athens GA
2/1/2007 Blue Cats Knoxville TN
2/2/2007 Rocketown Nashville TN
2/3/2007 Pops Sauget IL
2/5/2007 First Avenue Minneapolis MN
2/7/2007 Orbit Room Grand Rapids MI
2/8/2007 Newport Music Hall Columbus OH
2/9/2007 Rex Theatre Pittsburgh PA
2/10/2007 Starland Ballroom Sayerville NJ
2/11/2007 Lupos Heartbreak Hotel Providence RI
2/13/2007 Crocodile Rock Allentown PA
2/14/2007 Water Street Music Hall Rochester NY
2/15/2007 Northern Lights Clifton Park NY
2/16/2007 Toads Place New Haven CT
2/17/2007 9:30 Club Washington DC
2/18/2007 The Norva Theater Norfolk VA

Converge: No Heroes - Best New Music on Pitchforkmedia.com!

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:01:00 -0800

If LCD Soundsystem's 45:33 is good Nike-sponsored running music, No Heroes is what boot-wearing non-joggers use at a punk-slapped punching bag to reach fighting weight. It's pretty amazing to think Converge has been around almost as long as some of you have been alive, especially considering this sixth full-length is packed with some of the most ferocious moments in the Boston quartet's 15-plus year history.

These 14 right hooks are buff motherfuckers, rendered in various shades of blacks and blues and reds, but it's the opening tandem that really cooks. Shoving feedback and a heavy instrumental build out of the way, neck-tat sporting vocalist Jacob Bannon skewers a two-minute sermon on the opening track, "Heartache": "We are all falling down/ We are all falling/ Every word that you pray/ Makes another slave/ Every idol that you build/ Brings another plague." When the mathy mid-tempo returns, the song appropriately rams bass-first into "Hellhound", a one-minute rip-roar of in-the-red calisthenics. And then, well, it's gone, replaced by the equally taut "Sacrifice": "Hit the lights/ I've had enough/ Guilt to build a city/ Shame to fill a sea/ Reasons to give up and lose everything/ Regret to burn this body/ Filth to cut these hands/ Reasons to bury this and everything we have." Vengeance? It's only 58 seconds long. Its motto: "I'm built for war."

The blast radius of those first few pieces is brutal. The rest of the album slows down, but refuses to relent. Only doomy centerpiece "Grim Heart/Black Rose", with its melodic, anguished guest vocals by ex-Only Living Witness fellow Jonah Jenkins, offers a chance to catch your breath. The track's an epic (over nine minutes), its ending a long fade-out, turning down the volume in the room instead of cutting the power. Despite Sabbathian overtones, it manages to maintain the crushing equation when Bannon reemerges near the album's close: A few raps of the cymbal, heavier bass tones, guitar reps, drum hits, adequate build, and then his bloody voice: "Black rose/ Be my light/ In the darkness of nights/ Be my heart." You couldn't cut the tension with a Lifetime record.

There are Nation of Ulysses call-and-response hardcore anthems ("Trophy Scars", "Lonewolves") and lines that could inspire Blake Schwarzenbach to emo feats of strength: "Keep your scars on your sleeve/ And your heart in your hands." Fancy guitars are whittled into sharp-edged daggers. Nugget-sized explosions offer violently poetic sentiments: "I'll strike you down/ With rage and rapture." Eardrums and asses are kicked.

When You Fail Me was released two years ago, there was grumbling about its post-Jane Doe experimentation and misspelled love letters. Some sticking points were the "First Light" intro and the acoustically bent "In Her Shadow". Nowadays, instead of overstuffed, that older album sounds a bit thin. It's a comparative backward glance: Guitarist Kurt Ballou did an especially fine job recording No Heroes. It's huge. Musically, as if panning for gold, the band removed everything extraneous and came up with something richer.

Also surprising: No Heroes is the longer record of the two, even with fewer songs. But because the writing's strong, it speeds by. You see what I'm getting at? I'm a big fan of You Fail Me and the past work, but I'd venture to say this is the band's most fully realized, which (again) is amazing this far into their catalog. Score a victory for old guys with bad knees! Conceptually reminiscent of the way Orthrelm's OV rocked socks within a tight framework, No Heroes is one of the year's most musically cohesive ways to keep pulses beating rapidly.

-Brandon Stosuy, December 13, 2006
www.pitchforkmedia.com