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wish he'd do these vocals more

which is a big part of what sends me back to those songs. I always love hearing his screams too though. Dude is easily the most expressive vocalist in heavy music.

Wouldn't normally as but I have Jane Doe (which is unbelievably great), No Heroes and Axe To Fall (both of which are really good too) and would like to know where to head next...

converge rule.

Then When Forever Comes Crashing.

Everything in the genre pales into insignificance. You can tell this when you see them live and you see 2/3 good bands followed by a genre defining one.

One of the best live bands I've seen and the gig at the Astoria in 2005 was probably my best gig ever!

So excited about there return and a new album and tour dates in November

Wish they weren't playing fucking Koko of all places.

Lonewolves was fucking great

Probs still go, as I couldn't make their gig last year.

fucking love that venue and you'll be back by tea time!

Love this. Also, those bands they're touring with - it's like some hardcore who's who of awesome! AMERICAN NIGHTMARE??????

Petitioning The Empty Sky

the point is, listen to You Fail Me.

did you know Jacob Bannon did the American Nightmare's artwork?

might well have to go

i thought converge got pissed at kvelertak for running about on stage naked

saw them while I was in Berlin, it was incredible

which means its both hard to see and the sound just floats up into the rafters somewhere

Don't think they're interchangeable. But yeah, all great albums.

This song bodes well for the album. It's got the cleaner sound of Axe to Fall but the raw punk energy of You Fail Me - less Slayer worship. They always manage to switch up their sound in interesting ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPpHttdnNt8

and it will be sweaty.

Good news.

Back to Converge; I'll definitely check the new one - big fan of Axe To Fall, You Fail Me and Jane Doe. Never heard much of No Heroes - any good?

Srs

Stunning stuff. Can't wait to hear the rest.

Be good to see them again though, everytime I have seen them they have been incredible. The first time when they played Locust Reign and The Saddest Day was a gig going highlight of mine. Been great everytime since too. It used to be horrible as the chances to see them were very sparce...but these days it's pretty much every year. Guess that's the power of Epitaph!

Petitioning the Empty Sky is my favourite after Jane Doe & You Fail Me, although it is patchy due to is nature. No Heroes & Axe to Fall haven't had the staying power, but are great albums and contain some brilliant songs.

I like it when the vocals mix up a bit, which by the sounds of it they will on the new album.

But yea, lot's of love for converge here!!!

Disappointed they are bring Touche Amore mind as they're a bit gash. Would have much preferred Give Up the Ghost.

however then proceeded to listen to it 3 times in a row and now really like it. as someone has said above it is very like no heroes in places.

i heard some of the new tracks at off festival earlier this month. sounded good, more heavy and slow rather than hardcore/punk-y. dont know if this will be representative of the record

will definitely be off to the manchester gig as well as they never disappoint. have seen the secret and storm of light before and wasn't particularly impressed however i am happy to have my mind changed.

I find it hard to choose a favourite Converge album but it's WAY up there.

GUTG/AN 4 LYFE tho. Top band.

SCREAMING GETS YOU NOTHING

but what I have heard on record doesn't do it for me. Just seem a bit limp.

Background Music is a great record! It's amazing when you look back at the furor and division it caused in hardcore at the time. They led to a load of shit bands, but that's not their fault.

I saw Bright Eyes there years ago and it even seemed shit for that. It's basically like a really tall old music hall/theatre, loads of balconies and stuff and a massively high ceiling. Not exactly the Concorde 2 (may have to make the trip down for that...)

I hate their guitar tone myself, all in all I think them to be totally MEH.

Ok it's on par with Axe to Fall

always seemed very taunt, scathing and intense. Different strokes I guess.

Background Music by AN is INCREDIBLE though. The passion in that, woah. It bleeds angst/hate/raw rock

Cheers

YOU FAIL ME WITH EVRMTH PRA BRAAGLE GRAAAAAAAAAGH
YOU FAIL ME WITH WUMPHL TRUGH CRUNCKL PLAAAAAAAGH

every album has it's own distinctive sound and you can feel their audio pallet evolve over the course of there career. It's especially noticeable for such an 'extreme' band when repetition and music conservatism are usually such cornerstones of hardcore and metal.

Even between the earlier 'Slayer riffs and bad poetry' era albums; the key tracks for Petitioning and Forever sound markedly different.

Petitioning is really punky/melodic (see: Dead), and more in line with their earlier emo-metal sound.

WFCC is pure sonic evil.

it's got great moments but its not quite as focused. Axe to Fall was much better.

;)

they're an incredible live band, think it will make sense after

Really excited.

Hot, sweaty and loud, success I'd say

;)

smiley winky face thing means you're having a laugh yea.........?

The safety wink was to acknowledge it added nothing to the thread.

;)

http://pitchfork.com/features/show-no-mercy/8950-times-arrow/

Thoughts?

I like muchly.

Just booked my ticket to see them in Manchester. I think it'll be my 7th Converge show :D

BLARHGHGHHHH

Bloody good though.

It's a touch intense. Sterling work as always.

consistently fucking brilliant band.

but a little afraid to listen

Feels like I should have. The songs reminds me of Art Damage-era Fear Before The March of Flames. I want to find more bands doing stuff like that.

some of the guitar work isn't as memorable as earlier stuff? Have only given this one proper listen mind.

It's making me want to smash up my desk and start moshing around the office

I've needed this all week

http://lambgoat.com/bits/6531/Converge-album-stream-All-We-Love-We-Leave-Behind

BADASS!

I love having an empty office this morning - consistent as we've all come to expect

its wierd that there are two versions on this though

Love the Dead Mean style guitar breakdown in the middle.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385053_10151216549290929_1803796515_n.jpg

OF COURSE http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17132-all-we-love-we-leave-behind/

this album, like all their albums, is growing with every listen

I've decided it's impossible to headbang intensely enough for this album. I think you'd need to skydive or something in order to go hard enough for this. It's amazing how they can be so rhythmically loose, yet so focused at the same time. Probably Ballou's nastiest guitar tone, and Bannon's sounding amazing. Fucking hell. My very high expectations have been totally surpassed.

Never listened to them. Do I go?

yes

Getting very difficult to hold off listening til it arrives... Not heard an eta..

I've only listened to it all the way through once and I got pretty bored. That's the first time I've ever said that about a Converge album. I really loved the more melodic approach they took on "Aimless Arrow", but the rest of the album was just a bit too simple and more like monotonous bludgeoning. It's got some great grooves, and it's nice that you can actually hear and get into the grooves now, but it's just not as exciting as their old stuff.

Not sure I've got my head around it enough to judge against the older ones yet

but that's not too hard

Thought it was great. Can't say I think this one is better.

People are saying it's a culmination of Jane Doe and You Fail Me (their two best albums, in my opinion), and to some extent and I can understand that, but I wasn't captured by it like I was with those two.

give it a few more spins

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbue5kJqv51qabjvdo1_500.jpg

But Bannon's vocals certainly take some getting used to. I'll give it a few more goes.

no fault and fracture though, bizzare :P

Bannon's vocals are too often just an instrument, they can be taken or left (hence why aimless arrow is brilliant) but musically they can be deceptively subtle in all the madness. It takes a while to hear out what is going on in there

And I think that is why a lot of people struggle to listen to Converge. I completely understand what you're saying about them being an additional instrument because I sort of agree with you. Bannon himself has said that he would rather people just listen to the music and read the lyrics online.

I also agree that musically there is a hell of a lot going on and you won't notice all the intricacies the first time you listen to one of their albums. What I meant was their music is so aggressive, so fast and so skillful that right from the go it hits you hard.

so that's what I mean, one appreciates Converge with every listen because what becomes an utter wall of indecipherable noise at first becomes something really intriguing and beautiful with repeat listens; it's the main reason their the best band in the entire genre (and by that I mean, pretty much all heavy music, because they themselves cover the whole spectrum)

but as it stands its probably the one I'm least likely to put on when I'm reaching for some Converge

but it did take some time. This feels like the best since You Fail Me though

Probably the closest thing they have to a happy song.

but I know what you mean

Don't think anyone would dispute it being a very strong album. It's just not on the level of some of their other stuff.

then it falls a bit flat after the title track. Don't get me wrong its still a great album just a bit weaker by their standards. Trophy Scars though <3

It's all about Plagues

The title track especially, one of my favourite Converge tracks. Plagues is also awesome.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jacob-Bannon-Hand-Conversation-via-Internet-CONVERGE-/230867016299?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c0bf1a6b

the drums on the title track are beyond amazing

is definitely my favourite Converge album.

oh my.

'Trespasses' is my current favourite.

Tender Abuse too

grew on me so much, definitely up there with my favourite Converge songs now.

the band mastered a version of this specifically for itunes. it's a lot messier and a bit less polished, if that's your thing, give it a go. prefer the CD master personally.