Converge's eighth studio album is packed with guest performances by kindred spirits from Massachusetts and beyond. "Effigy," one of four songs on the album that comes in under the two-minute mark, features Steve Brodsky and Adam McGrath of Cave In on guitar and that group's drummer, J.R. Conners, behind the kit. Uffe Cederlund of Disfear takes over lead guitar on "Wishing Well," while Steve Von Till of Neurosis sings on "Cruel Bloom" and Genghis Tron' Mookie Singerman does guest vocals on the seven-minute album closer, "Wretched World." But it's the core group that delivers the most astonishing displays of hardcore fury and progressive musical exploration on Axe to Fall. Opening cut "Dark Horse," propelled by a Disfear-esque riff so insane it'll make you think your CD is playing at the wrong speed, kicks off a breathless sprint that lasts all the way to the doomy, noisy fifth track, "Worms Will Feed." From there, Converge continues to mine the dissonant blend of Agnostic Front and Unsane that has served them so well for years at this point. Though Jacob Bannon's vocals are as indecipherable as ever, this album somehow feels even angrier -- and that rage is apparently more outwardly directed, given track titles like "Slave Driver" and "Wretched World" -- than previous releases like Jane Doe and You Fail Me. Given the furious pace at which they tour, record, and work with their various side bands, it's astonishing that Converge have time to put this much thought into their music instead of just cranking out one more rote album, but Axe to Fall is a big step forward for them.
Jarring percussion controlled opener, ‘Dark Horse’ races off into a melee of metalcore, punk and post hardcore, polished off by the focused, animated and gnarly vocals of Jake Bannon. Now celebrating nineteen years of boundary pushing spleen venting, Boston’s bruising alternative pit inspirers, Converge combine their entire genre flitting into one punch packing full length. [...]
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Fittingly, the Massachusetts band caps off the decade with their best album to date.By the time any ordinary band is fortunate enough to make it to its 20th year, chances are that they've settled into a nice, comfortable little groove, their longevity made possible by giving the fans exactly what they want, rarely if ever deviating from the musical path they've created. And that's fine; there a...
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It has been about 3 years coming, but this week sees the release of Converge’s latest attempt to cause you some serious aural pain in the form of their new album Axe To Fall. Though to be honest, last week was where the commotion happened. This weekend edition of The Sunday Times claimed that Metallica, [...]
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CONVERGE’s highly anticipated Axe to Fall album immediately storms out of the gate, pummeling the listener with an unmatched aural onslaught. The first four tracks, “Dark Horse,” “Reap What You Sow,” “Axe to Fall,” and “Effigy,” waste no time flooring the listener with balls-out extremity. Driven by the pushing, restless drumming of [...]
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By Ben ApatoffUPDATE: You can now stream the entire disc on the band's MySpace page.(Also, don't miss our epic live footage of a full set from CONVERGE we posted a few months ago, including 2 songs from this album! Click here to watch all 11 clips.)Is it too soon to mention CONVERGE in the same [...]
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Converge have announced Axe to Fall as the title of their new album. It’ll drop October 20 on Epitaph.Not much else is known about the record right now, except that a) Genghis Tron’s Mookie Singerman does guest vox on one track and b) it is going to be awesome. I mean, maybe it won’t be [...]
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I want you to know that I am stone-cold sober right now. There is no weed in my system. I am not influenced by anything other than the power of music.There is a new Converge song, “Dark Horse,” streaming on the band’s MySpace page right now. It comes off of their new album, Axe to [...]
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Axe to Fall is not better than Jane Doe. Sorry. It is, however, easily one of the best albums of the year, and very possibly Converge’s most “metal” (as opposed to hardcore) offering to date (Except the last couple of songs… which are doozies. I won’t spoil the surprise.). The album Slays with a capital [...]
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Right here. Do it! It’s easily one of the best albums of the year. Decibel gave it a perfect score, fer Chrissakes. Now go check it out. And later this week we’ll have an interview with Jacob Bannon, and then our official review.Axe to Fall comes out October 20 on Epitaph.-ARRELATED POSTS:JACOB BANNON OF CONVERGE: [...]
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Spin Magazine has posted a free downlod of CONVERGE’s “Axe to Fall,” the title track off their forthcoming new album. Download the ripper here: http://www.spin.com/articles/download-awesome-metal-convergeThe album, which drops October 20th, is also available for pre-order beginning today. Axe to Fall is available in CD and vinyl formats. Pre-order packages are also available [...]
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It has been about 3 years coming, but this week sees the release of Converge’s latest attempt to cause you some serious aural pain in the form of their new album Axe To Fall. Though to be honest, last week was where the commotion happened. This weekend edition of The Sunday Times claimed that Metallica, [...]
More >
Converge has a new video out for their single "Axe To Fall." The song and the video are pretty sick. You can check it out here or by scrolling down. Converge is on tour right now with Mastodon and Dethklok. Check out the tour dates below the video. For the ...
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By Ben ApatoffUPDATE: You can now stream the entire disc on the band's MySpace page.(Also, don't miss our epic live footage of a full set from CONVERGE we posted a few months ago, including 2 songs from this album! Click here to watch all 11 clips.)Is it too soon to mention CONVERGE in the same [...]
More >
Fittingly, the Massachusetts band caps off the decade with their best album to date.By the time any ordinary band is fortunate enough to make it to its 20th year, chances are that they've settled into a nice, comfortable little groove, their longevity made possible by giving the fans exactly what they want, rarely if ever deviating from the musical path they've created. And that's fine; there a...
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you got a peep at “axe to fall”s details and album art yesterday. heres a brand new song entitled dark horse, featuring bannon and company absolutely shredding it. check it out hereedit: download here
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The title track off of Converge's latest album "Axe To Fall" ,out October 20 via Epitaph, is available for download here at SPINFrom Epitaph webiste: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 ...
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Well, isn’t Lambgoat so special? They got an exclusive scoop on the new Converge album "Axe To Fall," coming out on October 20th via Epitaph Records (with vinyl to be issued by Deathwish Inc.). It was recorded by guitarist Kurt Ballou at his Godcity studios in Salem, MA and features crapload of guests, including Steve [...]
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If it is true that we should keep our friends close, and our enemies closer, then keep this band of holy shitstormers in your constant periphery! Marc Higgins reviews.
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CONVERGE’s highly anticipated Axe to Fall album immediately storms out of the gate, pummeling the listener with an unmatched aural onslaught. The first four tracks, “Dark Horse,” “Reap What You Sow,” “Axe to Fall,” and “Effigy,” waste no time flooring the listener with balls-out extremity. Driven by the pushing, restless drumming of [...]
More >
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 "Axe to Fall")
