Converge - Axe to Fall (2009)

Axe to Fall is their seventh studio album and I think it’s a step up from their excellent 2006 album No Heroes. Musically, this is a bit more diverse than anything they’ve done, and it doesn’t sacrifice that intense catharsis for which they are known. Everything about this band is heavy, the vocals aren’t just screamed, they’re screamed in such a way that the human throat should not be capable of. The slower dirges are really powerful too. The drums are frantic and intricate, as are the guitars which play some really awesome riffs here. My favorite tracks are “Dark Horse” which has a delightful guitar riff, and “Cruel Bloom” which has some cool vocal parts. If you don’t like heavy music, stay away, but if you do, this band makes the some of the most intense music on this planet.

Converge - No Heroes (2006)

They’re very versatile for such a heavy band. The sheer chaos is the draw here and its more tuneful and fully realized here than on any of their other albums I think. “Jane Doe” is a close second, but didn’t keep my attention as well as this one. Much of this is just unrelentless hardcore, but there are a few slow dirges like the intense “Plagues” and “Grim Heart/Black Rose.” This music is a spectacle in and of itself and I think there’s an appeal beyond metalheads and angry teenagers. This is for people who are interested in something different, something with an impact, and something that isn’t accessible. The vocals really give the impression that the singer put a massive amount of himself into his performance. For that, they deserve all the credit in the world. This is quite exhausting to listen to, but gratifying. I'm excited for their new album later this year. mediafire