converge

Converge
From left to right: Jacob Bannon, Nate Newton, and Kurt Ballou. Ben Koller is far left (not seen).
Background information
Origin	Salem, Massachusetts, United States
Genres	Hardcore punk, metalcore
Years active	1990 – present
Labels	Epitaph, Deathwish Inc., Hydra Head, Relapse, Equal Vision
Associated acts	Old Man Gloom, Doomriders, Cave In, Supermachiner, Bane, United Nations, The Huguenots, Acid Tiger, Piebald
Website	www.convergecult.com
Members
Jacob Bannon Kurt Ballou Nate Newton Ben Koller
Former members
Aaron Dalbec Jon DiGiorgio Damon Bellorado Stephen Brodsky Jeff Feinburg Erik Ralston

Converge is a four-piece band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk^[1][2] and extreme metal since 1990,^[3][4][5] Converge has helped to define many of the rudiments of the metalcore genre.^[6][7][8]

Description

The group's musical style consists of complex guitar work and off-time polyrhythmic drumming leading some to describe the band as mathcore^{[9][10][11][12][13]}. This is best exemplified on their album Jane Doe. While using hardcore punk as the framework for most of their songs, they also play slower tempo songs, like "You Fail Me," "Jane Doe," and "Grim Heart/Black Rose."

History

Converge at Neumo's in Seattle, Washington, 2008

Converge was formed in the winter of 1990 by Jacob Bannon and Kurt Ballou. They first started by playing covers of hardcore punk, punk rock and heavy metal songs, being self-confessed "hardcore kids with leftover Slayer riffs". The band soon graduated to playing live performances in 1991, after recording some demos on a 4-track recorder and eventually releasing full lengths including When Forever Comes Crashing and splits with bands like Agoraphobic Nosebleed.

In recent years, Converge have enjoyed relatively high levels of popularity, despite the esoteric nature of their music and the lack of media attention. Their popularity began to rise with the release of their breakthrough album, Jane Doe. During the recording of Jane Doe, long time member Aaron Dalbec who was also handling his then-side project Bane, was asked to leave the group. This resulted in a four man line-up that is still intact today. Aaron Burgess of Revolver locates Jane Doe as marking a break in the group's style:

Their records have gradually become more expensively and extensively produced, having moved from the independent label Equal Vision Records to the much larger and more mainstream (yet still independent) punk label Epitaph Records while handling special releases on Jacob's record label, Deathwish Inc. with their latest albums You Fail Me and No Heroes.

Converge released "Axe to Fall" on October 20, 2009. "Axe to Fall" received several positive reviews prior to its release, including 10/10 from Decibel Magazine. The album has been hailed as the band's best work since Jane Doe. "Axe to Fall" was leaked on the internet prior to its planned release; Shaun Hand of Metal Sucks has been identified as the source of the leak, which occurred on October 4, 2009. ^[15]

On October 29, 2009, Pitchfork Media reviewed "Axe to Fall;" writer Cosmo Lee gave the album a rating of 8.5/10 and hailed Converge as "this generation's Black Flag." ^[16]

Influences

Converge's influences range from hardcore punk bands, such as Black Flag, Negative Approach,^{[citation needed]} The Accused^[3], and Born Against;^[3] metal bands like Black Sabbath, Godflesh,^[3] Slayer,^[17] and Entombed;^[3] and proto-mathcore bands Starkweather^[3] and Rorschach.^[3] Jacob Bannon has also discussed an appreciation for and inspiration from grindcore on Earache Records, post-hardcore on Dischord Records, thrash metal, such as Suicidal Tendencies, Vio-lence, and Death Angel, and post-punk groups, such as Depeche Mode and The Cure.^[18]

Side projects

Outside of Converge, singer Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou compose stark, ambient music under the moniker Supermachiner, with Daltonic bass player Ryan Parker, co-founder of the record label Deathwish Inc.. Ballou has participated in an array of other lesser-known bands, such as Blue/Green Heart with drummer Ben Koller. Bannon also records under his own name, releasing solo records.

In late 2005, Ben Koller briefly drummed for Cave In. He also drums in Acid Tiger and United Nations.

Bassist Nate Newton also plays guitar in Old Man Gloom and Doomriders. Nate formerly played in Jesuit with future Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Brian Benoit.

Aaron Dalbec, former guitarist, and Damon Bellorado, former drummer, created a side project in 1995 called "Gateway", later renamed Bane.

Members

Current

Jacob Bannon - vocals, lyrics, visuals

Kurt Ballou - guitar, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards, percussion, theremin

Nate Newton - bass guitar, vocals, formerly of Jesuit

Ben Koller - drums, percussion, formerly of and Force Fed Glass, also in Cave In

Former

• Aaron Dalbec - guitar (1994–2001), now in Bane
• John DiGiorgio - drums (1999) now in The End Of The Universe
• Damon Bellorado - drums (1991–1999) formerly of 500 Knives
• Stephen Brodsky - bass guitar (1997–1998), now in Cave In
• Jeff Feinburg - guitar, bass guitar (1991–1997)
• Erik Ralston - bass guitar (1993)

Discography

Studio albums

• Halo in a Haystack (1994)
• Petitioning the Empty Sky (1998)
• When Forever Comes Crashing (1998)
• Jane Doe (2001)
• You Fail Me (2004)
• No Heroes (2006)
• Axe to Fall (2009)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Converge (band)

• Official website
• Converge at MySpace
• Interview with Kurt Ballow
• Converge interview (2008)
• Airbornmag.com (December 2007 interview with guitarist Kurt Ballou on UK-based music site Airbornmag.com)
• Kurt Ballou Interview with Buzznet
• Jacob Bannon Interview with Rock Sound