Review: Converge - Axe to Fall

First of all, let's get through the obvious: Sorry I abandoned the blogosphere (sp?) for almost an entire month. But I'm back now with a vengeance. Literally. And what better way to return than with a band that for my money (little as that may be) sets the curve for all contemporary metalcore: Converge. Almost every band talks about trying to push themselves from album to album but I don't think any band accomplishes it like Converge. Every album they put out is the most brutal and out there album I've ever heard, until their next album. Axe to Fall fits right into this pattern, a little harder and different than 2006's No Heroes.

Which isn't to say that there isn't plenty for the old-school Converge fan to love. The title track especially should take anyone back to the halcyon days of Jane Doe and You Fail Me. 'Dead Beat' is another throwback especially vocally. Other tracks vary widely from the more straight-ahead metal of 'Reap What You Sow' to the driving thrashy riffs in 'Cutter.' A more sludge-y side of the band reveals itself on 'Damages' as well as the delightfully named 'Worms will Feed/ Rats will Feast.' The album opens with furious guitar riffs that, to me, sound like nothing so much as Horse the Band synths.

Speaking of other hardcore bands, this album saw a great deal of collaboration between Converge and various other bands and artists especially Cave In. Two of the songs on the album, 'Effigy' and 'Cruel Bloom' were adapted from a shared project Converge had done with Cave In. While 'Effigy' fits fairly seamlessly into the album, 'Bloom' is going to out to most listeners with its piano intro and sung vocals (courtesy of Steve von Till of Neurosis). It's a good warm up for the closing cut 'Wretched World' though, with its long plodding build and heavily layered instruments and vocals. It's overall effect could best be termed unnerving.

Converge - Dark Horse

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Converge