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Converge Information
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'Converge' is a 4-piece band based out of Boston, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of extreme metal and hardcore punk, this pioneer metal/punk outfit helped define a lot of the rudimentaries of the fast burgeoning metalcore genre.
In recent years, Converge have enjoyed relatively high levels of popularity despite the esoteric feel of their music and the substantial lack of media attention they receive. The extreme nature of their music, particularly the atonal vocals and often complicated fingerwork of the guitar riffs, make it difficult for some to appreciate this iniquitous brand of heavy metal. They can be considered an acquired taste. Their records have gradually become more expensively and extensively produced, having moved from the independent hardcore label Equal Vision Records to the much larger-though still considered independent-label Epitaph Records.
Description
Converge's lyrics tend to deal almost exclusively with the mental anguish resulting from a romantic love gone awry, based on the male's perspective. However, as it is fast become the norm in this genre, Converge's lyrics must be read from the corresponding album's booklet or from a lyric sheet in order to interpret them correctly. Attempting to scrutinize the lyrics just by listening to the albums has proven to be difficult, due to Bannon's penchant for distorting his messages with his jaguar-like shrieks and ululating roars.
Side projects
Aside from their primary focus with Converge, Jacob Bannon and Kurt Ballou compose stark, ambient music under the moniker Supermachiner, with Daltonic drummer, Seth Bannon. Bannon also has a solo side-project entitled Dear Lover and continues to run the record label he founded, Deathwish Inc., with his longtime friend and business associate, Tré McCarthy.
In addition to keeping himself busy with recording bands in his studio, GodCity, guitarist Kurt Ballou has participated in an array of other lesser-known bands, such as Blue/Green Heart with fellow Converge alumni Ben Koller. Koller performed in this band with Ballou well before he joined Converge. Ballou also played guitar for the band Kid Kilowatt.
Current lineup
* Jacob Bannon - Vocals, Lyrics, Visuals
* Kurt Ballou - Guitar, Electronics, Backing vocals
* Nate Newton - Bass, Backing Vocals
* Ben Koller - Drums
Former members
* Aaron Dalbec - Guitar (1994-2001)
* Jon DiGiorgio - Drums (1999)
* Damon Bellorado - Drums (1991-1999)
* Stephen Brodsky - Bass (1997-1998)
* Jeff Feinburg - Guitar, Bass (1991-1997)
* Erik Ralston - Bass (1993)
Discography
Albums
* Gravel (demo), Independently Released, 1991.
* Converge, (FAR/Exchange Records), 1991.
* Where all the Flowers Have Gone, Self-Released, 1992.
* Dog Days, Self-Released, 1993.
* Halo in a Haystack, (Earthmaker/Stolnacke), 1994.
* Caring and Killing, Hydrahead, 1996.
* Petitioning the Empty Sky, Equal Vision Records, 1997.
* When Forever Comes Crashing, Equal Vision Records, 1998.
* Jane Doe, Equal Vision Records, 2001.
* Unloved And Weeded Out, Deathwish Inc., 2003.
* You Fail Me, Epitaph Records, 2004.
* Petitioning the Empty Sky (re-issue), Equal Vision Records, 2005.
* When Forever Comes Crashing (re-issue), Equal Vision Records, 2005.
* Petitioning Forever 2xLP, Deathwish Inc., 2005.
EPs
* Unloved and Weeded Out 7", (Orionquest/Heliotrope), 1995.
* Petitioning the Empty Sky 7", Ferret Records, 1996.
Splits
* The Poacher Diaries (split album with Agoraphobic Nosebleed), Relapse Records, 1999.
* Deeper The Wound (split album with Hellchild), Deathwish Inc., 2001.
DVDs
* The Long Road Home, Deathwish Inc., 2003.
Trivia
*Drummer Ben Koller's former band is Force Fed Glass, a grind outfit.
*Bassist Nate Newton's previous band was Jesuit, which also featured Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist, Brian Benoit.
*Former guitarist Aaron Dalbec now sings in Bane.
*Former bassist Stephen Brodsky now plays and sings in Cave In.
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