Converge | Artist
Converge is an American metalcore band formed 1990 in Salem, Massachusetts, by vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou. Various musician have passed through the ranks, but the present day lineup comprises Bannon and Ballou, together with Nate Newton (bass, backing vocals) and Ben Koller (drums). Their music combines the aggression of hardcore and metal with the complexity and polyrhythms of jazz. The band's 1996 album Petitioning the Empty Sky brought them attention, but their fifth album Jane Doe (2001) was their critical and commercial breakthrough, and the band developed a cult following since its release. The following RYM review nicely pinpoints the album's uniqueness with respect to other metalcore: "The artistry in what Converge is doing comes out in two distinct ways: First, through the band's recognition that poetry can be accomplished through utter chaos. And second, and more importantly, through the band's obvious understanding that seeming chaos is better than actual chaos. Many bands have grasped the first of these without understanding the second and end up creating nothing more than a noisy mess. But Converge unleashes their musical insanity with lazer-like precision. This is not just a bunch of random screams, drum hits, and guitar noise. Every single note is precisely placed." Following the success of Jane Doe their subsequent albums; You Fail Me (2004), No Heroes (2006), Axe to Fall (2009), All we Love we Leave Behind (2012), The Dusk in Us (2017), and the latest Love is Not Enough (2026), are consistently excellent. In 2021 the band collaborated with Chelsea Wolf and Steve von Till of Neurosis on a side-project titled Blood Moon, which has played shows in Europe and the UK, and released one album. Founding member Jacob Bannon is also the co-founder and owner of the record label Deathwish Inc. and the author of many visual works for independent punk rock and heavy metal musicians. Bannon has also composed and performed experimental music as Supermachiner with Ryan Parker and more recently as Wear Your Wounds. Fellow founder, Kurt Ballou studied aerospace engineering at university before becoming a professional musician. He built his own recording studio God City Studio in Massachusetts, and is renowned for his recording and production work for Converge as well as for other bands. The band's debut album, Halo in a Haystack, released through Earthmaker Records was only released on vinyl, limited to 1000 copies and it was never repressed. The record was funded by Jacob Bannon through money he saved up from working at a nursing home.
Artist Website: convergecult.com
Featured Albums: Converge
Related Artists: Cave In, Chelsea Wolfe
