Converge - No Heroes
Converge makes intensely painful sonic workouts that sometimes feel like scraping knuckles over rock. But they’re also emotionally fulfilling, if only for the feeling of, “Man, I thought I had problems.” Converge albums are definite moments in our lives, and No Heroes
Jane Doe
Then it’s back to the races again, with a few tempo switch-ups near the end. There’s nothing here Converge hasn’t done before, but what’s new is the maturity of the songwriting. In the past, the band sometimes had trouble controlling its own power; songs would go on too long, or were sequenced so that albums felt exhausting. Here, the band has learned exactly when to pull back and when to let go. 14 tracks, 42 minutes – and not a single wasted second.
Orphaned
No Heroes
As on previous albums, Ballou handles engineering and mixing, and he outdoes himself here (you can read my interview with him about his studio work here). This is one of the best-sounding albums I’ve heard this year. The drums sound natural, the bass tones are huge, and the guitars are absolutely fierce, with feedback dripping all over the place. Yet there’s room for Jacob Bannon’s vocals: “It’s now or never, victim or victory, rebel or regret who you are and who you claim to be, no more heroes, no more, no more, in my world of enemies I walk alone.” Amen, brother. Between Bannon’s beautiful artwork and Ballou’s mix, this album epitomizes the potential of DIY. One of the albums of the year, for sure – pick it up
