Converge – Axe to Fall released October 20, 2009 on Epitaph Words cannot capture the depths of my frustration with the Massachusetts metalcore pioneers, who have been challenging heavy music audiences for nearly two tenacious decades. This changes now. I appreciated this album from the moment it emerged from the beautiful, grimy, and cryptic artwork of Jacob Bannon. Now his vocals have––and still––put me off some of the time (they command your full attention, even with the lyrics in hand), but I was f’n determined. See, I/you/we all need this band on our maps. Some are calling this their [...read more]

Maybe it was due to the earplugs, but this was probably my best experience with Converge to date. Live, they leave it all on stage, positively radiating energy across the crowd. Despite being my least favorite of the four bands that night, they were easily the most entertaining to watch.