Converge
Converge formed in the 1990s as a cover band. The four-piece from Salem now play a blend of hardcore punk and metal, and are influenced by a wide variety of bands, such as Black Flag, Born Again and Slayer. They are considered to have pioneered the metalcore genre in the early 90’s, but the band consider themselves to be more hardcore than metal – describing themselves at one point as “hardcore kids with left-over Slayer riffs” – and spurn either label, preferring to define their music simply as “aggressive music”.
Converge’s musical style consists of complex guitar riffs, intricate drum-beats and atonal vocals, and the overall effect is loud! Although they may be considered a little extreme for some people’s tastes, they are popular on the hardcore/metalcore scene, with a strong cult following.
Despite a plethora of line-up and label changes, by 2001, Converge were regarded one of the most innovative bands to have emerged from the punk underground. Their album that year – Jane Doe – was highly critically acclaimed, and the album marks a break in the band’s style; transforming them from a thrash-influenced hardcore outfit into “hardcore-influenced thrash titans”. Their tireless dedication to touring, along with the fact that they have never been catapulted or forced themselves into the mainstream has earned them a great deal of respect from fans and critics alike.
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