The screaming... The metal guitar that makes your ears hurt... The drums that you can feel pulsate through every inch of your body every second they are struck... The bass lines that sound like gun shots... This is what makes Converge great. This is why I love Converge.
There was a lot of hype surrounding the release of "Jane Doe". There's been a lot of hype this year for many bands, as many bands have had new releases- many bands that have made themselves strong staples in this hardcore world. These bands are expected to hold up a certain reputation. They are expected to live up to a certain set of standards their listeners set forth for them. They're expected to once again prove just why we like them.
One of the biggest releases this year that goes hand in hand in my mind with the new Converge CD, is Grade's latest. It was the same kind of feel: Here is a great band that has a made a big name for themself, and they are expected to do something big and great. Grade lived up to their hype, and not only did they, they managed to outdo themselves, giving us lucky listeners a CD like we have never heard before.
Well, while growing as a band and growing musically maybe good in its own right, there still comes a time when you have to kick ass. I'm not saying Converge hasn't grown, and I'm not saying Grade doesn't still kick ass. Let's look at it this way... Take a band like Nirvana. They used to have really great kick ass rock 'n' roll meets punk music that was dubbed "grunge", right? But then towards their last few releases, they kind of slowed down and mellowed out. Now what they did- allbeit slower and a lot tamer- wasn't any worse or any better than anything they had done before, it was simply Nirvana and people most likely just loved it because it was. So, it's ok to grow and change as a band- to evolve- as long as you don't do so in the manner of say Pearl Jam where you start to just suck.
But, through all this mindless chatter, my point is basically that while some bands are changing- and it maybe ok- Converge has stayed the same band. They're still kicking ass and making you want to break shit. I respect the hell out of them for that, because it's always time to kick some ass. If you like Converge, you will die for this new CD... Literally.