Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind Review



Words sometimes falter to capture the music of Converge. The fact they have been on top of their game and massively in the public eye since the painfully emotional but beautifully heavy Jane Doe means that most writers in our little niche of the journalistic world have already exhausted all angles and opinions. However the task lies with us writers to dissect and probe the latest effort from the band.

The opener 'Aimless Arrow' simmers and bubbles and shows massive restraint as it builds up for the orgasmic release that is 'Tresspass'. An absolute behemoth of a tune, this is the 'Dark Horse', 'Locust Reign' and 'Bitter and Then Some' of this album. Its a song addicted to forward motion and one of the simplest yet heaviest riffs you'll hear this side of 2012.

There seems to be an almost evil atmosphere to this album at times. Previous efforts before have dipped with pain and sadness, but this if anything is an angrier Converge and more a more vengeful one – tracks such as 'Sadness Comes Home', 'Sparrow's Fall' and 'At Glacial Pace' are the stuff of nightmares. Then it is ruined by the pomp of 'Vicious Muse', which sounds like a fucking Cancer Bats song, no bad thing but a little lazy! Then the Mastodon like opening introduces 'Coral Blue', which holds its own despite the trendy nod, but again remains a little uninspired.

No matter how supreme the quality, the ever-evolving art of such a mega band like Converge will always attract detractors just because they are pigeon holed as not metal. Well boo-hoo I say. Fuck 'em. Don't know what they are missing. Less assholes at Converge shows! Still this is a must-listen as it always has been with Converge, but not up there if you look back down the timeline.

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