Converge is an American
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
band formed by vocalist and artist
Jacob Bannon and guitarist and producer
Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou (born February 1, 1974) is an American musician and record producer based in Massachusetts, best known as the guitarist for metalcore band Converge and for his recording and production work at his own GodCity Studio.
Early and pe ...
in
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one ...
in 1990.
While recording their landmark fourth album ''
Jane Doe
John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used in the British, Canadian, and American legal systems, when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law ...
'' in 2001, the group became a four-piece with the departure of guitarist
Aaron Dalbec and the addition of bassist
Nate Newton and drummer
Ben Koller. This lineup has remained intact since. The members have also been involved in various side-projects and collaborations, including the bands
Supermachiner (Bannon),
Old Man Gloom (Newton), and
Mutoid Man (Koller). With their extremely aggressive and boundary-pushing sound, rooted in hardcore and
heavy metal, they are pioneers of
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
and its subgenre
mathcore
Mathcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk and metalcore influenced by post-hardcore, extreme metal and math rock that developed during the 1990s. Bands in the genre emphasize complex and fluctuant rhythms through the use of irregular time signatur ...
.
Converge rose to prominence with ''Jane Doe'', which was ranked the best album of 2001 by
''Terrorizer'', the best album of the decade by Sputnikmusic, and later the 61st-best metal album of all time by ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
''. After, they moved from
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is an independent record label based in Albany, New York. It was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo, the singer for the punk bands Youth of Today, Shelter, and Better Than a Thousand.
Initially, the label existed sol ...
to the larger label
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is an American independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. A large portion of the record label, known as Hellcat Records, is owned by Tim Armstrong, frontman of the punk rock band Rancid. Several ...
, and their record production became more elaborate and expensive. Special releases are often handled by
Deathwish Inc., established by Bannon in 1999. Their latest releases are their ninth studio album ''
The Dusk in Us
''The Dusk in Us'' is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on November 3, 2017, via Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc, and is the band's first studio album in five years since 2012's ''All We Love We Leav ...
'' (2017) and their first full-length collaboration, ''
Bloodmoon: I'' (2021) with
Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Joy Wolfe (born November 14, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk music, folk.
Growing up in Northern California with a country musician father, Wolfe began ...
. According to
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, they are "regarded as one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
underground."
[Stacia Proefrock]
Converge Biography
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
History
Early years and ''Halo in a Haystack'' (1990–1994)
Converge was formed in the winter of 1990 by Bannon and Ballou, they were later joined by high school friends Jeff Feinberg and Damon Bellorado in 1991.
They started by playing covers of
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
,
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
and
heavy metal songs. The band soon graduated to playing live performances in mid-1991, after recording some demos on a
4-track recorder. The band started writing and playing what they consider "relevant" music in 1994.
In 1994 the band became a five piece when Aaron Dalbec was recruited as a second guitarist. Later in the year Converge released their debut album, ''
Halo in a Haystack'', released through Earthmaker Records. This was only released as a vinyl record, limited to 1000 copies and it was never repressed. The record was funded by Bannon through money he saved up from working at a
nursing home
A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of older people, senior citizens, or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as care homes, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms ...
.
''Petitioning the Empty Sky'', ''When Forever Comes Crashing'' and line-up changes (1995–1999)

In 1995 Converge released their first
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...
, ''
Caring and Killing'', which featured tracks from the band's early work from the years 1991 to 1994. The album was originally released as a European exclusive through Lost & Found Records.
However, Converge became dissatisfied with the way the label was handling the release and overcharging fans for their hard-to-find older songs. The album was re-released through
Hydra Head Records on November 17, 1997 in America to "make an overpriced release obsolete".
Converge also released a seven-inch EP called ''Unloved and Weeded Out'' in 1995, which Bannon links more to contemporary Converge than the stuff that predated it.
In 1996 Converge released a four-song
EP, ''
Petitioning the Empty Sky.'' It was released through
Ferret Music
Ferret Music was an American independent record label turned Warner Music Group subsidiary, founded in 1996. The label is owned by metalcore band NORA's vocalist, Carl Severson, and based in West Windsor, New Jersey. Ferret recently started an ...
, and was one of the earliest releases through the newly-formed label. Later that same year the record was re-released with four additional new tracks. Two years later, the record was reissued through Converge's new label
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is an independent record label based in Albany, New York. It was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo, the singer for the punk bands Youth of Today, Shelter, and Better Than a Thousand.
Initially, the label existed sol ...
on January 20, 1998. This version contained the previous eight tracks as well as three newly added live tracks, recorded during a radio broadcast. Due to the addition of the new tracks, fans and sources consider this to be Converge's second studio album, while the band considers it a compilation album because it is a collection of songs recorded at different times.
In early 1997 the band's original bassist, Feinburg, left the band, and was replaced with
Stephen Brodsky. Also that year, the band signed to Equal Vision Records.
On December 22, 1997, recording for the band's third studio album ''
When Forever Comes Crashing'' began at Ballou's
GodCity Studio; it finished on January 3, 1998. On April 14, 1998 Converge released ''When Forever Comes Crashing'' through Equal Vision.
In 1998, Brodsky left the band and was replaced by Newton, who initially joined the band as a part-time member while he was still active in another band,
Jesuit
The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
. Jesuit later disbanded in 1999, allowing Newton to make Converge his main focus. In early 1999, the original drummer Bellorado left the band and he was quickly replaced with John DiGiorgio.
Converge's only release with DiGiorgio was ''
The Poacher Diaries''; Koller joined Converge in late 1999, replacing him.
Ballou selected Koller to temporarily fill in while Converge searched for a more permanent replacement for Bellorado, as he was familiar with his work in previous bands, Force Fed Glass and Blue/Green Heart, a band that Ballou and Koller played in together. After working well with the band during some local shows in Boston, Converge made him an official member.
Newton and Koller remain in the band to this day.
''Jane Doe'' (2000–2003)
The band was reported to take part in a
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
tribute split series titled ''
Crush 'Em All'' with
Today Is the Day
Today Is the Day is an American noise rock and Avant-garde metal, experimental metal band that originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee. The band's diverse sound combines influences from areas such as noise music, avant-garde metal, grindcore ...
for
Undecided Records in 2000 but the release fell through.
In mid-2000 Converge self-released a three-track demo record titled ''Jane Doe Demos''.
This was released on tour and was limited to 100 copies. It contained unreleased demo versions of "Bitter & Then Some" and "Thaw" from their upcoming album ''
Jane Doe
John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used in the British, Canadian, and American legal systems, when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law ...
''. Converge entered the studio to begin recording in the summer of 2001.
On September 4, 2001, Converge released their fourth studio album, ''Jane Doe''. It was met with immediate critical acclaim, with critics praising its poetic lyrics, dynamic range, ferocity and production. The album was a commercial success in comparison to Converge's previous outings, and both the band and the album have developed a cult following since its release.
It is the band's first studio album to feature Newton and Koller, and the last to feature Dalbec, who was asked to leave the band due to his devotion to his side project
Bane. Converge's first tour in support of ''Jane Doe'' was in September 2001 with
Drowningman and Playing Enemy, however Drowningman later dropped out of the tour to work on a new album.
In 2002 a music video was released for the track/tracks "Concubine/Fault and Fracture" from the album ''Jane Doe''; the music video was directed by Zach Merck.
On January 28, 2003 Converge released their second compilation album, ''
Unloved and Weeded Out''. The album was originally released as a three track EP in 1995.
The 2003 album version contains all three tracks from the 1995 EP but in total features 14 tracks, some of which were previously released rarities while others were previously unreleased.
On February 25, 2003 Converge released their first official
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
, ''The Long Road Home''. It is modeled after band home videos such as
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
's ''
Cliff 'Em All''.
Deathwish Inc
Deathwish Inc. is an American independent record label conceived by Jacob Bannon of Converge (band), Converge and Tre McCarthy in 2000. Their first release was ''Deeper the Wound'', a split album between Converge and Japanese band Hellchild on Ap ...
describes the DVD as a "two disc collection that is as energetic and exciting as the moments the release captures".
The DVD also comes with a bonus disk that included three full live sets from the band.
''You Fail Me'' and ''No Heroes'' (2004–2007)
In early 2004 the band announced that they were signing to Epitaph Records, having previously been signed to Equal Vision. Bannon stated, "We are confident as artists and genuinely happy about the move. We are part of a diverse, quality roster with Epitaph, rich in both history and integrity. We've struggled for years looking for a supportive label to call home and after a decade we have found it."
Converge began writing for ''
You Fail Me'' after they recorded ''Jane Doe''; they wrote on the road during sound checks of shows.
Converge entered the studio to begin recording in March 2004 mainly at GodCity Studio. On September 20, 2004 Converge released their fifth studio album, ''You Fail Me''. It was the band's first to chart commercially, reaching number 171 on the
''Billboard'' 200.
On February 14, 2005 a music video was released for the track "Eagles Become Vultures", directed by Zach Merck. Converge's first tour in support of ''You Fail Me'' started in September 2004 with
Cave In and
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me, often abbreviated as BTBAM, is an American progressive metalcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band consists of Tommy Giles Rogers Jr. (lead vocals, keyboards), Paul Waggoner (guitar, backing ...
.
In 2005 Equal Vision reissued ''Petitioning the Empty Sky'' and ''When Forever Comes Crashing''. These reissues gave the albums one new bonus track each; ''Petitioning the Empty Sky'' received an alternate version of the song "Love as Arson" and ''When Forever Comes Crashing'' received a demo version of the song "Bitter and Then Some". These reissues also came with new album artwork by
Aaron Turner of
Isis
Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...
. Ballou said in an interview that he wanted to remix and remaster the albums because the quality of Converge's recordings had improved so much that the original recordings were "becoming distracting". These reissues became the standard versions of these albums.
In early July 2006 Converge's official website announced the title of their upcoming album, ''
No Heroes'', as well as the meaning behind it: "These days, cowards outnumber the heroes, and the begging souls outweigh the calloused hands of the hardest of workers. Both in life and in art, the lack of passion is sickening, and the lust for complacency is poisonous. This album is the artistic antithesis of that sinking world; a thorn in the side of their beast. It's for those who move mountains one day at a time. It's for those who truly understand sacrifice. In our world of enemies, we will walk alone..."
On October 24, 2006 Converge released their sixth studio album, ''No Heroes''. This was the first Converge album to be self-produced by Ballou with no input from other producers, at his own GodCity Studio.
The same day as the album's release, Converge released a music video for the title track, directed by Ryan Zunkley.
Converge's first tour in support of ''No Heroes'' started in November 2006 with
Some Girls,
Modern Life Is War,
Blacklisted
Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list; if people are on a blacklist, then they are considere ...
,
Kylesa
Kylesa is an American sludge metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with heavy riffs, Down-tuned guitar, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by ...
and
Gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
. Despite their growing prominence, Converge continued to appear at small independent events such as
Fluff Fest
Fluff Fest was an independent hardcore punk festival held each July at the Czech town of Rokycany. A significant event for the DIY music scene of Czechia and the punk subculture of Europe, it was associated with movements such as veganism, ana ...
in the Czech Republic, which they played in 2007.
''Axe to Fall'' (2008–2011)

In November 2008 Converge began writing ''
Axe to Fall
''Axe to Fall'' is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 19, 2009, by Epitaph Records. It is the band's most collaborative album, featuring a number of guest musicians, including members of Cave In and ...
''. Following a short tour in March 2009 with
Ceremony
A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion.
The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin .
Religious and civil ...
,
Coliseum,
Pulling Teeth and
Rise and Fall, Converge entered the studio to begin recording in May 2009. During this short tour, the band debuted a few new songs live, and footage could be seen online.
The album was produced by Ballou, at GodCity Studio. In August 2009, two months prior to the release of ''Axe to Fall'', Converge made the opening track, "Dark Horse", available for
streaming
Streaming media refers to multimedia delivered through a network for playback using a media player. Media is transferred in a ''stream'' of packets from a server to a client and is rendered in real-time; this contrasts with file downl ...
and as a free download. It was noted for being one of the few tracks lacking guest musicians, and was met with a very positive reaction from reviewers. The title track was also made available for free download in September 2009. The entire album was available for streaming on Converge's
MySpace
Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...
page one week before the official release date. On October 14, 2009, a music video was released for the title track of the album, directed by Craig Murray.
On October 20, 2009 Converge released their seventh studio album, ''Axe to Fall''. On November 7, the "Axe to Fall" video debuted on
MTV2's heavy metal music program, ''
Headbangers Ball
''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obsc ...
''.
Converge's first tour in support of ''Axe to Fall'' was the
Metalocalypse
''Metalocalypse'' is an American Musical film, musical adult animated television series created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha for Adult Swim. It premiered on August 6, 2006. The television program centers on the larger-than-life melodic deat ...
tour in late 2009, sponsored by
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...
's
Adult Swim
Adult Swim (stylized as dult swimand s is an American adult-oriented television programming block that airs on Cartoon Network which broadcasts during the evening, prime time, and Late-night television, late-night Dayparting, dayparts. T ...
. Alongside
High on Fire
High on Fire is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, also plays guitar for Sleep. High on Fire won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance with thei ...
, Converge held an opening slot for co-headliners
Mastodon
A mastodon, from Ancient Greek μαστός (''mastós''), meaning "breast", and ὀδούς (''odoús'') "tooth", is a member of the genus ''Mammut'' (German for 'mammoth'), which was endemic to North America and lived from the late Miocene to ...
and
Dethklok. Converge's first headlining tour in support of the album started in April 2010 with
Coalesce,
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978) was an American politician and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Milk was born and raised i ...
,
Gaza, Lewd Acts and Black Breath. Converge began the European part of their world tour in July 2010 with
Kylesa
Kylesa is an American sludge metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with heavy riffs, Down-tuned guitar, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by ...
, Gaza and
Kvelertak
is a Norwegian Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Stavanger, formed in 2007. The group comprises vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, guitarists Vidar Landa and Maciek Ofstad, bassist Marvin Nygaard and drummer Håvard Takle Ohr. Founding member and ...
.
In July 2010 the band released a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl single, ''
On My Shield
"On My Shield" is a single released by American metalcore band Converge. It was originally made available during the band's European tour in July 2010. The single was self-released by the band, though it was distributed by Converge's labels, Epit ...
''. It was released in three different colors, with each limited to 1,000 copies. One version was sold during Converge's 2010 European tours, one was sold through the band's Epitaph web store, and the final version was distributed to various vinyl retailers.
''All We Love We Leave Behind'' (2012–2016)
In January 2012 Converge completed writing for their eighth studio album, ''
All We Love We Leave Behind
''All We Love We Leave Behind'' is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Converge (band), Converge. It was released on October 8, 2012, via Epitaph Records. The album did not feature any guest collaborators, unlike the band's previous ...
''. The following day, Ballou announced plans via his
Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
page to begin recording with the band in January. On August 28, 2012 a music video was released for the track "Aimless Arrow" from the upcoming album, directed by Max Moore. On the same day, Converge revealed the album's artwork, depicting a lunar cycle. On October 3, 2012, the album was available to stream in its entirety on
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
, a week before its official release.
On October 9, 2012 Converge released their eighth studio album, ''All We Love We Leave Behind.'' It peaked at number 70 on the ''Billboard'' 200,
surpassing ''Axe to Fall'' in terms of commercial success. Converge's first headlining tour in support of ''All We Love We Leave Behind'' started in October 2012 with
Torche,
Kvelertak
is a Norwegian Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Stavanger, formed in 2007. The group comprises vocalist Ivar Nikolaisen, guitarists Vidar Landa and Maciek Ofstad, bassist Marvin Nygaard and drummer Håvard Takle Ohr. Founding member and ...
,
Nails and Whips/Chains.
On April 17, 2014 another music video was released for the track "Precipice / All We Love We Leave Behind", directed by Craig Murray.
On October 15, 2015 Deathwish's YouTube channel released a trailer for Converge's
Blu-ray
Blu-ray (Blu-ray Disc or BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-defin ...
set, ''
Thousands of Miles Between Us''. This was released on November 27, 2015. The set was described by Deathwish as the long-awaited sequel to their landmark 2003 DVD release, ''The Long Road Home''. The footage includes a full 20-song Converge set and over 15 hours of live, rare, and previously unseen footage, which is claimed to span over a decade in the life of the band.
On April 29, 2016 Converge announced plans to reissue the album ''You Fail Me'' (12 years after the original release); it was made available for pre-order the same day. On May 2, 2016 the title track from the upcoming version of the album was made available to stream on
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a German audio streaming service owned and operated by SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG. The service enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is ...
. On June 17, 2016 Converge reissued the album under the name ''
You Fail Me Redux'' through Epitaph and Deathwish. Ballou remixed the album and Alan Douches remastered it. The album was also repackaged by Bannon. Ballou explained in an interview with
Noisey
''Vice'' (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian-American magazine focused on lifestyle, arts, culture, and news/politics. It was founded in 1994 in Montreal as an alternative punk magazine, and its founders later launched the youth media company ...
that after he recorded and mixed the album ''No Heroes'', he wanted to go back and remix ''You Fail Me,'' because he and the rest of the band were "never quite content with the original mix".
''The Dusk In Us'' and ''Beautiful Ruin'' (2017–2020)
On January 16, 2017 the band announced they would release a live album of their ''Jane Doe'' set from the Netherlands Roadburn Festival in 2016, titled ''
Jane Live''. The album was put up for pre-order the same day. Deathwish's SoundCloud put the live version of the track "Jane Doe" up for streaming. ''Jane Live'' was released on March 3, 2017.
Koller announced during an interview that the band was planning to start tracking for a new album in the spring of 2017. Following their tour on April 8, Converge planned to promptly head into the studio to record their next album. On May 27, 2017
DigBoston published an interview with the band's vocalist Jacob Bannon, who revealed that the band had 18 songs already written. He stated the album is "very powerful" and will be a "progression of something
heydid previously."
On July 25, 2017 Converge released the single "
I Can Tell You About Pain", accompanied by a video directed by Tony Wolski. The single also contained the non-album track “Eve” as a b-side.
On August 15, Converge released the new track "Under Duress", available for streaming. It was described by Bannon as his "emotional reaction to the complex world in which we live". With the announcement of the song, the album's tracklist and cover art were revealed.
The band toured in Europe in August 2017 prior to the release.
The following month another track, “Reptilian”, was made available for streaming. "A Single Tear" was made available for streaming on October 31, accompanied by a video directed by Max Moore. The video was described by having "heavy with symbolism about parenthood and connection." ''
The Dusk in Us
''The Dusk in Us'' is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on November 3, 2017, via Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc, and is the band's first studio album in five years since 2012's ''All We Love We Leav ...
'' was released in the through Epitaph and Deathwish on November 3, 2017.
On June 28, 2018, the band uploaded a short series of images to their Instagram page, alluding to a new release. On June 29, the band released the ''
Beautiful Ruin'' EP via Epitaph and Deathwish, along with a music video for the song "Melancholia", directed by Tony Wolski. The EP consists of four tracks recorded during the sessions for ''The Dusk in Us'' which did not make the cut.
Under the name Shattered Void, Converge contributed the new song "I Won't Let You Go" to the soundtrack for ''
Cyberpunk 2077
''Cyberpunk 2077'' is a 2020 action role-playing game developed by CD Projekt Red and published by CD Projekt. Based on Mike Pondsmith's ''Cyberpunk (role-playing game), Cyberpunk'' tabletop game series, the plot is set in the fictional metrop ...
'', a 2020 video game.
''Bloodmoon: I'' (2021–present)
On September 28, 2021 the band announced their 10th studio album ''
Bloodmoon: I'', a collaboration with singer-songwriter
Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Joy Wolfe (born November 14, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk music, folk.
Growing up in Northern California with a country musician father, Wolfe began ...
. Converge's longtime collaborator Brodsky and Wolfe's longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm also joined the recording. The project has its roots in
Blood Moon, a 2016 series of performances with this same lineup plus
Steve Von Till
Stephen Francis Von Till Jr. is an American musician, best known as the guitarist of the metal band Neurosis (band), Neurosis, in which he also shared lead vocals with former member Scott Kelly (musician), Scott Kelly. Following Kelly's departu ...
of
Neurosis
Neurosis (: neuroses) is a term mainly used today by followers of Freudian thinking to describe mental disorders caused by past anxiety, often that has been repressed. In recent history, the term has been used to refer to anxiety-related con ...
. ''Bloodmoon: I'' was released on November 19, 2021 to critical acclaim. During early 2025, following some Instagram stories by Ballou and the band's official account, it was announced that they are working on new material.
Artistry
Musical style and influences
Converge's music has been described as "bleak and
dissonant." The band's style is rooted in both
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
and
heavy metal and they are considered one of the earliest and most influential
metalcore
Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...
bands.
Their sound has also been categorized as
mathcore
Mathcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk and metalcore influenced by post-hardcore, extreme metal and math rock that developed during the 1990s. Bands in the genre emphasize complex and fluctuant rhythms through the use of irregular time signatur ...
,
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. Like the term " post-punk", the term "post-hardcore" has been applied to a broad conste ...
,
noisecore,
[Kevin Stewart-Panko, "The Decade in Noisecore", ''Terrorizer'' no. 75, Feb 2000, p. 22-23.] experimental hardcore, or simply hardcore.
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
describes them as a "revered
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
metal band that combined the aggression of hardcore and metal with the complexity and
polyrhythm
Polyrhythm () is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rh ...
s of
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
."
Their 2001 album ''
Jane Doe
John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used in the British, Canadian, and American legal systems, when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law ...
'', which has become their most acclaimed work, introduced an
experimental
An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs whe ...
approach and emphasis on rhythmical complexity, which are defining features of mathcore. However, Bannon has stated: "I really don't know what mathcore is. Converge is an aggressive band. We have elements of hardcore, punk, and metal for sure. But I think trying to define our efforts and other bands with a generic
subgenre
Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...
name is counter productive. We all have something unique to offer and should be celebrated for those qualities rather than having them generalized for easy consumption."
Converge started writing and playing what they consider "relevant" music in 1994. At that time they started incorporating influences like
Starkweather,
The Accüsed
The Accüsed is an American crossover thrash band from Washington (state), Washington, formed in 1981 by Chibon 'Chewy' Batterman, Dana Collins and Tommy Niemeyer. The band was a progenitor of the crossover style that bridged the gap between th ...
,
Rorschach,
Born Against,
Moss Icon,
Universal Order of Armageddon,
Heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...
,
and
Mohinder into their approach.
In a 2012 interview, Bannon told Jonny Cohn of ''
The Aquarian
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'' that the band "don’t really look to any outside influences all that much anymore. We kind of haven’t for a long time. We have been a band for over two decades. We’re more introverted. We’re used to writing and creating in our own little bubble. We love and appreciate all different kinds of music and at times you can hear little subtle things come out but for the most part, they’re just an extension and exploration of things that we’ve done in the past."
Kurt Ballou has produced (and co-produced) the majority of Converge's albums at his own GodCity Studio. He has always been involved in the production of Converge's albums, but it was not until their 2006 album, ''No Heroes'', that he was involved in the entire recording and mixing process.
This became the standard for Converge releases afterwards. One reason Ballou claimed to get into the studio side of music was to have "maximum control over our music". He stated, "When we were starting out, no one wanted to help us anyway, so if we didn't take control, nothing was going to get done."
Lyrics and vocal delivery
Scott Butterworth of Noisey has described Bannon's vocals "as just another sonic element—more percussive and tonal than lyrical—allowing listeners to develop an emotional understanding of the material even without a precise knowledge of the words."
Sammy O'Hagar of
Metalsucks
MetalSucks is an American heavy metal music
Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a Music genre, genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock ...
stated Bannon's vocals "
reas much a part of Converge's uniqueness as is Ballou's nimble riffing".
According to Joe Davita of Loudwire, "Converge don’t need any clean singing in order to make their mark. At times sounding less like a voice and more like a percussive instrument adding yet another hard-hitting layer to the music, frontman Jacob Bannon’s delivery is a unique and iconic feature of the metalcore genre."
Artwork
Bannon has designed all of Converge's artwork since their 1996 release, ''Petitioning the Empty Sky''. Although reissues of older albums have had artwork done by Aaron Turner such as the 2005 reissues of ''Petitioning the Empty Sky'' and ''When Forever Comes Crashing'', Bannon still took part in the design process of these reissues. In an interview with ''
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...
'', Bannon shared his art process, saying, "When I work I usually start out with a sketch of some kind, either in my process book or on a scrap of paper," he explains. "I also did this with the ''Jane Doe'' album. By doing that, I work through ideas, write about them, and force them to evolve into something more refined. Process is extremely important for me--it allows me to have a log of my ideas, whether they're successful or not. That said, I sketched the basic cover and started building it in layers, using acrylic, ink, and spray paint. Because of the nature of the work and the need for flexibility in the imagery, I decided to build it in physical layers and scan certain elements for future use."
Since the release of Converge's 2001 album ''Jane Doe'', the cover art of the woman simply known as "Jane" (revealed in October 2021 to be based on a photograph of French actress and model
Audrey Marnay) has become Converge's icon, in a similar vein to
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...
's
Eddie or
Motörhead
Motörhead () were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Kilmister was the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band a ...
's
Snaggletooth.
Collaborations
Converge have collaborated with numerous musicians throughout their work such as members of
Cave In,
The Hope Conspiracy,
Genghis Tron,
Neurosis
Neurosis (: neuroses) is a term mainly used today by followers of Freudian thinking to describe mental disorders caused by past anxiety, often that has been repressed. In recent history, the term has been used to refer to anxiety-related con ...
and
Disfear
Disfear is a Swedish crust punk band that formed in the early 1990s and recorded sporadically over the years. After releasing the albums '' Soul Scars'' in 1995 and '' Everyday Slaughter'' in 1997, the group did not release another album until 2 ...
. Most of these bands are featured on the band's collaborative album ''
Axe to Fall
''Axe to Fall'' is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 19, 2009, by Epitaph Records. It is the band's most collaborative album, featuring a number of guest musicians, including members of Cave In and ...
''. However, with the exception of ''Axe to Fall,'' Converge tend not to include many guests on their albums, and the guests that are included have minor roles such as backing vocals. The band have also worked with
Tomas Lindberg
Tomas Lindberg (born 16 October 1972), also known as "Tompa" and "Goatspell", is a Swedish vocalist who has fronted many death metal bands, most notably At the Gates. He has been active as a musician and composer since the late 1980s. He also t ...
(of
At the Gates
At the Gates is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. The band was a major progenitor of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal alongside In Flames and Dark Tranquillity. Prior to their first disbandment in 1996, At ...
,
Skitsystem, The Great Deceiver, and Disfear),
Aaron Turner (of
Isis
Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...
and
Old Man Gloom),
and
Kevin Baker (of
All Pigs Must Die and The Hope Conspiracy),
all of whom provided vocals for a cover of
Entombed's "Wolverine Blues" performed by Converge.
With Cave In

After touring together in 2004, every member of Cave In and Converge entered Ballou's GodCity Studio to lay the foundation for what was intended to become a full-length collaborative album between the two bands. Tentatively dubbed the "Verge-In" sessions (an
amalgamation
Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form.
Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to:
Mathematics and science
* Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal
**Pan ama ...
of the bands' names), the project was described as sounding "like this freaky mix of ''
Ride the Lightning
''Ride the Lightning'' is the second studio album by the American thrash metal band Metallica, released on July 27, 1984, by the independent record label Megaforce Records. The album was recorded in three weeks with producer Flemming Rasmusse ...
''-era
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
meets
Mars Volta meets the
Allman Brothers."
Due to both groups growing busier with their primary bands, as well as creative differences, the project eventually fizzled out.
Brodsky described the sessions as being a "bigger project than anyone had anticipated taking on... The idea was to put out some sort of release at some point. But as with anything that has too many cooks in the kitchen, the project got delayed, and certain people felt one way or another about the pieces we came up with, and in the end, there was a very small portion of material that everyone could agree on."
Tracks from the abandoned Verge-In sessions were reworked and transformed years later into the Converge songs "Plagues" from ''No Heroes'' and "Effigy", "Cruel Bloom", and "Wretched World" from ''Axe to Fall'', the latter of which were heavily reworked by members of
Genghis Tron.
Bannon said he believes there are only two unused and half-finished tracks from these sessions that could end up being reworked into new Cave In songs down the road.
Brodsky said what became "Effigy" was some of the best material from the sessions and expressed interest in going back and finishing the remaining unreleased tracks at some point.
Cave In and Converge members have collaborated numerous times, Brodsky had been the bassist of Converge from 1997 to 1998. Ballou produced Cave In's first two records, ''
Beyond Hypothermia'' and ''
Until Your Heart Stops.'' Koller became a temporary drummer for Cave In during their support tour of their fourth studio album, ''
Perfect Pitch Black''. Cave In also recorded two songs with Koller, "Dead Already" and "Shapeshifter"; these songs were released together on a limited-edition cassette single.
Bands that feature both members of Cave In and Converge include
Kid Kilowatt
Kid Kilowatt was an American rock Supergroup (music), supergroup formed in 1996 and dissolved in 1997, including members of Cave In, Converge (band), Converge and Piebald (band), Piebald. They wrote only one album, ''Guitar Method'', first releas ...
,
Old Man Gloom,
Doomriders
Doomriders is an American stoner metal, stoner/sludge metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band has released three albums on Deathwish, Inc. The band's vocalist/guitarist Nate Newton (musician), Nate Newton also plays bass in Converge (ban ...
,
Mutoid Man and Bannon's
Wear Your Wounds live band. The relationship between the two bands has been described as "incestuous" by members of each band. The bands even went as far to joke with each other about hosting a festival titled "IncestFest", which would only feature bands and side-projects that are related to Cave In and Converge.
Blood Moon
In April 2016, all four members of Converge, and guests
Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Joy Wolfe (born November 14, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk music, folk.
Growing up in Northern California with a country musician father, Wolfe began ...
, Ben Chisholm (also of Chelsea Wolfe), Stephen Brodsky of Cave In and
Steve Von Till
Stephen Francis Von Till Jr. is an American musician, best known as the guitarist of the metal band Neurosis (band), Neurosis, in which he also shared lead vocals with former member Scott Kelly (musician), Scott Kelly. Following Kelly's departu ...
of
Neurosis
Neurosis (: neuroses) is a term mainly used today by followers of Freudian thinking to describe mental disorders caused by past anxiety, often that has been repressed. In recent history, the term has been used to refer to anxiety-related con ...
, collaborated for four limited European performances titled Blood Moon. The collective performed "
ambient/
post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of experimental rock that emphasizes Texture (music), texture, atmosphere, and non-traditional song structures over conventional rock techniques. Post-rock artists often combine rock instrumentation and rock stylings wit ...
interpretations"
of various tracks from Converge's discography, particularly their "lesser-heard and slower work."
The first Blood Moon set took place at Postbahnhof in
Berlin
Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
on April 11.
The second took place at La Cartonnerie in
Reims
Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...
on April 12.
The third took place at
Electric Brixton in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
on April 13.
The fourth and final Blood Moon show took place after a special one-off Converge set where they played their 2001 album ''Jane Doe'' in its entirety for the first and presumably last time, to celebrate its 15-year anniversary. This took place at the
Roadburn Festival
The Roadburn Festival is an annual music festival held each April in Tilburg, Netherlands. It was founded by Walter Hoeijmakers and Jurgen van den Brand in 1999, who ran a stoner rock blog of the same name.
The festival has been held at Tilburg ...
in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
on April 14.
The following Blood Moon set took place at Roadburn on April 16.
In Tom Hartley of
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
's review of their London performance, he said: "As one of only four European cities visited by Converge on this tour, it felt truly fortunate to witness such a unique show and once again reaffirmed they are crushingly brilliant with whatever they choose to do."
In Kim Kelly of
Noisey
''Vice'' (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian-American magazine focused on lifestyle, arts, culture, and news/politics. It was founded in 1994 in Montreal as an alternative punk magazine, and its founders later launched the youth media company ...
's review of Blood Moon's Roadburn Festival performance, she said: "I hadn't realized Converge's Jacob Bannon had such a powerful clean voice, or just how well it would mesh with Chelsea Wolfe's; I stood rooted to the spot for a good half hour if not more, totally sucked in by what was happening onstage. It was obvious that the musicians involved had put a lot of thought into what they were presenting up there."
These performances paved the way for Converge's 2021 full-length collaboration album with Wolfe, ''
Bloodmoon: I''.
Band members
;Current members
*
Jacob Bannon – lead vocals , bass
*
Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou (born February 1, 1974) is an American musician and record producer based in Massachusetts, best known as the guitarist for metalcore band Converge and for his recording and production work at his own GodCity Studio.
Early and pe ...
– guitars, backing vocals , bass
*
Nate Newton – bass, backing vocals , guitars
*
Ben Koller – drums
;Former members
* Damon Bellorado – drums
* Jeff Feinburg – bass , guitars
* Aaron Dalbec – guitars
*
Stephen Brodsky – bass , guitars, backing vocals
* John DiGiorgio – drums
;Session and touring musicians
* Erik Ralston – bass
* Urian Hackney – drums
Timeline
Discography
;Studio albums
* ''
Halo in a Haystack'' (1994)
* ''
Petitioning the Empty Sky'' (1996)
* ''
When Forever Comes Crashing'' (1998)
* ''
Jane Doe
John Doe (male) and Jane Doe (female) are multiple-use placeholder names that are used in the British, Canadian, and American legal systems, when the true name of a person is unknown or is being intentionally concealed. In the context of law ...
'' (2001)
* ''
You Fail Me'' (2004)
* ''
No Heroes'' (2006)
* ''
Axe to Fall
''Axe to Fall'' is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 19, 2009, by Epitaph Records. It is the band's most collaborative album, featuring a number of guest musicians, including members of Cave In and ...
'' (2009)
* ''
All We Love We Leave Behind
''All We Love We Leave Behind'' is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Converge (band), Converge. It was released on October 8, 2012, via Epitaph Records. The album did not feature any guest collaborators, unlike the band's previous ...
'' (2012)
* ''
The Dusk in Us
''The Dusk in Us'' is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on November 3, 2017, via Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc, and is the band's first studio album in five years since 2012's ''All We Love We Leav ...
'' (2017)
* ''
Bloodmoon: I'' (2021) (with
Chelsea Wolfe
Chelsea Joy Wolfe (born November 14, 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Her work blends elements of gothic rock, doom metal, and folk music, folk.
Growing up in Northern California with a country musician father, Wolfe began ...
)
Awards and nominations
Boston Music Awards
Founded in 1987, the Boston Music Awards are a set of music awards given annually that showcase talent in the Boston, Massachusetts, area.
Past shows have featured such notable talent as Aerosmith, Paula Cole, Esperanza Spalding, Boston (band), ...
!
, -
!scope="row", 2009
, rowspan="6", Converge
, Metal Act of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
, -
!scope="row", 2012
, Metal/Hardcore Artist of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
, -
!scope="row", 2013
, Metal/Hardcore Artist of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
, -
!scope="row", 2014
, Metal/Hardcore Artist of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
, -
!scope="row", 2016
, Metal Artist of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
, -
!scope="row", 2017
, Metal Artist of the Year
,
, style="text-align:center;",
Heavy Music Awards
!
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="4", 2018
, rowspan="3", Converge
, Best Album
,
, rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;",
, -
, Best International Band
,
, -
, Best Album Artwork
,
, -
,
Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou (born February 1, 1974) is an American musician and record producer based in Massachusetts, best known as the guitarist for metalcore band Converge and for his recording and production work at his own GodCity Studio.
Early and pe ...
, Best Producer
,
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Metalcore musical groups from Massachusetts
American mathcore musical groups
American post-hardcore musical groups
Hardcore punk groups from Massachusetts
Heavy metal musical groups from Massachusetts
Punk rock groups from Massachusetts
1990 establishments in Massachusetts
Musical groups established in 1990
Epitaph Records artists
Equal Vision Records artists
Deathwish Inc. artists
Undecided Records artists