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==Side projects==
==Side projects==
Outside of Converge, singer [[Jacob Bannon]] and guitarist [[Kurt Ballou]] compose stark, ambient music under the moniker [[Supermachiner]], with Daltonic drummer Seth E. Bannon, co-founder of the record label [[Deathwish Inc.]]. Ballou has participated in an array of other lesser-known bands, such as Blue/Green Heart with drummer Ben Koller.
Outside of Converge, singer [[Jacob Bannon]] and guitarist [[Kurt Ballou]] compose stark, ambient music under the moniker [[Supermachiner]], with Daltonic bass player Ryan Parker, co-founder of the record label [[Deathwish Inc.]]. Ballou has participated in an array of other lesser-known bands, such as Blue/Green Heart with drummer Ben Koller. Bannon also records under his own name, releasing solo records.


In late 2005, Ben Koller briefly drummed for [[Cave In]].
In late 2005, Ben Koller briefly drummed for [[Cave In]].
Line 51: Line 51:
Bassist [[Nate Newton (musician)|Nate Newton]] also plays guitar in [[Old Man Gloom]] and [[Doomriders]].
Bassist [[Nate Newton (musician)|Nate Newton]] also plays guitar in [[Old Man Gloom]] and [[Doomriders]].


Aaron Dalbec, former guitarist, and Damon Bellardo, former drummer, created a side project in 1995 called [[Bane (band)|Bane]].
Aaron Dalbec, former guitarist, and Damon Bellorado, former drummer, created a side project in 1995 called "Gateway", later renamed [[Bane (band)|Bane]].


==Members==
==Members==

Revision as of 18:20, 9 March 2009

Converge

Converge is a four-piece band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk[1][2] and extreme metal since 1990,[3][4][5] Converge has helped to define many of the rudiments of the metalcore genre.[6][7][8]

Description

The group's musical style consists of complex guitar work and off-time polyrhythmic drumming, which is best exemplified on their album Jane Doe. While using hardcore punk as the framework for most of their songs, they also play slower songs, like "You Fail Me," "Jane Doe," and "Grim Heart/Black Rose." Jacob Bannon's vocal style is sometimes described as "ethereal"; Music reviews site Buddyhead once described it as a "dog barking through a distortion pedal."[citation needed]

History

Converge at Neumo's in Seattle, Washington, 2008

Converge formed in the winter of 1990. They first started by playing covers of hardcore punk, punk rock and heavy metal songs, being self-confessed "hardcore kids with leftover Slayer riffs"[citation needed]. The band soon graduated to playing live performances in 1991, after recording some demos on a 4-track recorder.

In recent years, Converge have enjoyed relatively high levels of popularity, despite the esoteric nature of their music and the lack of media attention. Their popularity began to rise with the release of their breakthrough album, Jane Doe, which is considered by many their best work to date[citation needed]. Their records have gradually become more expensively and extensively produced, having moved from the independent label Equal Vision Records to the much larger and more mainstream (yet still independent) punk label Epitaph Records.

Their latest album, No Heroes, was released on 24 October 2006.

According to the band's website, they are currently writing for a new album, due out in 2009 on Epitaph (vinyl on Deathwish).[9]

Influences

Converge's influences range from hardcore punk bands, such as Black Flag, Negative Approach,[citation needed] The Accused[3], and Born Against;[3] metal bands like Black Sabbath, Godflesh,[3] Slayer,[10] and Entombed;[3] and proto-mathcore bands Starkweather[3] and Rorschach.[3] Jacob Bannon has also discussed an appreciation for and inspiration from grindcore on Earache Records, post-hardcore on Dischord Records, thrash metal, such as Suicidal Tendencies, Vio-lence, and Death Angel, and post-punk groups, such as Depeche Mode and the Cure.[11]

Side projects

Outside of Converge, singer Jacob Bannon and guitarist Kurt Ballou compose stark, ambient music under the moniker Supermachiner, with Daltonic bass player Ryan Parker, co-founder of the record label Deathwish Inc.. Ballou has participated in an array of other lesser-known bands, such as Blue/Green Heart with drummer Ben Koller. Bannon also records under his own name, releasing solo records.

In late 2005, Ben Koller briefly drummed for Cave In.

Bassist Nate Newton also plays guitar in Old Man Gloom and Doomriders.

Aaron Dalbec, former guitarist, and Damon Bellorado, former drummer, created a side project in 1995 called "Gateway", later renamed Bane.

Members

Current

Former

  • Aaron Vevoda - guitar (1994–2001), now in Bane
  • John DiGiorgio - drums (1999) now in The End Of The Universe
  • Damon Bellorado - drums (1991–1999) formerly of 500 Knives
  • Stephen Brodsky - bass guitar (1997–1998), now in Cave In
  • Jeff Feinburg - guitar, bass guitar (1991–1997)
  • Erik Ralston - bass guitar (1993)

Discography

Full lengths

EP

Demos

  • Gravel (4-song demo, independently released, 1991)
  • Self-titled (FAR/Exchange Records, 1991)
  • Where Have All the Flowers Gone (independently released, 1992)
  • Dog Days (Demo, independently rel*
  • Halo in a Haystack (Earthmaker/Stolnacke, 1994)eased, 1993)
  • Unloved & Weeded Out (Collection of Demos and unreleased songs, Deathwish Inc, 2002)

Vinyl

  • Unloved & Weeded Out 7" EP (Heliotrope Records, 1995)
  • Downpour/Serial Killer 5" record (limited edition of 1000) (Ellington Records, 1997)

Splits

DVDs

Trivia

References

  1. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=101520
  2. ^ http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/article.html?in_article_id=216468&in_page_id=206&in_a_source=
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Converge FAQ. Convergecult.com. Retrieved on 13 may, 2008. Cite error: The named reference "faq" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ http://www.mywire.com/pubs/BassPlayer/2005/03/01/1581061?extID=10051
  5. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E3DF1E39F934A25756C0A9649C8B63
  6. ^ CitySearch, 2006: [1]
  7. ^ http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=123&csid2=844&fid1=32314
  8. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=100042
  9. ^ "Converge Website - News". Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  10. ^ Ramirez, Carlos (2008-02-19). "Converge: 'The Best Way To Learn Is Just Start Doing It'". UltimateGuitar.com. Retrieved 2008-05-27. I learned to play guitar by listening to Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, and Metallica
  11. ^ The groups listed in this sentence are taken from an interview with Jacob Bannon from Smother Magazine. [2] Access date: 14 June 2008.
  12. ^ Tate, Jason. "Converge Preparing New Material" AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved on November 21, 2008.
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