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No Heroes

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For the Humble Gods album, see No Heroes (Humble Gods album).
Untitled

No Heroes is the sixth studio album released by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on October 24, 2006, through Epitaph Records. The album reached number 151 on the Billboard 200. The album was the first Converge album to be produced by Kurt Ballou with no input from other producers, at his own GodCity Studio[5] and features artwork created by lead singer Jacob Bannon.

Release and promotion

On October 24, 2006 a music video was released for the title track of the album, the music video was directed by Ryan Zunkley.[6] Converge's first headlining tour in support of No Heroes started in November 2006 with Some Girls, Modern Life Is War, Blacklisted, Kylesa and Gospel.[7]

Musical style and theme

In early July, Converge's official website announced the title of the album, 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..."

— Converge[8]

In an interview with Alex Gosman of Crossfire, the band talked about the album's theme, or therefore lack of one. When asked "What’s the story behind the title of ‘No Heroes’? Do you feel that it’s pointless to idolise other people/bands?"

"It’s completely pointless – but that’s not the overall theme of the album: just of the ‘No Heroes’ song. We thought that title would work well for the record too, but it’s not a concept album or anything like that; it’s still very much a personal record, written about our experiences over the last couple of years."[9]

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk89% link
Allmusic[10]
Drowned in Sound8/10[11]
Exclaim!favorable[12]
Pitchfork Media8.1/10 link
PopMatters8/10[13]
Orlando Weeklyfavorable link
Stylus MagazineB+ link
Sputnikmusic4.5/5 link

No Heroes was given 8.1/10 by Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media as he said "Conceptually reminiscent of the way Orthrelm's OV rocked socks within a tight framework, No Heroes is one of the year's most musically cohesive ways to keep pulses beating rapidly."

Sam Roudman of Stylus Magazine gave the album a B+ by stating "As Converge have been instrumental in the expansion of the contemporary hardcore vocabulary—embracing music signifiers previously under the dominion of metal or grind—this return to roots makes this album something of a homecoming."

Notably, No Heroes received a 4.5 out of 5[14] from Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Jared W. Dillon, commenting that "No Heroes is completely successful in delivering a great array of extremely heavy music", while another staff reviewer, Nick Butler, gave the album 1.5 out of 5,[15] commenting that "I'll undoubtedly get flamed to hell for this, but if No Heroes isn't the worst album I've heard in 2006, it's certainly the least enjoyable", making it one of the uncommon instances where two staff reviewers almost completely disagree with each other. It was named the number 1 album of 2006 in Sputnikmusic's staff "Best of 2006" list.

Charts

The album reached number 151 on the Billboard 200. It also topped the Top Heatseekers chart and number 13 in the Independent Albums listings.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Jacob Bannon; all music is composed by Converge[16]

No.TitleLength
1."Heartache"1:43
2."Hellbound"1:07
3."Sacrifice"1:37
4."Vengeance"0:58
5."Weight of the World"1:25
6."No Heroes"3:43
7."Plagues"4:43
8."Grim Heart/Black Rose"9:34
9."Orphaned"1:39
10."Lonewolves"2:18
11."Versus"2:09
12."Trophy Scars"4:59
13."Bare My Teeth"2:02
14."To the Lions"3:40

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2006) Peak

position

Japanese Album Chart[17] 155
UK Album Chart[18] 186
US Billboard 200[19] 151
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[20] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums[19] 13

References

  1. ^ "No Heroes - Converge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  2. ^ "Album review: Converge – No Heroes". Scene Point Blank. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  3. ^ "Converge's 'No Heroes' Turns 10". Invisible Oranges - The Metal Blog. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  4. ^ Lee, Cosmo (October 29, 2009). "Axe to Fall Review". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Converge Guitarist/Producer Kurt Ballou Explains Why He Remixed 'You Fail Me' | NOISEY". Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  6. ^ Deathwishinc (2006-12-07), CONVERGE "No Heroes", retrieved 2017-02-02
  7. ^ Punknews.org. "Tours: Converge / Some Girls / Modern Life Is War / Blacklisted / Kylesa / Gospel". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  8. ^ "CONVERGECULT.COM". 2006-07-21. Archived from the original on 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2017-02-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Converge Interview | Interviews | Caught in the Crossfire". www.caughtinthecrossfire.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  10. ^ Apar, Corey. "Review of No Heroes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  11. ^ Diver, Mike (October 23, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  12. ^ Deneau, Max (November 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  13. ^ Begrand, Adrien (December 12, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". PopMatters. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  14. ^ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  15. ^ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  16. ^ a b c d e No Heroes (CD booklet). Converge. Los Angeles, California: Epitaph Records. 2006. 86827–2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "コンヴァージのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  18. ^ "Chart Log UK: Chris C. - CZR". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  19. ^ a b "Axe to Fall – Converge". Billboard. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Converge - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
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