Converge prove that No Heroes is No Exception
With their extreme style and unconventional techniques, Converge has always been somewhat of a catalyst within the hardcore scene—always leading, never following. With each successive record, Converge has managed to consistently show a progression in their music, which is quite a feat considering they have been around for 16 years. With No Heroes, the band continues their unprecedented track record, having created what is arguably their strongest and most balanced effort yet.Converge has always been a band that instantly dichotomizes those who hear them. The first group absolutely love the band, and the second group wonder why the hell everyone is raving over what they perceive as a bunch of sloppily played noise. Regardless of where a person stands, the influence and importance of Converge within the context of the modern metal and hardcore scene cannot be denied.
No Heroes does not begin as subtly as their last effort, "You Fail Me", but blazes right out of the gate with the chaotic opener, "Heartache.” In fact, Converge mercilessly beat upon the listener with 4 successive songs of their signature thrashy-punk sound, showing that they can be just as abrasive and raw as they have ever been. The listener is given no reprieve from this assault until the short instrumental, "The Weight of the World," but is soon thrown back violently into the blissfully dissonant title track. "No Heroes" is perhaps this album's "Concubine", combining everything that makes Converge great: the searing guitar line, the fast tempo, the distinctive scream of Bannon, the energy, the barely controlled chaos, and the "je ne sais quoi" which keeps it all together and somehow listenable. Just like that, the adrenaline rush of the first half of the album is over.
The remainder of the record takes the band into more experimental territory with songs tending to be much more mid-paced. The urgency from the first half of the disc creates a momentum that is quickly lost and the listener is somewhat caught off-guard with the droning "Plagues". It is the epic 9-minute "Grim Heart/Black Rose," though, that shows how much Converge have progressed as a band. This gloomy track has somewhat of a doom feel, but still resembles the style of the band. Jonah Jenkins (Milligram) is featured on this track, providing well-executed clean vocals—somewhat of a rarity on a Converge album. It is here on “Grim Heart/Black Rose” especially that the band proves how truly diverse they can be (as if there was any doubt). The remainder of the record reveals a more experimental facet of the band, but does not stray far enough from their previous work as to alienate their fans. Standouts include the mathy "Lonewolves" and the emotionally taut "Trophy Scars.” While the latter half of No Heroes takes on a much different tone than the first, the album as a whole does not contain a single weak track by any means.
Fans will agree that every Converge release seems to bring so much more to the table than your typical band, and No Heroes does just the same. It could easily be said that when you purchase a Converge album, you are truly getting the whole package. The production is appropriately crisp, yet raw, thanks to the fact that uber-producer Kurt Ballou is part of the band, and the artwork is always excellent (courtesy of Converge's vocalist, Jake Bannon). Every single member of the quartet plays their respective instrument exceptionally, and Bannon is just as lyrically incisive and evocative as he has ever been, though it might be difficult to tell without the aid of liner notes. If there is anything to complain about with this album, it may be that some of the tracks are a bit too repetitive at times. Some may feel that this repetitiveness decreases the band’s impact, but it is a small complaint considering the enormous amount of top-notch material on this release. No Heroes is everything a Converge album should be: it shreds, it's mellow at times, it's intelligent, it's angry, it's emotionally engaging, and it shows a logical progression. The word "stagnant" is certainly not a word in Converge's vocabulary. This is easily one of the stronger albums of 2006, and fits nicely in a discography already filled with what many consider to be classics. But then again, it's Converge, would you expect any less?
| Reviewer: Austin Quan Added: October 26th 2006 |
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