Tag Archives: converge

KVELERTAK – Meir

Posted on by

Kvelertak - MeirAfter being totally immersed in music for a decade or two (or three), it’s easy to grow desensitized to the untainted joy and fresh excitement that music can bring. Thankfully, there is Norway’s KVELERTAK that easily remind us all why we became music freaks in the first place.  With their second album, Meir, the band easily meet the lofty expectations set by their explosive debut.

KVELERTAK have matured as songwriters and have taken their fun and exciting hybrid of Norwegian black metal, rock ‘n roll, and punk to fresh places.  The trademarks of the 8th note downstroked riffing, blast beats, bluesy solos, and gang vocals are still intact.  The band effectively use melodic guitar leads, acoustic guitars, and soulful rock ‘n roll riffing with their black metal dimension.  Meir can sound equally happy and fun as well as ugly, mean, and black.  Arguably, the highlight of the album is the blazing “Nekrokosmos.”  The song starts off in a fairly standard way before it ends with a long instrumental bridge that is beautifully reminiscent of EMPEROR‘s “With Strength I Burn” and “The Wanderer.”

CONVERGE guitarist Kurt Ballou has done a perfect job with the production side of the album.  Meir is perfectly balanced, warm, and has natural tones.

Meir generates the kind of emotions that excite a person to (re)dedicate their lives to music.  Fresh, fun, exciting, and just so fucking good.  Buy or die. (Roadrunner Records)

Short Film on CONVERGE Frontman Online

Posted on by

The production team McFarland and Pecci have created a short form documentary, Rungs in the Ladder, about CONVERGE frontman/Deathwish Inc. co-owner, Jacob Bannon.

In the film, Bannon reflects on formative events in his life and his continuing commitment to creation rather than destruction. A commitment that, he explains, is fueled as much by anger as a desire to create a legacy that inspires.

Check out the film:

Video of the Day: What Do You Get When You Combine CONVERGE and ENTOMBED?

Posted on by

Heavy music fans were given a special treat at CONVERGE‘s show in Stockholm, Sweden last December.  ENTOMBED‘s LG Petrov came out to sing the ENTOMBED classic, “Wolverine Blues,” with the band.  CONVERGE have never made it a secret that one of their favorite and biggest inspirations have been these Swedish death metal gods.  Check out the footage:

KVELERTAK Release First Studio Video Update

Posted on by

Acclaimed Norwegian black/death punkers KVELERTAK have released the first video from their recording session at Godcity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts with CONVERGE‘s Kurt Ballou. The band recently commented on what’s in store for the next album with the following: “All I can say is, this album is going to fuck the first album in the ass. Hard.”

The band will be headed on their first extensive U.S. tour this October alongside CONVERGE and TORCHE.

CONVERGE “All We Love We Leave Behind” U.S. Tour Announced

Posted on by

Hardcore heroes CONVERGE will be going out on tour this Fall in support of their upcoming album, All We Love We Leave Behind.  Coming along for the ride are TORCHE, KVELERTAK, and NAILS and WHIPS/CHAINS for select dates.   Check out the tour dates.  How can you not come out and see this tour?

All We Love We Leave Behind will be released on October 9th, 2012 on Epitaph Records/Deathwish Inc.  Check out a track from CONVERGE‘s recent split release with NAPALM DEATH below.

CONVERGE and NAPALM DEATH Split 7″EP Coming Soon

Posted on by

Legendary bands CONVERGE and NAPALM DEATH have come together for a split release on Deathwish Inc.

Recorded as part of their new album sessions, CONVERGE offer up the blazing new song “No Light Escapes.” Also on the release, CONVERGE offer a “We Are the World” styled rendition of the influential ENTOMBED classic “Wolverine Blues.” Joining them in tribute is a number of friends including Tomas Lindberg (DISFEAR, AT THE GATES, LOCK UP), Aaron Turner (ISIS, OLD MAN GLOOM, SPLIT CRANIUM), Kevin Baker (APMD, THE HOPE CONSPIRACY), Brian Izzi (TRAP THEM), and more. A new CONVERGE album will surface later in 2012 on Epitaph/Deathwish Inc.

On the flip side, metal pioneers NAPALM DEATH offer up two new aural monsters. First, “Will By Mouth” erupts in classic grind fashion. Also on the release, NAPALM DEATH offer the slower and textural new song “No Impediment To Triumph (Bhopal)“. A deeply resonant number that lyrically sheds light on the horrific Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984.

CONVERGE & DROPDEAD – Split 7″

Posted on by

While we all eagerly await for new full length records from hardcore/punk heavyweights, CONVERGE and DROPDEAD, the aforementioned bands have given us a little morsel to satiate our hunger. This 7″ inch split release features one song from each band. So yeah, two songs total may not sound like much but please withhold judgment until you hear them. It may sound totally cliche but these songs are adrenaline shots of energy.

CONVERGE‘s “Runaway” sounds like the song title implies. Kurt Ballou‘s guitar roars like an elephant on the loose before the band blast forward with a verse riff that could fit on any Scandinavian black metal album. The other CONVERGE trademarks, powerhouse drumming, bulldozer bass, and scathing vocals, are all here. This is the way 2:05 of pure intensity should sound.

DROPDEAD‘s “Paths of Glory” is even more succinct. Ultra tight with catchy vocal lines, the band only holds back the tempo for a bit near the end just to stretch out before the speed returns again.

This split is a nice little nugget that helps to celebrate both bands’ twenty years bashing out great music. (Deathwish Inc.)

RISE AND FALL Provide Recording Update, Announce Tour Dates

Posted on by

From the RISE AND FALL camp:

“We’re in the process of writing a new record and contrary to past writing experiences where, unfortunately, the comparison with “some kind of monster” came to mind more than once, this time around the experience is actually an inspiring and really creative one. Together with our new drummer Wim, who is now a full time member of RISE AND FALL, we have written a great deal of songs and the record is slowly coming together in our heads. Early March we are doing preproduction and early May we will enter the infamous Godcity studio in Salem, MA (USA) with Kurt Ballou to record our 4th full length album.”

The recording session will be followed by a short tour of the North-East of the USA in May with Southern Lord recording artists MASAKARI. Go here for tour dates.

CONVERGE Announce Limited Edition On My Shield 7″ EP

Posted on by

CONVERGE will be releasing a self-released, limited edition 7″ EP of the song “On My Shield“. The band recorded the song at Godcity studios between their 2010 “Axe to Fall” U.S. and European tours.

“On My Shield” will be limited to 3000 copies, and be available in three different colors. Side A will feature the “On My Shield” song, while side B will feature a laser etching.

The EP will be available exclusively through the following:

  • Color #1 (limited to 1000): Direct from the band on their “Axe to Fall” European tour
  • Color #2 (limited to 1000): Through the official CONVERGE Estore (available after the tour)
  • Color #3 (limited to 1000): Vinyl retailers can purchase this wholesale via Deathwish Direct Distribution

Visit the band’s official website for up-to-date tour dates for their European tour: http://www.convergecult.com/