Initial Recation to Converge's All We Love We Leave Behind

I haven't honestly cared about anything going on in hardcore for many years, except for Converge that is. It's not that I'm behind enough that I still think that hardcore is being dominated by cut and paste Hot Topic clones that were such a shameful blemish on the history of heavy music, I realize that hardcore has made some steps in the right direction over the past few years. It's just, well, why have knockoffs when you can have the real thing? And in this case the real thing does happen to really be that much better than everything else. Sure Trap Them and all the (verb)-er bands are great and I'd be lying if I said I haven't listened to them, but this isn't a Pepsi versus Coke argument. I dare someone to listen to this new Converge full-length and tell me that any other band imitating them isn't wasting their time. I'm also not trying to say that all the Deathwish/Entombed-core bands are ripping them off as some of them definitely have their own identity (I certainly wasn't trying to tear into Trap Them), but each Converge release is so consistently good that it pretty much satisfies any craving for fast, agressive music that I could possibly have. With each album they put out I always catch myself thinking the same thing: "there's no way that they are going to be able to top this one", and yet they are one of the only bands that has not only stayed relevant to their time, but have also continually assured that their legacy will go unblemished by pushing themselves further sonically and as songwriters. I think most Converge fans agree that Jane Doe is the band's magnum opus, but unlike some bands that have the pinnacle that will never be topped, Converge still doesn't dissapoint fans when they unleash another LP. In other words, is All We Love We Leave Behind really better than Axe to Fall, Jane Doe, or any of the other band's legendary releases? It doesn't matter, because each new Converge record is relevant to the time it's released in. You never hear a hardcore/metal fan say "I really wish the new Converge album was as good as Jane Doe" and the reason for that for me personally is that the fire I felt inside when I first heard that album is rekindled with every new Converge release. Sure things have changed and I may never be albe to recapture those feelings, but it's more about consistency than it is topping something.

So how is the new record unique? Well it's still Converge, but I think my initial reaction is picking up on slightly more thrash/punk/doom influence this time around, then again that might be because their last album Axe to Fall featured so many detours and guest spots. This record is more straightforward but still offers variety and has its own unique feel, just the same way all of their other albums do. It's rock and roll but presented in the most descructive and precise way possible, I'd have to say my favorite track so far is "Coral Blue". I'm giving it another listen right now and I can already tell I have a good AOTY contender, and of course I can already tell that my hardcore listening quota will be well satisfied until the next Converge album. Watch the video, the visuals accompany the songs really well.

Corey