Converge : "The Dusk In Us"

20 years ago I got into this band called Converge. Someone told me they were like Sunny Day Real estate if they were a hard core band. In the 20 years that passed they haven't let me down, though things have changed. Guitarist Kurt Ballou is now an experienced producer. With the guitarist behind the mixing board , the guitars are warm and organic sitting in the mix with every thing else. As I was listening to this new album, my iTunes shuffled it and "the Saddest Day" came on reminding me of what I fell in love with so many moons ago. They are the same band and at the same time they are not , but I have always respected what they have done. "Eye of the Quarrel" makes it pretty clear that their punk side has not gone anywhere. Bannon's vocals are not screamed with the same brand of emotional tumult that they once were. In fact you can understand what he is yelling pretty easily.

More of the grit that I want from them returns on "Under Duress". The chorus delivered in a throaty bellow. The drummer uses this song as a chance to get creative and throw in oddly timed punches. The spastic math acrobatics of "Arkhipov Calm" is what you expect from post-"You Fail Me" Converge. I have already seen the video for "I Can Tell You About Pain", but it connected with me when I listened to it through head phones. At just under seven a half minutes the title track is the album's longest running song. It's the moments where Converge indulges their more melodic side that resonates the most with me. Bannon's singing voice has come a long way. They are one of the rare birds that when you see them live you are only getting on side of the band as the more melodic fare proves to be the most unlikely for them to play live.

"Wildlife" is a better representation of what the band sounds like live. Though Bannon's vocals live are more barked than the punk manner he is spitting out clearer cut lyrics here.They tap into a unique blend of atmosphere and tension on " Murk and Marrow". There is a more Amp Rep styled noise rock to the bass driven thump of "Trigger". Both "Broken By Light" and "Cannibals" are short explosive bursts. The difference being the thrash metal riffs thrown into "Broken By Light"  , where "Cannibals" is almost more punk blasted grind core in it's outburst. Strummed guitar is not the first thing you expect from Converge. It's done in a rough around the edges , with the vocals falling somewhere between being whispered and sung. It evolves into more actual singing which might make this the Converge album with the most clean vocals.

It closes with "Reptillian" one of the songs that preceded the release of the album. This is one of the album's most clear cut metal moments. Metal is something thrown in for a few measures here and there in other places , but here headbanging is in full effect. I'll round this up to a 9.5, which falls in line with their more recent work, but not "Jane Doe " or "When Forever Comes Crashing" level. Converge fans will still be very pleased .

Baptists : "Bloodmines"

This Vancouver band  tries to cover some of  the same ground Converge does, they are dark, angry and angular at times.This fact is further pushed into the spot light by the fact that Kurt Ballou. Their debut album "Bushcraft" was met with tremendous buzz and it really depends on how much you ask of you hard core as to if you consider this to be a sophomore slump.

When they are more straight forward like they are on "String Up" they capture the things I tend to fast forward past on a Converge album.These songs are so short they seamlessly pass from one to another.The thick meaty bass line opening "Vistas" really helps set it apart. The song takes on a stompier doom vibe, with some impressive guitar melodies lingering about. The rabid bark of  "Harm Induction" digresses into the more punk roots."Festered" follows a similar path, but both songs have a cool riff here or there, but the rule around here is that cool riffs alone don't make for a good song.

On the title track they slow down to catch a groove and slip up and write a good song. The guitar has tension. The vocals come close to singing and not just barking with abandon. "Calling" has more of a Amp Rep like feed backed bluster to it. There is also a Black Flag like element to the vocal assault.The album closes with the band back at the altar of Converge. The lower growl helps vary things a little,  but drumming is a little to simplistic.

Converge has already spoiled me on this kind of thing, so the bar is raised pretty hard. The title track tells me these guys are capable of greatness if they can calm down and focus on it. It does have it moments and I will give them a 6 for those. Not something I would listen to on a regular basis , since if  I was in the mood for this I would pull out "When Forever Comes Crashing", but you might be too young to know better if that's the case go ahead and around this up to a 7.