Converge guitarist Kurt Bellou and bassist Nate Newton are interviewed by Metal Injection guest correspondent Leo Miller (former vocalist of Animosity). Eventually, frontman Jacob Bannon cuts into the interview to grill Leo. Watch the video below, then see an entire Converge set at Metal Injection!
Converge's Axe to Fall Receives Acclaimed Reviews from Press
After months of anticipation, groundbreaking metal/hardcore band Converge has released their highly anticipated new album, Axe To Fall.
Three years after their celebrated album No Heroes, critics agree that metal and hardcore's most aggressive band, Converge, have delivered one of the best albums of their career and one of the best metal/hardcore albums of the year. Not only has Axe To Fall been praised by metal and hardcore fans and critics, but it's also captured the undivided attention of indie and rock audiences, exposing one of underground metal/hardcore's most uncompromising bands to mainstream audiences around the world.
Converge are currently blowing minds and filling pits across the US on tour with Mastodon, High on Fire and Dethklok. Don't miss an exhilarating performance from the world's most aggressive band.
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT AXE TO FALL:
"...a record that rivals "Jane Doe" and anything else that's come out this year" - Decibel (10/10)
"...your entire genre just saw its bar raised another 50 feet." - Revolver (4.5/5)
"Converge are this generation's Black Flag" - Pitchfork (8.5/10)
"The band still sounds like Converge, but like a Converge that's been around for 19 years and continues adding distinctively new details to their attack." - Stereogum.com
"...they've earned a reputation so formidable it'd give a lesser band performance anxiety." - Chicago Reader
"Converge merges the speed of hardcore, the virtuosity of metal and the guttural agonies of thrash, and its seventh album, "Axe to Fall," hurtles through a new batch of imprecations and apocalypses." - New York Times
"The kings of underground hardcore metal deliver so consistently that it becomes an exercise in finding new ways to say, "They still shred." - Inked
"The 13 songs encapsulate so much bitterness, rage, and fury in their brief, flickering existence, we might as well be talking about a Dali painting or an allegorical poem" - Outburn (10/10)
"perhaps the Massachusetts foursome's most accomplished record to date." - BBC
""Axe to Fall" is a big step forward for them" - Allmusic.com (4.5/5)
"Boston, MA, metal heads Converge have captured the destructive force of a wrecking ball in the song ("Axe To Fall")... and it rocks!" - SPIN.com
"If the world's really going to hell in a handbasket, this could well herald in the horsemen" - Kerrang! (4/5)
"...a corrosive symphony of punishing hardcore, unexpected touches of space rock and back-breaking metal, all held together by Bannon's psychoanalytical lyrics." - Boston Herald
""Axe to Fall" is a blistering metallic masterpiece" - Riverfront Times
""Axe", in all its variety, is far and away the most accessible - and dare I say the most fun - music Converge have made." - The Boston Phoenix
""Axe to Fall" encapsulates the creative arc of a long career, and proves that intelligence and imagination rule, no matter how thuggish the initial impulse." - The Big Takeover
"... Converge are showing neither the barest hint of slippage or fatigue whilst penning some of the most frantic, ferocious and God damn unrelenting music of their lives" - Rock Sound (UK) (9/10)
"...their furious extreme-metal jams churn with a tightly honed precision the band abjured on 2006's raw No Heroes and 2004's sludgy "You Fail Me."" - LA Weekly
""Axe to Fall" is a dazzling array of white-hot metal riffing in amongst colossal grooves and thick-textured soundscapes. To even be causing the debate of whether or not it's a better album than ‘Jane Doe' is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the quality of the band's latest and perhaps greatest." - Metal Hammer (UK)
""Axe" is a rampage of intricate drumming and six-string heroics." - Cleveland Scene
""Axe to Fall" is like mainlining adrenaline" - Westword
""Axe to Fall," shreds pretty damn hard" - Miami New Times
"There's plenty of other goodies to sink your teeth into on "Axe to Fall"" - Shockhound.com
"Is there any other group more qualified than Converge to hold the 'Most Influential Hardcore Band of the Last Decade' title?" - Lambgoat.com (8/10)
""Axe to Fall" is 110% CONVERGE and has easily succeeded in meeting (and quite possibly surpassing) everyone's expectations." - Apeshit.org
"Even though they cemented their place in the metal hall of fame years ago, Converge continues to challenge themselves and release music that blows every other band out of the water." - Absolutepunk.net (90%)
"possibly the best album of Converge's career." - Metalinjection.net (4.5/5)
""Axe to Fall" features some of the band's tightest, most interesting songwriting, as well as providing one of the most satisfying repeat listens of any Converge album." - Metalsucks.net (4.5/5)
"Truly, with "Axe To Fall" the band have proudly delivered another cornerstone album in their already impressive discography. A ravenous sonic envelopment that defines all their best traits, while trailblazing for future avenues yet to be fully explored." - ThePrp.com (5/5)
"Metalcore album of the year" - TheMetalUnderground.com (4.5/5)
"one of the best heavy metal albums of 2009, if not the best." - Ultimate-Guitar.com (9.3/10)
"Converge has elected growth over rote, choosing to create an album of challenging depth and horrifying beauty that still respects and builds on the balls-to-the-wall ferocity of the band's previous work." - Blogcritics.org
"Converge has yet again proven why they are one of the most revered underground bands ever to lay music to tape. "Axe to Fall" isn't just another album - it represents the anger, the sadness and the unrest faced by us all in this time of socioeconomic instability and fear. It is the sound of discontent and the cry of the masses. Let us stand together and sing its praises. - Decoymusic.com (5/5)
Converge Tour Dates:
11/04: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/05: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/07: Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/08: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pompano Beach Amphit w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/11: Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/12: Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/13: Austin, TX @ Austin City Music Hall w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/14: Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/16: Las Cruces, NM @ Pan American Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/17: Mesa, AZ @ Marquee Theatre w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/18: Las Vegas, House of Blues w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/19: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/20: Los Angeles, CA @ Palladium w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
11/21: San Jose, CA @ Event Center w/ Mastodon, Dethklok, High On Fire
05/28: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Entombed, Obituary, 16, and more
John's new EP City Route 85 is available online right now and starting today you can pre-order the EP on 7" vinyl! Check out all the bundles below, then head over to the Official Epitaph Store to pre-order your vinyl today!
City Route 85 2x 7" EP & T-Shirt
This bundle includes:
- City Route 85 EP on limited edition white vinyl - City Route 85 EP on black vinyl - Limited edition City Route 85 t-shirt
City Route 85 7" EP & T-Shirt
This bundles includes:
- City Route 85 EP on limited edition white vinyl - Limited edition City Route 85 t-shirt
City Route 85 2x 7" EP
This bundles includes:
- City Route 85 EP on limited edition white vinyl - City Route 85 EP on black vinyl
Crimson Management is pleased to announce their First Annual This Is New England Tour kicking off Nov 28th! The lineup will feature VANNA, Therefore I Am, and A Loss For Words in Hartford, CT. 17 dates to mosh it up, tour ends in Providence, RI on December 19th. They’re keeping it strickly north east, those lucky bastards.
Nov 28 – Webster Underground – Hartford, CT Nov 29 – The Loft @ The Chance – PoughKeepsie, NY Nov 30 – Eleanor Rigby’s – Jermyn, PA Dec 01 – The Eldolyn Terrace – Altoona, PA Dec 03 – Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI Dec 04 – Frankies – Toledo, OH Dec 05 – Mojoes Coffee House – Chicago, IL Dec 06 – Fubar – St. Louis, MO Dec 07 – Club Neon – Springfield, MO Dec 08 – 4H Building – Popular Bluff, MO Dec 09 – The Coup – Clarksville, TN Dec 11 – The Brewery – Raleigh, NC Dec 12 – Alley Katz – Richmond, VA Dec 13 – Harmony Grange – Wilmington, DE Dec 14 – Otto Bar – Baltimore, MD Dec 15 – The Aquifer – Clinton, NJ Dec 16 – Masquerade Club @ The Crocodile Rock – Allentown, PA Dec 17 – The Vibe Lounge – Rockville, NY Dec 18 – The Kave – Bangor, ME Dec 19 – Lupo’s – Providence, RI
Want to win a First Act guitar signed by Thursday? All you have to do is become a fan of Epitaph on Facebook, click the Share button on this note titled "Win a Signed Guitar From Thursday" to spread the word across Facebook and you'll be entered to win!
STORY OF THE YEAR COME OUT SWINGING WITH NEW MUSIC AND TOUR
St. Louis rockers Story of the Year have unleashed a hard-hitting new song, "To the Burial," today in anticipation of their upcoming US tour with The Devil Wears Prada and All That Remains.
From the opening echoes of singer Dan Marsala to the huge metal riffs and a soaring solo from dual guitarists Ryan Philips and Phil Sneed and snarling bass of Adam Russell backed by the punk rock pummeling of Josh Wills, "To The Burial" comes out of the gates with the only one agenda....to kick ass. The new song will be available for purchase on iTunes on Dec 1.
Having spent the last year doing light tours in the US, Brazil and Japan before locking themselves in the studio for the remainder of the time, Story of the Year have emerged rejuvenated and ready to rock. Fans are encouraged to follow the band's Twitter page (@storyoftheyear) for news, updates, contests, free tickets and more!!
Story of the Year Tour Dates (w/ The Devil Wears Prada, All That Remains & Haste The Day):
11/20 - Victory Sports Complex - Loves Park, IL 11/21 - The Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI 11/22 - Headliner's - Louisville, KY 11/23 - Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY 11/24 - The Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY 11/25 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH 11/27 - Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH 11/28 - Egyptian Room @ The Murat Centre - Indianpolis, IN 11/29 - Val Air Ballroom - Des Moines, IA 11/30 - Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE 12/2 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO 12/4 - The New Oasis - Sparks, NV 12/5 - Empire Events Center - Sacramento, CA 12/6 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA 12/7 - The Dome - Bakersfield, CA 12/9 - The Grove - Anaheim, CA 12/10 - Majestic Ventura Theater - Ventura, CA 12/11 - Soma - San Diego, CA 12/12 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ 12/13 - Club 101 - El Paso, TX 12/14 - White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX 12/16 - The Pavilion at Concrete Street - Corpus Christi, TX 12/18 - Rocketown - Nashville, TN 12/19 - Lincoln Theater - Raleigh, NC 12/20 - The NorVA - Norfolk, VA 12/21 - Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA
Help Story of the Year hit 7000 fans on Facebook and they'll release a brand new track! Repost this and tell all your friends! www.facebook.com/storyoftheyear
Minneapolis Up and Coming Popsters On North American Tour
Dynamic Pop rockers Sing It Loud will be taking their arena friendly power chord fueled anthemic sound on the road for the Taco Bell “Cheap Date” Tour along with Texans Forever the Sickest Kids, Bryce Avary’s The Rocket Summer and My Favorite Highway beginning this October 27th. After a stint inciting youthful pandemonium to crowds across the country on the 2009 Warped Tour with their perfect melding of vocalist/guitarist Pat Brown's love of pop punk with fellow guitarist/vocalist Kieren Smith's affinity for the classic fist pumping celebratory rock and roll of bands’ like Kiss and Def Leppard, the young Minneapolis rising stars are currently in the studio recording the follow up to their Epitaph released debut album Come Around which was produced by fellow Minneapolis resident and band supporter Josh Cain of Motion Picture Soundtrack.
“Sing It Loud craft sugary, synth-heavy pop anthems that demand the assistance of a stadium sized audience.” – Alternative Press
Sing It Loud Tour Dates:
10/27 - Beaumont Club - Kansas City , MO 10/28 - Peoples Court - Des Moines, IA 10/29 - Station 4 – St. Paul, MN 10/30 - The Rave – Milwaukee, WI 10/31 - House of Blues – Chicago, IL 11/1 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL 11/3 – Orbit Room – Grand Rapids, MI 11/4 – Clutch Cargo’s – Pontiac, MI 11/5 – Bogarts – Cincinnati, OH 11/6 – American University Tavern – Washington, D.C. 11/7 – Sonar – Baltimore, MD 11/8 – Diesel Club Lounge – Pittsburgh, PA 11/9 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY 11/11 – Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY 11/12 – Starland Ballroom – Sayerville, NJ 11/13 – Crocodile Rock – Allentown, PA 11/14 – Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA 11/15 – House of Blues – Cambridge, MA 11/18 – Greene Street Club – Greensboro, NC 11/19 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 11/20 – State Theater – St. Petersburg, FL 11/21 – Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL 11/22 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL 11/24 – New Daisy Theatre – Memphis, TN 11/25 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX 11/27 – White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX 11/28 – Meridian – Houston, TX 11/29 – Jagz – Pharr, TX 12/1 – Rialto Theater – Tucson, AZ 12/2 – Soma – San Diego, CA 12/3 – The Avalon – Hollywood, CA 12/4 – Grand Ballroom - San Francisco, CA 12/5 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
English folk-punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner will make his triumphant return to the US on Nov. 1 where he will join up with "The Revival Tour" alongside Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Jim Ward (Sparta), Tim Barry (Avail), Joey Cape (Lagwagon) and Dave Hause (The Loved Ones) among others.
After an unprecedented year touring with The Offspring and The Gaslight Anthem and generating enthusiastic press, Turner continues his non-stop trek across the US winning over audiences with his phenomenal live show. Fans that have seen his riveting performances don't walk away merely content on seeing a great performer, but feel the need to spread the word of Turner's passionate music and heartfelt lyrics.
Turner is touring the US in support of his recently released critically raved about third studio album, Poetry of the Deed. Called "his finest work" (Portland Mercury) and his "most consistent record yet" (NME), "Poetry of the Deed is a superb record that should shine a light on Turner not only as a brave new and, most importantly, thoroughly unmanufactured talent in the murky waters of the British singer-songwriter, but as a guy with a guitar slung over his back who can command venues from living rooms to huge concert halls" (BBC Radio 1).
Don't miss one of this generation's most endearing and gifted new singer-songwriters live this Nov.
Frank Turner Tour Dates (w/ "The Revival Tour"):
11/1 - Berbati's Pan - Portland, OR 11/4 - The Blank Club - San Jose, CA 11/5 - The Blue Lamp - Sacramento, CA 11/6 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA 11/7 - El Rey Theater - Los Angeles, CA 11/8 - Casbah - San Diego, CA 11/9 - Beauty Bar - Las Vegas, NV 11/10 - The Sets - Tempe, AZ 11/11 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM 11/12 - Take 2 - El Paso, TX 11/13 - Red 7 - Austin, TX 11/14 - The Door - Dallas, TX 11/15 - Juanita's Cantina - Little Rock, AR 11/16 - Hi-Tone Café - Memphis, TN 11/17 - One-Eyed Jack's - New Orleans, LA 11/18 - The Bottletree Café - Birmingham, AL 11/19 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA 11/20 - Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL 11/21 - State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL 11/22 - The Social - Orlando, FL
MUSIC SAVES LIVES AND KEVIN LYMAN’S UNITE THE UNITED FOUNDATION TO AUCTION OFF A VIP MEET AND GREET WITH ATREYU AND ESCAPE THE FATE
RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS
Music Saves Lives, the trusted conduit between music, entertainment and important life-saving causes, has joined forces with Kevin Lyman's Unite The United and Monster Energy rock band Atreyu along with Epitaph band Escape the Fate in an effort to raise money and awareness of life saving issues, five winning bidders and their guests will have the opportunity to meet the band, attend the tour date at Roseland Ballroom New York City, and be part of saving lives.
October 29th, 2009 Atreyu, Escape the Fate and others will be at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The meet and greet will take place before the show and after the sound check.
Atreyu and Escape the Fate have been avid supporters of Music Saves Lives over the years.
Music Saves Lives has focused its main efforts on blood donation, reaching out to youth by sharing facts and educating at music tours nationwide. Music Saves Lives has encouraged over 150,000 young people to donate blood during the last 3 summers. It has been honored, three years in a row, by the American Red Cross for donor promotion of the year.
The United The United Foundation is a charitable organization founded by the producers of the Vans Warped Tour, Rockstar Taste Of Chaos Tour and Mayhem Tour, with a mission to encourage fans, artists and industry leaders from the music, touring and lifestyle worlds to come together though charitable contributions, events and volunteer efforts in order to work toward a positive change in the community.
To take part in this life saving opportunity and meet the bands visit www.unitetheunited.org or www.musicsaveslives.org . The auction starts October 20st and will run until October 27th.
Information about Music Saves Lives and its life saving efforts visit: www.musicsaveslives.org
Information about the current Atreyu and Escape the Fate Tour please visit http://www.atreyurock.com/home.html or http://www.myspace.com/escapethefate
Converge's brand new record Axe To Fall hit stores today and there are some great deals out there! Download the record from Shockhound for just $6.99 or pick up the CD and an exclusive t-shirt at Hot Topic for just $20! The album is also available for download from iTunes or Amazon MP3 or you can pick up a copy at your local record store!
Also, be sure to checkout Converge's entire performance at Club Europa in Brooklyn from March 27th, now streaming at MetalKult and a track by track analysis of Axe To Fall with Jake Bannon over at Decibel Magazine!
Thursday premiered their brand new video for "Circuits of Fever" at Spinner! Check out the video below and be sure to pick up Common Existence Deluxe Edition, featuring 5 previously unreleased tracks, now available on iTunes
Frank Turner raises a PBR or three and slams through an epic house party set including "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous," "Substitute," "Worse Things Happen At Sea," "Sunshine State," "Dan's Song," "Nashville Tennessee" and "Photosynthesis." Check out the video below, and pick up Frank's latest album Poetry of the Deed on iTunes!
To celebrate the "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" video premiere, the 7” is now available from the Epitaph Store along with some new shirts and a new hoodie. The 7" features the B-Side “I’m The Fool” which was only previously available on iTunes or on the Japanese edition of Not Without A Fight.
This Bundle Includes: - "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" 7" Aqua vinyl, limited to 666 copies - "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" 7" Orange vinyl, limited to 1334 copies - "Don’t Let Her Pull You Down" T-Shirt - 24“x36” full color movie poster
This Bundle Includes: - "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" 7" Aqua vinyl, limited to 666 copies - "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" 7" Orange vinyl, limited to 1334 copies
