Converge
Unloved And Weeded Out

Converge have by now earned a prominent place within the Post Hardcore scene; and here I'll immediately take a step back because Converge are not Post Hardcore and defining them as such is rather cursory.

A myriad of different influences fuses in this band from the stars and stripes, ranging from classic Hc to Grind and, why not, even psychedelic. You will understand from now that the blend proposed is quite difficult to digest, especially considering that it is not even remotely touched by Stoner Rock as happens with many other bands. Among the major exponents of the genre, I would like to mention Isis and Dillinger Escape Plan, perhaps those closest to the sound of Converge. Some talk about Mathcore, a term that in theory should encompass all those bands that have inserted Metal and Jazz elements into Post Hardcore, but in all honesty, I don't believe it is the most appropriate to define Converge's music (better to use it for Dillinger Escape Plan or Ion Disoonance).

As I said before, our guys are certainly not newcomers and have considerable works behind them, first among them the masterpiece "Jane Doe", but also "You Fail Me" and "Petitioning The Empty Sky": however, if we exclude the early, rough beginnings of this band (the various initial demos), the only chapter to remain ignored is "Unloved And Weeded Out" from 2003, which seems to foreshadow its fate starting from the title. Honestly, I haven't been able to get much information about the album in question (apart from that it is a collection of unreleased and old tracks present on unknown demos), but I think I can affirm without fear of being wrong that its only misfortune was to follow "Jane Doe" and thus was overshadowed by the success of the Converge-branded masterpiece. However, at least this is my opinion, the album in question is the highest point ever reached by the band, a perfect synthesis between the ideas of 'Jane Doe', the attitude of the past and a glance at the ominous future of "You Fail Me"; in other words, Converge managed to channel the ideas of the previous work, bringing them to fruition in this CD.

Those accustomed to their sound will certainly not be disappointed by what is contained in the fourteen tracks (of which two are live); fourteen tales of emotional catastrophe and distress, of the death of good intentions and the triumph of universal chaos. This is what Converge are in the intentions of their creators; they are the crisis of the individual, they are the soundtrack of the biographical vicissitudes of its creators, they are hope that shatters not without that desperate and sardonic schizophrenia that characterizes every true failure. And every element contributes to this purpose: the guitar riffing is dissonant, chaotic, fast, like a body in the throes of convulsions. A listener almost ends up forgetting the technical level of the parts, swept away by the decadent madness of the compositions: but the difficulty of Converge's proposal is very high and does not escape those who manage to stay in control during playback. Skillfully mixed, melody ("Flowers And Razorwire") and destruction ("The High Cost Of Playing God") intertwine with the precise purpose of annihilating the (un)fortunate buyer.

A great performance also from the drummer, agile in changing tempo continuously and performing assorted counter-tempos often borrowed from Jazz or Prog. The production, decidedly dirty, does not help bring out the bass, an instrument that in itself always remains in the background; however, its role is indispensable in all tracks that otherwise would be less effective. But now we come to the gem of the album and, perhaps, of Converge themselves; Jacob Bannon, singer and owner of Deathwish Records, the label for which his band records. Few have developed such an exasperated and deadly vocal timbre, and surely the band, without him, would be soulless; he is the engine of the group and best represents their message. An abnormal screaming, very far from that commonly understood of Black Metal or Melodeath, and damn expressive. The songs are distinguished well from each other, which reveals a composed phase studied (but at the same time conceptually spontaneous) as fits professionals like Converge.

In conclusion, "Unloved And Weeded Out" is (a very personal judgment) the growth of "Jane Doe" as well as the customs for the birth of the current sound of the group; those looking for pure brutality should abstain, but also those looking for tragic feelings. This album is a harsh, violent, and immediate feeling, it's a nervous breakdown..."We Left Our Bodies For The Skies/And Ended Up Here"...