Converge

About Converge

Converge started as a cover band in Salem, Massachusetts, playing hardcore, punk, and metal standards before transitioning to original material in the mid-1990s. Their early releases on limited vinyl through Earthmaker Records and subsequent compilations like Caring and Killing established them within underground circles. By the time they reached their third album, When Forever Comes Crashing in 1998, the band had cycled through several musicians before settling on the lineup that would define their sound: Bannon on vocals, Ballou on guitar, Nate Newton on bass, and Ben Koller on drums.

Jane Doe in 2001 marked the band's breakthrough and remains their most recognized work, earning critical praise for its compositional complexity and raw production. After signing to Epitaph Records in 2004, Converge expanded their reach with albums like You Fail Me and All We Love We Leave Behind, both achieving stronger chart positions while maintaining their intensity. The band's subsequent releases including Axe to Fall, The Dusk in Us, and collaborative work with Chelsea Wolfe on Bloodmoon: I demonstrated their continued evolution. Bannon's Deathwish Inc. label has also handled various Converge pressings alongside other releases, giving collectors multiple avenues for acquiring their material.

The Groove Hunter currently tracks 5 editions across Converge's discography, including physical copies of Hum Of Hurt, AXE TO FALL, No Heroes CLOUDY CLEAR/BLACK GALAXY, Love Is Not Enough, and Live at CBGBs. Collectors should note that earlier albums like Petitioning the Empty Sky and When Forever Comes Crashing have been reissued with revised audio and artwork, making original pressings and subsequent variants worth distinguishing when building a complete collection.