Converge: All We Love We Leave Behind (Epitaph, 10/9/12)
“Aimless Arrow”
The eighth full-length album from Converge is every bit the frenetic, neck-snapping metalcore monster that two decades of precedent could have promised. Yet even when sticking to some of its shortest, most explosive hardcore throw-downs, the Salem-based quartet maintains a dedication to craft and perfection.
All We Love We Leave Behind begins with “Aimless Arrow,” easily the most melodic Converge album opener to date, with post-hardcore riffs underscoring an impassioned vocal performance. And it closes with “Predatory Glow,” a more slowly moving sludge beast that stands in stark contrast to where the record begins. In the remaining 12 tracks, the group explores the space between these poles, reflecting the members’ mix of influences.
Though expectations are best left wide open when approaching a new Converge album, two things remain constant: it’ll never be half-assed, and it most certainly won’t be boring.