After the four-year gap since their last studio album, Massachusetts hardcore/metalcore act Converge return with something quite different. A collaborative effort, Bloodmoon: I (Epitaph Records) sees the band joining forces with Chelsea Wolfe, Ben Chisholm plus Cave In singer/guitarist Stephen Brodsky, the seven individuals all contributing to something a little out of their usual comfort zones.
Cloud Rat has something to say, and if you’re not willing to lend an ear they’re just going to play louder and faster until they get your attention. No, there are rarely any moments that allow for you to catch your breath on Pollinator (Artoffact Records) so know from the rip that these Michiganders intend to keep your head submerged in gray waters for about thirty minutes. Continue reading
Just four months after breaking his elbow and a grueling regimen of physical therapy, Converge and Mutoid Man drummer Benjamin Koller has been given the all clear to play drums again at full strength. Converge is said to have new music expected for release this year and Mutoid Man has been touring relentlessly behind their excellent 2018 album War Moans. Continue reading
After yesterday’s crushing news that Ben Koller would have to be off the road following his devastating elbow injury, Mutoid Man has announced Christopher Maggio (Wear Your Wounds, Coliseum, Trap Them) will step in to play drums for the Mutoids upcoming European tour dates opening for Mastodon and Kvelertak. Maggio is a beast on the drums and a worthy fill in for Koller. Check the link below to donate and share Ben’s GoFundMe to cover expenses if you haven’t done so already!Continue reading
Ben Koller is one of the greatest drummers in music today. A tireless player and entertainer who is the engine of bands such as legends Converge, and the fast on the way to being legends Mutoid Man. Sadly, Ben may be out of action for quite a long time as he broke his elbow in what is being termed a freak accident and is looking at a ton of recovery and rehab, and time spent off the road. The road is where Ben, like most working musicians in metal, make most of their money to live. Now Ben’s fellow Mutant Stephen Brodsky has helped launch a GoFundMe campaign, to raise the money needed to get him on his feet in this difficult time. Being the holidays and times being what they are, please give what you can. And if you can’t donate right now, we ask you to share this post and the link below with as many friends as you can who might like to support Ben. Thanks! Continue reading
A sea change seems to be afoot in the heavy music game. Young bands like Code Orange, Knocked Loose and now Nequient’s approach to the genre is to craft albums that pull from as wide a net of influences as possible and spinning that yarn into functional songs. On Wolves at the Door (Nefarious Industries) Nequient uses d-beat-laden Crust Punk as a framework, and stacks on Thrash, Grindcore, Hardcore, Sludge and Black Metal to create a collage of brutality. Continue reading
In the latest episode of Two Minutes to Late Night, members of Royal Thunder and Mutoid Man were asked to perform three random covers live at Saint Vitus Bar, and the amazing footage is now online. Continue reading
What keeps Converge in the race these days? I don’t mean that as a slight or implying that they’ve lost a step, quite the opposite. More than 20 years into the game and each studio album have been tasked with following up the obelisk that came before it. We’re finally getting The Dusk in Us (Epitaph) five years after their last release. Am I disappointed? Hell no. Not everyone is in the business of following up All We Love We Leave Behind, or Axe to Fall before that.Continue reading
You must respect any band that lives up to their moniker. Imagine being an impressionable metallic youth raiding the local record store and picking up albums from acts known as Poison and Slaughter. Seems metal enough, but then you get home only to realize the swindle and that those tapes were as hard as the Pillsbury Doughboy. When you listen to Hostage Animal (Southern Lord) by All Pigs Must Die, you don’t have that problem. Continue reading
Ben Koller announced back in January that Converge would be releasing a new album this year, and he was not lying. Continue reading