- No Heroes
-
For the Humble Gods album, see No Heroes (Humble Gods album).
No Heroes Studio album by Converge Released October 24, 2006 Recorded at GodCity studios Genre Metalcore, mathcore, hardcore punk Length 41:37 Label Epitaph Producer Kurt Ballou, Converge Professional reviews The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space.
- AbsolutePunk (89%) link
- Allmusic [1]
- Drowned in Sound (8/10)[2]
- Exclaim! (favorable)[3]
- Pitchfork Media (8.1/10) link
- PopMatters (8/10)[4]
- Orlando Weekly (favorable) link
- Stylus Magazine (B+) link
- Sputnikmusic (4.5/5) link
Converge chronology You Fail Me
(2004)No Heroes
(2006)Axe to Fall
(2009)No Heroes is the sixth album by Converge. The album was released on October 24, 2006, on Epitaph Records. By January 11, 2007, it had sold 17,000 copies in the U.S.[citation needed] It peaked at number 151 in the Billboard 200. It topped the Top Heatseekers chart and reached number 13 in the Independent Albums listings.[5] It was named the #1 album of 2006 in Sputnikmusic's staff "Best of 2006" list.
Contents
About
In early July, Converge's official website announced the title of the album, as well as the meaning behind it:
- These days, cowards outnumber the heroes, and the begging souls outweigh the calloused hands of the hardest of workers. Both in life and in art, the lack of passion is sickening, and the lust for complacency is poisonous. This album is the artistic antithesis of that sinking world; a thorn in the side of their beast. It's for those who move mountains one day at a time. It's for those who truly understand sacrifice. In our world of enemies, we will walk alone...
Reception
No Heroes was given 8.1/10 by Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media as he said "Conceptually reminiscent of the way Orthrelm's OV rocked socks within a tight framework, No Heroes is one of the year's most musically cohesive ways to keep pulses beating rapidly."
Sam Roudman of Stylus Magazine gave the album a B+ by stating "As Converge have been instrumental in the expansion of the contemporary hardcore vocabulary—embracing music signifiers previously under the dominion of metal or grind—this return to roots makes this album something of a homecoming."
Notably, No Heroes received a 4.5 out of 5[6] from staff reviewer Jared W. Dillon, commenting that "No Heroes is completely successful in delivering a great array of extremely heavy music", while another staff reviewer, Nick Butler, gave the album 1.5 out of 5,[7] commenting that "I'll undoubtedly get flamed to hell for this, but if No Heroes isn't the worst album I've heard in 2006, it's certainly the least enjoyable", making it one of the uncommon instances where two staff reviewers almost completely disagree with each other.
Track listing
All lyrics by Jacob Bannon, all music composed by Converge.[8]
- "Heartache" – 1:43
- "Hellbound" – 1:07
- "Sacrifice" – 1:37
- "Vengeance" – 0:58
- "Weight of the World" – 1:25
- "No Heroes" – 3:43
- "Plagues" – 4:43
- "Grim Heart/Black Rose" – 9:34
- "Orphaned" – 1:39
- "Lonewolves" – 2:18
- "Versus" – 2:09
- "Trophy Scars" – 4:59
- "Bare My Teeth" – 2:02
- "To the Lions" – 3:40
Personnel
Converge[8]
- Jacob Bannon – vocals, percussion (on "Trophy Scars")
- Kurt Ballou – guitars, vocals, organ (on "Plagues"), percussion (on "Trophy Scars")
- Nate Newton – bass guitar, vocals
- Ben Koller – drum kit
Production and recording[8]
- Kurt Ballou – recording and mixing at GodCity
- Converge – production
- Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – drum tech
- Nick Zampiello – mastering at New Alliance East
Guest musicians[8]
- Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy) – backing vocals on "No Heroes," "Hellbound," "Trophy Scars"
- John-Robert Conners (Cave In) – percussion on "Trophy Scars"
- Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – percussion on "Trophy Scars"
- Jonah Jenkins (Only Living Witness) – lead vocals on "Grim Heart/Black Rose"
- Adam McGrath (Cave In) – lead guitar on "To the Lions"
Artwork and design[8]
- Jacob Bannon – artwork and design
References
- ^ Apar, Corey. "Review of No Heroes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r868760/review. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Diver, Mike (October 23, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Drowned in Sound. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/8426/reviews/1234352-no-heroes. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Deneau, Max (November 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Exclaim!. http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=86&csid2=846&fid1=23741. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Begrand, Adrien (December 12, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/converge-no-heroes/. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Converge Artist Chart History". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=260820&model.vnuAlbumId=808599. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/9709/Converge-No-Heroes/
- ^ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/10498/Converge-No-Heroes/
- ^ a b c d e (2006) Album notes for No Heroes by Converge [CD booklet]. Los Angeles, California: Epitaph Records (86827–2).
Kurt Ballou • Jacob Bannon • Nate Newton • Ben Koller
Aaron Dalbec • John DiGiorgio • Damon Bellorado • Stephen Brodsky • Jeff Feinburg • Erik RalstonStudio albums Halo in a Haystack • Petitioning the Empty Sky • When Forever Comes Crashing • Jane Doe • You Fail Me • No Heroes • Axe to FallCompilations Caring and Killing • Unloved and Weeded OutEPs and split albums Singles Related bands Related articles Categories:- Converge (band) albums
- 2006 albums
- Epitaph Records albums
- Albums with cover art by Jacob Bannon
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.