I knew that if I actually decided to share my thoughts on ‘All We Love We Leave Behind’- a coherent review would probably take me several months/ probably years to write… so here’s a brief car crash. I openly admit that it’s physically impossible for me to detach myself from bias… because on a personal level- no other band have had quite the same impact.
Within every discipline there are those who set a standard… and Converge have previously set the bar incredibly high. The success of side projects/ careers- leaves no doubt in my mind that these four guys went into the studio with an genuine desire to be creative, to perfect and manipulate a set of already outstanding skills and perhaps more importantly…. because they actually wanted to write another record?
I can’t resist immediately drawing parallels with Jane Doe- it’s a record I could never listen to in part… and likewise, It’s taken me nearly a week of plays, before I can identify individual tracks from ‘All We Love’, by name.
‘Axe To Fall’ gave me some of my favourite tracks, ‘Worms Will Feed’/ ‘Wretched World’… yet the inclusion of various guests meant several tracks displayed a very different dynamic- and although instantly memorable, I’m glad this record makes a return to a previously successful formula. Detailed consideration in terms of composition/concept is evident throughout. I wasn’t immediately a fan of ‘Aimless Arrow’, but it works incredibly well in the context of the opening track.
Bannon has previously been criticised for his relentless (sometimes unvarying) vocal assault- I have to point out that the vocals on this record (in places) are more decipherable- a change which i’ll admit took me some adjustment- but against a back drop of violent percussion, vicious riffs, bigger baselines and even darker, dirtier production- overall their sound appears heavier than ever before and continues to defy the categorisation of any genre.
Jane Doe was iconic and since its release in MMI, the band have maintained an unparalleled consistency- primarily as a result of their uncompromising control of all aspects of the creative process. Fans of the band are fiercely loyal and with that in mind- it would be impossible for Converge to release a record with a similar impact- we’re already converted!
‘All We Love We Leave Behind’, has left me smiling, with seventeen tracks that I’m happy to repetitively listen to in the context of an incredible catalogue- and no doubt some lovely looking addictions to a growing record collection… if they finally perfect that bloody pressing!
The thought that this band will one day stop writing scares the hell out of me… and that’s probably the biggest compliment I could throw their way.
Fav tracks: Coral Blue/ A Glacial Place/ Predatory Glow. Leave me your thoughts.
