Converge

Converge are an American band formed in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1990 by vocalist Jacob Bannon and guitarist-producer Kurt Ballou, widely regarded as pioneers of metalcore and mathcore. Their sound welds the aggression of hardcore and metal to jagged, jazz-influenced complexity, and their 2001 album Jane Doe is often cited among the most acclaimed extreme records of its era. Rounded out by bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller, the band has kept unusually tight control of its output, with Ballou producing most of their albums at his GodCity Studio. They collaborated with Chelsea Wolfe on 2021's Bloodmoon: I and have continued to release new music. Onstage Converge are famed for ferocious, physical performances that helped shape modern heavy-music live culture.