Converge - Jane Doe

Just because an album is easy to listen to doesn't mean it's good. Just because an album is good, doesn't mean it's easy to listen to. Converge hurts. Singer translation: "Waaaaah, wah, wah, waaaaaaaaaaah!" In all it's dissonance and hot poker in the ear vocals, it's truly fabulous. Just realize what you're getting into. Vocals can really ruin an album these days. It doesn't matter how much the music works your brain and leaves you wanting more, as soon as that singer comes in, it turns that upside down frown upside down. I started the album and smiled (this was recommended to me), the singer chimed in and I stopped smiling, but after about the 4th song, I started smiling again. Supra technical drums with flipity jazz speed, Ibanez/pure tube driven 80 words per minute fingered chunk and bleed fiddlework (guitar), changes that don't let down, relentless speed and energy with wet and flat compression that puts the ride cymbal in your ass, and a singer that truly screams - not that growly, fake fauceto crud. He really screams and sounds like a girl. Singer translation: "Waaaaah, wah, wah, waaaaaaaaaaah! *cough cough*" Turns out they have 4-5 albums and have been pioneering the math-metal-core for several years. This is supposed to be the polished album. I'd hate to hear the old stuff. In a nuttshell, you'll hate the singer. I've become a fan of the metal, and I hate him, almost as bad as Isis and HE WILL knock the overall score down a point and a half. Just like any other "I will kill and pee on you" metal, you get used to these kinds of vocals, but if they'd had a guy that knew a little about melody and enunciation, I'd give the whole thing a 5. Yes, the music is THAT good. But since this guy avoided gargling sandpaper and went straight for the razor blades. [www.equalvision.com]