If LCD Soundsystem's 45:33 is good Nike-sponsored running music, No Heroes is what boot-wearing non-joggers use at a punk-slapped punching bag to reach fighting weight.

Engineered by Kurt Ballou at the band's longtime studio/practice spot God City, "No Heroes" shows the band exploring new sonic textures while still retaining the palpable energy they've become known for. While the album blazes out of the gate with the aptly titled "Heartache," songs like "Orphaned" and the intense "Plagues" prove that breakneck speed and heaviness aren't necessarily interrelated, and when Converge lower the tempo, they're able to effortlessly transcend traditional notions of heaviness. Devotees of "Jane Doe" will also be blown away by epic tracks like the nine-minute "Grim Heart/Black Rose," a doom masterpiece which features guest vocals from Only Living Witness' Jonah Jenkins. From Bannon's captivating artwork and introspective lyrics to Ballou's masterful production techniques, Converge's artistic vision has always separated the band from their peers, and "No Heroes" is no exception. Simply a great album.

Label
Deathwish Inc
Genre
Punk & Hardcore LP - SIDE A
Heartache
Hellbound
Sacrifice
Vengeance
Weight of the World
No Heroes
Plagues
Grim Heart
LP - SIDE B
Black Rose
Orphaned
Lonewolves
Versus
Trophy Scars
Bare My Teeth
To The Lions

ORCHARD