UMUR
"All We Love We Leave Behind" is the 8th full-length studio album by US post-hardcore/metalcore act Converge. The album was released through Epitaph Records in October 2012. "All We Love We Leave Behind" was recorded and mixed at guitarist Kurt Ballou´s Godcity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts, with Ballou acting as producer.
The music on the album is energetic, raw, and aggressive post hardcore/metalcore, played with great technical skill. The vocals are mostly distorted, shouting, and harsh, but there are a couple of more melodic tinged moments on the album too. While the band excel in playing in a frantic hardcore punked pace a great deal of the album´s playing time, Converge are no one-trick pony and they drop the pace to a slower, heavier and sludgy pace several times during the playing time, which makes "All We Love We Leave Behind" an album with a great varied flow. Not unlike "Axe to Fall (2009)", which was also an album with a really great flow. While Converge always manage to maintain raw energy and aggression, which are key elements of their sound, the songwriting on "All We Love We Leave Behind" is clever and entertaining throughout. Just when you think they´ve completely surrendered to pure hardcore punk madness, they throw in a curve ball and maybe incorporate a little heavy metal tinged lead guitar part, or add one of those heavy sludgy moments. I´m not surprised because I know how good they are, but I´m definitely happy about the state of things...
The powerful and organic sounding production is a great asset too and overall "All We Love We Leave Behind" is another high quality release by Converge and further proof that they deserve every bit of the success they enjoy. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.