CONVERGE — Jane Doe (review)

CONVERGE — Jane Doe album cover Album · 2001 · Mathcore Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Wilytank
So this here "mathcore" stuff is supposed to be somewhat weird right? It kinda is. From what I've heard from Converge so far is some punkish/crossover sounding metal with some grindcore appeal.

So what makes 'Jane Doe' stand out by critics and fans alike? Well, the way I see it, their genre of music is executed. 'Halo in a Haystack' seemed like the band was drifting between punk and metal sound not knowing which one to play. 'Petition the Empty Sky' was the first album to feature the mathcore approach and some cool tracks were featured such as "The Saddest Day", but it wasn't totally interesting. 'When Forever Comes Crashing' came next and was much more mundane. With 'Jane Doe' though, Converge manages to at least not make the music sound overly pretentious or boring. Unlike the previous three albums, I didn't feel any need to stop the album prematurely and pass my judgement. And the production makes it sound like Mastodon's 'Leviathan' (which came out three years later).

I feel like saying something about at least one of the individual songs here, so I think I'll talk about the 11 minute title track "Jane Doe". It's a slower song and the only song on the album that features any clean vocals. It provides a nice ending and a break from the mathcore chaos. Of course, I'm a sucker for long songs; and it builds up to a notable climax beginning at the nine and a half minute mark.

I'm quite pleased with this album. Though my listening experience with Converge got off to a rocky start, this album helped change my attitude. I only hope that the rest of their albums are at least somewhat as good as this one.
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Wilytank wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I just got done with Converge's discography. 'Axe to Fall' is better I think. It's much more straight forward thrashy hardcore with very little mathish influence.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Jane Doe is usually considered their "masterpiece". I haven´t had the pleasure of listening to the album yet myself though. My introduction to Converge was through "Axe to Fall (2009)". I can highly recommend a purchase of that album. Really adventurous and intense stuff.

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