Converge + Full of Hell + Petbrick

For over 25 years the Massachusetts-based quartet Converge has been blowing people’s minds and eardrums with a mixture of experimental metal and hardcore. Their definitive breakthrough came in 2001 with “Jane Doe”, an emotionally layered and complex album that redefined the hardcore genre and gave Converge a legendary status. Since then, the band has released five more studio albums, the latest of which is 2017’s “The Dusk in Us”. From its very first notes it’s clear that the record was produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou: bombastic drums, ground-shaking bass, vocals that cut right to the bone and of course that chainsaw guitar sound. It’s unpredictable, daring, refreshing and incredibly good. Converge did not loose any of its relevancy and that’s commendable. And then there are their overwhelming live performances… This is one for the history books.

Full of Hell proves grind core is still alive and kicking. The American band still has it in them to match a ruthless sound with catchy song-writing. It’s impressive how these men managed to turn a chunk of nastiness into true art. On their most recent album grind core still reigns supreme, but they’ve added elements from black metal, noise and power violence as well. In case it wasn’t clear yet: Full of Hell is a perfect band to join a Converge-led bill.

As if that wasn’t enough already we also have Petbrick opening the night. The Bandcamp biography of the duo will say that it’s Iggor Cavalera and Wayne Adams making “horrible noises”, but press play and you’ll notice that this particular noise act isn’t mundane at all. Petbrick sounds as if you’re at the heart of a chaotic war zone: this band brings destruction and terror with their ruthless barrage of blast-beats, deformed synth textures and maniacal vocals.