The Brooklyn Monarch

Converge is an American metalcore band formed in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1990 by vocalist and artist Jacob Bannon and guitarist and producer Kurt Ballou. The band became a four-piece in 2001 with the departure of guitarist Aaron Dalbec and the addition of bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller; this lineup has remained unchanged. Members have been involved in side projects such as Supermachiner, Old Man Gloom, and Mutoid Man. Converge is known for their aggressive and boundary-pushing sound rooted in hardcore and heavy metal, and they are considered pioneers of metalcore and mathcore. Their fourth album, Jane Doe, released in 2001, received critical acclaim, being ranked the best album of 2001 by Terrorizer, the best album of the decade by Sputnikmusic, and the 61st-best metal album of all time by Rolling Stone. The band transitioned from Equal Vision Records to Epitaph Records, leading to more elaborate and expensive record production. Special releases are often managed by Deathwish Inc., a label established by Bannon in 1999.