Originally published in Verbicide issue #4

I don’t think this CD is available to the public, but fear not — there is nothing on here that will remain unreleased. Converge and American Nightmare each have two tracks on this sampler from their forthcoming albums: American Nightmare’s Background Music and Converge’s Jane Doe. American Nightmare contribute a couple of ripping tunes called “AM/PM” and “Postmark My Compass.” The lyrics are pretty heavy, and the songs are short and less dynamic than Converge — they remind me of what Converge would sound like if they covered Strife.

Converge, well, they sound like Converge: the same gut-churning insanity with sharp hooks and breaks. These guys played in my town in a little suburban church late last April, but it was during final exam week and I had been awake for nearly three straight days. I passed out before they went on.

(Equal Vision Records, PO Box 14, Hudson, NY 12534)