No Heroes

Last updated
No Heroes
Converge (band) - No Heroes.jpg
Studio album by
Converge
ReleasedOctober 23, 2006 [1]
Studio GodCity Studio, Salem
Genre
Length41:37
Label Epitaph
Producer Kurt Ballou
Converge chronology
You Fail Me
(2004)		No Heroes
(2006)		 Axe to Fall
(2009)

No Heroes is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 23, 2006 by Epitaph Records. The album was produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou, and the artwork was created by vocalist Jacob Bannon.

Contents

No Heroes reached number 151 on the Billboard 200, and also topped the Top Heatseekers chart and reached number 13 on the Independent Albums chart.

Musical style and theme

In early July 2006, Converge's official website announced the album's title of the album, as well as the meaning behind it: "These days, cowards outnumber the heroes, and the begging souls outweigh the calloused hands of the hardest of workers. Both in life and in art, the lack of passion is sickening, and the lust for complacency is poisonous. This album is the artistic antithesis of that sinking world; a thorn in the side of their beast. It's for those who move mountains one day at a time. It's for those who truly understand sacrifice. In our world of enemies, we will walk alone..." [7]

In an interview with Alex Gosman of Crossfire, the band talked about the album's theme, or therefore lack of one. When asked about the album's title, the band stated, "It's completely pointless [to idolize other people/bands] – but that's not the overall theme of the album: just of the 'No Heroes' song. We thought that title would work well for the record too, but it's not a concept album or anything like that; it's still very much a personal record, written about our experiences over the last couple of years." [8]

Release and promotion

No Heroes was released on October 23, 2006 in Europe and October 24, 2006 by Epitaph Records, with a music video for the title track, directed by Ryan Zunkley, being released on the same day. [9] Converge's first headlining tour in support of the album started in November 2006 with Some Girls, Modern Life Is War, Blacklisted, Kylesa, and Gospel. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk 89% link
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 9/10 [12]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [13]
Exclaim! favorable [14]
Pitchfork Media 8.1/10 link
PopMatters 8/10 [15]
Orlando Weekly favorable link
Stylus Magazine B+ link
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg link

No Heroes was given a rating 8.1 out of 10 by Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media, who said, "Conceptually reminiscent of the way Orthrelm's OV rocked socks within a tight framework, No Heroes is one of the year's most musically cohesive ways to keep pulses beating rapidly." Sam Roudman of Stylus Magazine gave the album a B+ grade, stating, "As Converge have been instrumental in the expansion of the contemporary hardcore vocabulary—embracing music signifiers previously under the dominion of metal or grind—this return to roots makes this album something of a homecoming."

Notably, No Heroes received a 4.5 out of 5 [16] from Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Jared W. Dillon, who said it was "completely successful in delivering a great array of extremely heavy music". However, Nick Butler, another Sputnikmusic staff reviewer, gave the album a rating of 1.5 out of 5, [17] saying, "if No Heroes isn't the worst album I've heard in 2006, it's certainly the least enjoyable". Despite this being one of the only instances where two of the site's reviewers considerably disagreed with each other, No Heroes was later named the best album of 2006 by Sputnikmusic staff.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Jacob Bannon; all music is composed by Converge. [18]

No.TitleLength
1."Heartache"1:43
2."Hellbound"1:07
3."Sacrifice"1:37
4."Vengeance"0:58
5."Weight of the World"1:25
6."No Heroes"3:43
7."Plagues"4:43
8."Grim Heart/Black Rose"9:34
9."Orphaned"1:39
10."Lonewolves"2:18
11."Versus"2:09
12."Trophy Scars"4:59
13."Bare My Teeth"2:02
14."To the Lions"3:40

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2006)Peak

position

Japanese Album Chart [19] 155
UK Album Chart [20] 186
US Billboard 200 [21] 151
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums [22] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums [21] 13

Related Research Articles

<i>The Process of Belief</i> 2002 studio album by Bad Religion

The Process of Belief is the twelfth studio album by the American punk rock band Bad Religion. It was produced by its leaders Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz, and was released on January 22, 2002, through Epitaph Records. After touring in support of its previous studio album, The New America (2000), Gurewitz re-joined Bad Religion in 2001 after a seven-year hiatus. The band re-signed with Epitaph, and then began work on its first album for the label in over eight years. The album also marked the first album to feature Brooks Wackerman, who replaced former drummer Bobby Schayer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Converge (band)</span> American metalcore band

Converge is an American metalcore band formed by vocalist and artist Jacob Bannon and guitarist and producer Kurt Ballou in Salem, Massachusetts in 1990. While recording their landmark fourth album Jane Doe in 2001, the group became a four-piece with the departure of guitarist Aaron Dalbec and the addition of bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller. This lineup has remained intact since. The members have also been involved in various side-projects and collaborations, including the bands Supermachiner (Bannon), Old Man Gloom (Newton), and Mutoid Man (Koller). With their extremely aggressive and boundary-pushing sound, rooted in hardcore and heavy metal, they are pioneers of metalcore and its subgenre mathcore.

Matchbook Romance was an American emo band from Poughkeepsie, New York and was formed in 1997. They were signed to Epitaph Records. They released two full-length albums and one EP. Their EP, West for Wishing, released in 2003 was their first recorded album during their time on Epitaph; their full-length debut album, Stories and Alibis, was recorded in the same year.

<i>The Poison</i> 2005 studio album by Bullet for My Valentine

The Poison is the debut studio album by Welsh heavy metal band Bullet for My Valentine. The album was released on 3 October 2005 through Visible Noise Records in the UK, and on 14 February 2006 in the United States, through Trustkill Records. The album included 11 new songs and two previously heard songs, "Cries in Vain", which was previously heard from the band's self-titled UK EP and from their US EP, Hand of Blood, as well as from "4 Words " was previously included on the same US release. Different editions of the album contain the song "Hand of Blood", previously heard from these EPs, replacing "Spit You Out".

<i>You Fail Me</i> 2004 studio album by Converge

You Fail Me is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on September 20, 2004 by Epitaph Records. The band's first release for the label, it was produced by Alan Douches and guitarist Kurt Ballou, with the artwork created by vocalist Jacob Bannon.

<i>Jane Doe</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Converge

Jane Doe is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on September 4, 2001 by Equal Vision Records. The album was produced by Matthew Ellard alongside guitarist Kurt Ballou, and the artwork was designed by lead vocalist Jacob Bannon. It was the band's first album to feature bassist Nate Newton and drummer Ben Koller, and the last to feature guitarist Aaron Dalbec; Converge's line-up has remained stable since.

<i>New Maps of Hell</i> (Bad Religion album) 2007 studio album by Bad Religion

New Maps of Hell is the fourteenth studio album by Bad Religion, released on July 10, 2007.

<i>Fortress</i> (Protest the Hero album) 2008 studio album by Protest the Hero

Fortress is the second studio album by Canadian band Protest the Hero which was released on January 29, 2008 on Vagrant Records in the US and Underground Operations in Canada.

<i>The Black Swan</i> (Story of the Year album) 2008 studio album by Story of the Year

The Black Swan is the third studio album by American rock band Story of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Bannon</span> American vocalist (born 1976)

Jacob Bannon is an American musician who is the vocalist, lyricist and graphic artist for the metalcore band Converge. He is the co-founder and owner of the record label Deathwish Inc. and the author of many visual works for independent punk rock and heavy metal musicians. Bannon has also composed and performed experimental music as Supermachiner with Ryan Parker and more recently as Wear Your Wounds.

<i>Let the Dominoes Fall</i> 2009 studio album by Rancid

Let the Dominoes Fall is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Rancid, released in Europe on June 1, 2009 and in the US on June 2, 2009 by Hellcat/Epitaph. It was their first album of new material in nearly six years, following 2003's Indestructible, and their first with drummer Branden Steineckert, who joined the band in 2006 after the departure of founding drummer Brett Reed.

<i>New Junk Aesthetic</i> 2009 studio album by Every Time I Die

New Junk Aesthetic is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Every Time I Die. It was released on September 15, 2009. It was the band's first album to be released by their new record label, Epitaph Records. The album artwork was created by guitarist Jordan Buckley.

<i>Axe to Fall</i> 2009 studio album by Converge

Axe to Fall is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 19, 2009, by Epitaph Records. It is the band's most collaborative album, featuring a number of guest musicians, including members of Cave In and Genghis Tron and Steve Von Till of Neurosis, who performs lead vocals on the slow, Tom Waits-esque track "Cruel Bloom". The album was produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou, and the artwork was created by vocalist Jacob Bannon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Converge discography</span>

The discography of American metalcore band Converge consists of nine studio albums, three compilation albums, two video albums, six extended plays (EPs), and five split releases.

<i>The Constant</i> (Story of the Year album) 2010 studio album by Story of the Year

The Constant is the fourth studio album by American rock band Story of the Year. It was released on February 16, 2010, through Epitaph Records and, like the band's previous record, was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette who has also produced albums by Alter Bridge, Chevelle, Escape the Fate, blessthefall, Fact, and A Change of Pace. This was the last studio album to feature bassist Adam Russell who left the band in 2014. Russell would rejoin the band in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touché Amoré</span> American post-hardcore band

Touché Amoré is an American post-hardcore band from Los Angeles, formed in 2007. The band consists of vocalist Jeremy Bolm, guitarists Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt, bassist Tyler Kirby, and drummer Elliot Babin. Among other releases, they have released five studio albums: ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse in 2009, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me in 2011, Is Survived By in 2013, Stage Four in 2016, and Lament in 2020.

<i>Spiral Shadow</i> 2010 studio album by Kylesa

Spiral Shadow is the fifth full-length album by American sludge metal band Kylesa, released by Season of Mist on October 25, 2010 in Europe and October 26, 2010 in the United States.

<i>All We Love We Leave Behind</i> 2012 studio album by Converge

All We Love We Leave Behind is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on October 8, 2012, via Epitaph Records. The album did not feature any guest collaborators, unlike the band's previous album Axe to Fall. The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou and the artwork was created by the band's singer Jacob Bannon.

<i>Underclass Hero</i> 2007 studio album by Sum 41

Underclass Hero is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Sum 41. It is the first of two albums by the band recorded without guitarist Dave "Brownsound" Baksh since he left a year earlier to focus on Brown Brigade. It was first released on July 18, 2007, in Japan by Island Records and distributed worldwide by Aquarius Records, the band's final album on the label. In comparison to the heavy metal-inspired punk style of their previous album Chuck (2004), Underclass Hero marked a return to the band’s pop-punk sound.

<i>The Dusk in Us</i> 2017 studio album by Converge

The Dusk in Us is the ninth studio album by American metalcore band Converge. It was released on November 3, 2017, via Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc, and is the band's first studio album in five years since 2012's All We Love We Leave Behind. The album was produced by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou and the artwork was created by the band's singer Jacob Bannon.

References

  1. ↑ "Converge 'No Heroes' on Epitaph Records" . Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ "No Heroes - Converge | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  3. ↑ "Album review: Converge – No Heroes". Scene Point Blank. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  4. ↑ Cory, Ian (October 21, 2016). "Converge's 'No Heroes' Turns 10". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ Lee, Cosmo (October 29, 2009). "Axe to Fall Review". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Metal Storm Awards 2006 - Metal Storm". Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  7. ↑ "CONVERGECULT.COM". 2006-07-21. Archived from the original on 2006-07-21. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  8. ↑ "Converge Interview | Interviews | Caught in the Crossfire". www.caughtinthecrossfire.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  9. ↑ Deathwishinc (2006-12-07), CONVERGE "No Heroes", archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2017-02-02
  10. ↑ Punknews.org (25 September 2006). "Tours: Converge / Some Girls / Modern Life Is War / Blacklisted / Kylesa / Gospel". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2017-02-02.
  11. ↑ Apar, Corey. "Review of No Heroes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  12. ↑ Popoff, Martin; Perri, David (2011). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 4: The '00s. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 88. ISBN   9781-926592-20-6.
  13. ↑ Diver, Mike (October 23, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  14. ↑ Deneau, Max (November 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  15. ↑ Begrand, Adrien (December 12, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". PopMatters. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  17. ↑ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 No Heroes (CD booklet). Converge. Los Angeles, California: Epitaph Records. 2006. 86827–2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "コンヴァージのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  20. ↑ "Chart Log UK: Chris C. - CZR". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  21. 1 2 "Axe to Fall – Converge". Billboard . Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Converge - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.