Completing the spaces left between the “Caring and Killing” and “Petitioning the Empty Sky” albums, Converge released its latest offering, “Unloved and Weeded Out.” Converge blends the best elements of hardcore, metal, and punk to boast being one of hardcore’s pioneers.

The album will not actually be released until Jan. 28, but is available through the record label that released it, the Deathwish, Inc.

Converge began playing around the winter of 1990-1991. The group originally started by playing cover songs of bands like Born Against, Godflesh, and The Accused, but quickly started playing its own music. The band currently includes Kurt Ballou (guitar), Jacob Bannon (vocals), Nate Newton (bass), and Ben Koller (drums).

Former members of Converge include Aaron Dalbec who now plays guitar for Bane, and Stephen Brodsky of Cave-In. In 1997, the band signed a contract with Equal Vision Records that allowed them to release on any record label. This release can be found on Bannon’s own label, Deathwish, Inc.

Many members of Converge work double duty playing with other bands or running record labels or other companies in additional to their primary musical duties. Nate Newton plays in Old Man Gloom and Bannon’s vocals can be heard with bands Some Girls, Ramallah, Supermachiner, and his solo project The Blood of Thine Enemies. Ballou also runs his own recording studio

Converge has toured with such bands as Boy Sets Fire, Today is the Day, and Hatebreed. In December, the band joined Slayer and Hatebreed for BeastFest held in Japan.

This album brings light to the previously unreleased and hard-to-find songs “Downpour” (from an out of print 5″), “Flowers and Razorwire,” (from two compilations) and “Tremor” (previously unreleased). Other tracks include unreleased demos, from songs that appear on the “When Forever Comes Crashing” album, and two live songs from the “Poacher Diaries.” Deathwish describes Converge as “rich in technical precision, melody and hyperactive percussion, they continue to progress with every memorable release. Raising the bar of musical and visual perfection at every turn.” This band has raised the bar with every album they have released.

Although these are songs from 1995-1997, a fan of Converge can tell the rapid growth of this band from the “Caring and Killing” album. Keep an eye open for a new Converge album due out sometime in spring. It is tentatively titled “You Fail Me.”