No Heroes

For the Humble Gods album, see No Heroes (Humble Gods album).
No Heroes
Studio album by Converge
Released October 24, 2006
Studio GodCity Studio
Genre Metalcore, mathcore, hardcore punk
Length 41:37
Label Epitaph, Deathwish Inc.
Producer Kurt Ballou, Converge
Converge chronology
You Fail Me
(2004)		 No Heroes
(2006)		 Axe to Fall
(2009)

No Heroes is the sixth album by American metalcore band Converge, released on October 24, 2006 through Epitaph Records. The album reached number 151 on the Billboard 200. It also topped the Top Heatseekers chart and number 13 in the Independent Albums listings. The album was the first Converge album to be self-produced by Kurt Ballou with no input from other producers, at his own GodCity Studio.[1]

Theme

In early July, Converge's official website announced the 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...

In an interview with Alex Gosman of Crossfire, the band talked about the album's theme, or therefore lack of one. When asked:

"What’s the story behind the title of ‘No Heroes’? Do you feel that it’s pointless to idolise other people/bands?"
It’s completely pointless – 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.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk89% link
Allmusic[3]
Drowned in Sound8/10[4]
Exclaim!favorable[5]
Pitchfork Media8.1/10 link
PopMatters8/10[6]
Orlando Weeklyfavorable link
Stylus MagazineB+ link
Sputnikmusic4.5/5 link

No Heroes was given 8.1/10 by Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media as he 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+ by 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[7] from Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Jared W. Dillon, commenting that "No Heroes is completely successful in delivering a great array of extremely heavy music", while another staff reviewer, Nick Butler, gave the album 1.5 out of 5,[8] commenting that "I'll undoubtedly get flamed to hell for this, but if No Heroes isn't the worst album I've heard in 2006, it's certainly the least enjoyable", making it one of the uncommon instances where two staff reviewers almost completely disagree with each other. It was named the number 1 album of 2006 in Sputnikmusic's staff "Best of 2006" list.

Track listing

All lyrics by Jacob Bannon, all music composed by Converge.[9]

  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

Converge[9]

Production and recording[9]

  • Kurt Ballou – recording and mixing at GodCity
  • Converge – production
  • Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – drum tech
  • Nick Zampiello – mastering at New Alliance East

Guest musicians[9]

  • Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy) – backing vocals on "No Heroes", "Hellbound", "Trophy Scars"
  • John-Robert Conners (Cave In) – percussion on "Trophy Scars"
  • Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – percussion on "Trophy Scars"
  • Jonah Jenkins (Only Living Witness) – lead vocals on "Grim Heart/Black Rose"
  • Adam McGrath (Cave In) – lead guitar on "To the Lions"

Artwork and design[9]

  • Jacob Bannon – artwork and design

References

  1. ↑ "Converge Guitarist/Producer Kurt Ballou Explains Why He Remixed 'You Fail Me' | NOISEY". Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  2. ↑ "Converge Interview | Interviews | Caught in the Crossfire". www.caughtinthecrossfire.com. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  3. ↑ Apar, Corey. "Review of No Heroes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ Diver, Mike (October 23, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  5. ↑ Deneau, Max (November 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  6. ↑ Begrand, Adrien (December 12, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". PopMatters. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  8. ↑ "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 No Heroes (CD booklet). Converge. Los Angeles, California: Epitaph Records. 2006. 86827–2.
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