American Hardcore legends Converge – formed in 1990 in Salem, Massachusetts – have finally released their latest output All We Love We Leave Behind. For me personally the last few weeks were musically the best of the year – new releases by Pig Destroyer, Converge and Anaal Nathrakh. Those three are just brilliant.
Defeatist is a Grindcore band from New York City, USA, formed in 2005. The band has released two EPs (Thanatonic State and In Praise of False Hope both in 2009), two splits with Kursk and Triac/ASRA, one compilation (including all EP and split songs) and two full length albums. The latest one is Tyranny of Decay released in 2011 via Nerve Altar.
Jacob Bannon (portrait shot by Brook Pifer) is one of the most famous faces in the Hardcore scene. He is the vocalist and lyricist of Hardcore pioneers Converge, a famous graphic designer and artist and founder and CEO of the independent record label Deathwish Inc. He somehow can be compared to John Baizley of Baroness, who’s also a jack of all trades being a brilliant artist, musician and vocalist (I can’t wait for their new album being released on 17th July).
Bannon’s work is very bold and iconic. It uses very graphic stylistic elements combined with a grungy graffiti and silk screen technique. The artworks are mostly symbolic and very reduced, using only a minimum amount of colors.