Jane Doe

This is the album that made me realize I didn't hate metalcore; I just hated MOST metalcore. I thought metalcore was only childish, simple and trying to appeal to a poppier side that wanted pretend heaviness. But this? This is incredible. Both sets of lyrics contrasting each other, the brutality, it's like ripping your own nerves out because you can't stand pain anymore and only exposing yourself to more pain. AND ITS JUST SO FUCKING HEAVY. With an album this heavy, pace is everything for me. It needs to ebb and flow just right so it doesn't get exhausting on the ears. And this does it JUST RIGHT. I never feel tired or overwhelmed here, just absolutely juiced.

I can't say I normally enjoy metalcore, but Jane Doe by Converge is the exception to the rule. The wiki is rather funny with the "critics praising its poetic lyrics" part, certainly if I take a look at the lyrics online (no way anyone can understand these by listening). The music is shock and awe in a good way and it's a full force taking you over and leaving you behind in the dirt as a piece of garbage. It's overwhelming, without compromise, in your face. It clears you head and makes space for your next user album (being yet another fusion jazz funk no fun one of course).

The singer-songwriter contingent will rate this one down to hell, but for those who are open to it, this is a much more emotionally expressive album than most of the acoustic LPs added to the user list. It takes skill to make such intricate, layered instrumentals sound at once composed and chaotic – I started listening to this LP about a year ago, and it’s been a joy to return and pick apart all the bricks that make up a deftly-composed wall of sound. Sure, you have to look up the lyrics to see what they’re actually about, but I love how that makes the vocals blend so fluidly into the album’s abrasive texture. There’s an incredible amount of depth (instrumental and emotional) to this LP if you don’t write it off, and I for one much prefer a user list add that screams its emotion rather than gently whispering it over some acoustic guitar.

Converge, a noisy metalcore band before all else, saw the way capital H Hardcore was moving into the 21st century and sought to modernize it with a few notable changes. First, they leaned heavy on sludge metal influences in order to emphasize a distinctly gritty tone that bordered on the stuff crust punks were making at the time. This would become the signature sound of Kurt Ballou's engineering, which had been heard prior on Dropdead's second album and Orchid's first two albums, and would go on to characterize the sounds of bands like Nails and the Armed. Second, Converge would channel the passion of emerging screamo and sass vocal styles in order to convey a more emotional performance amongst gritty guitars, making for a hard-hitting heart-wrenching album of negative feelings following a breakup. Finally, Converge's songwriting reflects the technically-demanding mathcore style that had been established by bands like Rorschach and Botch prior to this release. Harnessing this approach, Converge made Jane Doe as chaotically crushing as possible while maintaining the concentrated speed for hardcore. The end result is a masterfully-crafted collection of songs that are more than the sum of its parts. Rarely does an album set such a high benchmark and stand so far apart from contemporaries with flying colors. By the closing swell of the title track, Jane Doe feels like it's ascended to all-new heights. Its legacy is proof of that. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: I don't think there should be any metalcore on the list, but if one album should represent the genre then it should be Jane Doe.

Good stuff

Possibly the first hardcore/metalcore thing that I've heard on here that I felt like actually had the goods at all. Would have been dynamite if it were a little bit shorter, but I'm finally feeling my horizons expanding re: these genres. Hell of an album cover, too.

There are points where it is just noise, but other times a song threatens to break through. Right at the extreme edge of what could get a mainstream release, and as such it is important that it exists. Not a comfortable listen, at points, but somehow I don’t think that will bother them!

Please stop yelling at me

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Honestly more boring than anything. Can only listen to Donald Duck screaming in absolute horror as he gets boiled alive in a gigantic oven for so long before I'm like "Okay yeah, I get it man, you got anything else". The style is almost comedic. It makes it so hard to focus and take some of the actually pretty sick riffs seriously.

I’ve been enjoying the extent to which metal is covered on the user list. Unfortunately, this one is just a little too metal for me.

Good shit

Rating: 6/10

I love, love, love extreme music, but even I think this is overrated.

Really didn't like this, no surprise given its my least favorite style of metal. Vocally either screeching or mud, lyrics incomprehensible. Musically I recognize there is is skill and acumen required to produce this but to me it's all just high speed thrash. I think it's likely good for what it aspires to be but not-for-profit me.

Like a jackhammer it said… correctly maybe? Not really my thing but I get the nomination.

Oh some of these riffs are crushing, but a little more melody please!

Metalcore, hardcore punk, post-hardcore. Demasiados gritos repetitivos y sin sentido. Un 1.

Terrible 👎🏻

I simply couldn't tolerate this enough to sit through it. I tapped. Sorry.