- Rock music
Ever since Converge hit their stride with 2001’s Jane Doe, the Massachusetts quartet has been cutting a swath of destruction encompassing the extreme metal and punk scenes. Last year’s Axe to Fall is the most recent and obvious example. Their albums may come less frequently these days, but with each one Converge continue to refine their sound, adding nuances to their brutality and technicality. The cluster of riffs and beats on Axe to Fall is cohesive, leaving listeners wanting more, even as they run to the store for a super-sized package of Q-tips to clean blood from their ears. Converge manage to make the redundancies and simple repetition of rock music both abrasive and charming. And say what you want about the violence in the pit or the palpable stench of adrenaline in the air at their live shows, but these guys always captivate and entertain. Best of all, Converge have become more technically adept over the years, without resorting to longwinded, pretentious drivel. In the days of post-everything rock, that’s a rare trait, and one that deserves your attention. They play the Grog Shop. Black Breath, Lewd Acts and Above This Fire kick things off at 7 p.m. Tickets: $12 advance, $14 day of show. —Nick DeMarino
