by Black Bubblegum

Scion Rock Fest in Atlanta is just a few days away (Feb 28th) and until the opening tones of Kylesa's guitars, we'll present a series of discussions with some of the key artists taking one of the four stages at the Masquerade. Monday we spoke to Scott Hull of Pig Destroyer and Agoraphobic Nosebleed and yesterday it was CT of Rwake. Today, we speak to none other than Jacob Bannon of Converge.

Jacob Bannon has a tattoo of a heart that covers his throat. Heart in your throat... I'd say that it's appropriate. As vocalist and lyricist for Converge, Bannon is one of a handful of the hardcore elite that crafts poignant, thought provoking lyrics that can comfortably sit side by side with the challenging hardcore mindbenders that the rest of his band spews forth. Converge has delivered blistering hardcore for more than seventeen years, and along the way Bannon has been involved in multiple side projects (Irons, Supermachiner, etc) and solo efforts, all while also steering the hardcore superlabel Deathwish Records.

Converge is set to close out Scion Rock Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta, just a few short weeks before the band goes on a short tour that will include Europa on March 27th (tix here, full tour sched below). We sat down to talk to Bannon about the new Converge LP, Deathwish, his collaboration with Dwid of Integrity, and his forthcoming solo record.

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You and the guys are working on the new Converge... Does it have a title? Any song titles yet? A theme?

The record does have a title as well as song titles, however we are not ready to release them just yet.

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Continue reading "an interview w/ Jacob Bannon of Converge"

by Black Bubblegum

Sean Penn & Dennis Kucinich introducing Ringworm

I am convinced that Sean Penn is everywhere: Alaska to shoot an amazing film, Iran, New Orleans during Katrina, Venezuela to meet Hugo Chavez, Cleveland with Dennis Kucinich to see Ringworm... wait, what? Next up, Susan Sarandon will visit Dwid Hellion (Integrity) to check up on his new project with Jacob Bannon (Converge).

Continue reading "Sean Penn & Dennis Kucinich are metal"