Converge

Converge is a metalcore band from Salem, which is appropriate given that town’s mythologized history. Their line-up consists of Jacob Bannon (vocals), Kurt Ballou (guitar), Nate Newton (bass), and Ben Koller (drums). Bannon and Ballou brought the band together in high school, starting out by playing covers. They eventually played gigs and recorded some demos, landing a contract with the Earthmaker Records label. Their first album, “Halo in a Haystack,” was financed by Bannon from his wage at a nursing home.

Converge enjoyed success as one of the first metalcore bands to come from the punk underground on the east coast. After nine studio albums, their most recent, “The Dusk In Us” (2017) is their best charter yet, #1 on Billboard US Hard Rock a ping on charts around the world. They’ve upgraded to the Epitaph Records label, a fitting home for their genre.