No Heroes

No Heroes
Studio album by Converge
Released	October 24, 2006
Studio	GodCity Studio
Genre	Metalcore, mathcore, hardcore punk
Length	41:37
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Kurt Ballou, Converge
Converge chronology
Petitioning Forever (2006) No Heroes (2006) Axe to Fall (2009)

No Heroes is the sixth album by Converge. The album was released on October 24, 2006, on Epitaph Records. By January 11, 2007, it had sold 17,000 copies in the U.S. It peaked at number 151 in the Billboard 200. It topped the Top Heatseekers chart and reached number 13 in the Independent Albums listings.^[1] It was named the number 1 album of 2006 in Sputnikmusic's staff "Best of 2006" list.

About

In early July, Converge's official website announced the title of the album, as well as the meaning behind it:

These days, cowards outnumber the heroes, and the begging souls outweigh the calloused hands of the hardest of workers. Both in life and in art, the lack of passion is sickening, and the lust for complacency is poisonous. This album is the artistic antithesis of that sinking world; a thorn in the side of their beast. It's for those who move mountains one day at a time. It's for those who truly understand sacrifice. In our world of enemies, we will walk alone...

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	89% link
Allmusic	[2]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[3]
Exclaim!	favorable[4]
Pitchfork Media	8.1/10 link
PopMatters	8/10[5]
Orlando Weekly	favorable link
Stylus Magazine	B+ link
Sputnikmusic	4.5/5 link

No Heroes was given 8.1/10 by Brandon Stosuy of Pitchfork Media as he said "Conceptually reminiscent of the way Orthrelm's OV rocked socks within a tight framework, No Heroes is one of the year's most musically cohesive ways to keep pulses beating rapidly."

Sam Roudman of Stylus Magazine gave the album a B+ by stating "As Converge have been instrumental in the expansion of the contemporary hardcore vocabulary—embracing music signifiers previously under the dominion of metal or grind—this return to roots makes this album something of a homecoming."

Notably, No Heroes received a 4.5 out of 5^[6] from Sputnikmusic staff reviewer Jared W. Dillon, commenting that "No Heroes is completely successful in delivering a great array of extremely heavy music", while another staff reviewer, Nick Butler, gave the album 1.5 out of 5,^[7] commenting that "I'll undoubtedly get flamed to hell for this, but if No Heroes isn't the worst album I've heard in 2006, it's certainly the least enjoyable", making it one of the uncommon instances where two staff reviewers almost completely disagree with each other.

Track listing

All lyrics by Jacob Bannon, all music composed by Converge.^[8]

1. "Heartache" – 1:43
2. "Hellbound" – 1:07
3. "Sacrifice" – 1:37
4. "Vengeance" – 0:58
5. "Weight of the World" – 1:25
6. "No Heroes" – 3:43
7. "Plagues" – 4:43
8. "Grim Heart/Black Rose" – 9:34
9. "Orphaned" – 1:39
10. "Lonewolves" – 2:18
11. "Versus" – 2:09
12. "Trophy Scars" – 4:59
13. "Bare My Teeth" – 2:02
14. "To the Lions" – 3:40

Personnel

Converge[8] Jacob Bannon – vocals, percussion (on "Trophy Scars") Kurt Ballou – guitars, vocals, organ (on "Plagues"), percussion (on "Trophy Scars") Nate Newton – bass guitar, vocals Ben Koller – drum kit Production and recording[8] Kurt Ballou – recording and mixing at GodCity Converge – production Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – drum tech Nick Zampiello – mastering at New Alliance East

Guest musicians[8] Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy) – backing vocals on "No Heroes", "Hellbound", "Trophy Scars" John-Robert Conners (Cave In) – percussion on "Trophy Scars" Alex Garcia-Rivera (Give Up the Ghost) – percussion on "Trophy Scars" Jonah Jenkins (Only Living Witness) – lead vocals on "Grim Heart/Black Rose" Adam McGrath (Cave In) – lead guitar on "To the Lions" Artwork and design[8] Jacob Bannon – artwork and design

References

1. "Converge Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
2. Apar, Corey. "Review of No Heroes". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
3. Diver, Mike (October 23, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
4. Deneau, Max (November 2006). "Review of No Heroes". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
5. Begrand, Adrien (December 12, 2006). "Review of No Heroes". PopMatters. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
6. "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
7. "Converge - No Heroes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
8. No Heroes (CD booklet). Converge. Los Angeles, California: Epitaph Records. 2006. 86827–2.