Baptists, Converge

One of the albums I had for some reason quite anticipated in 2014 was Baptists latest effort, Bloodmines. It's one of the biggest hyped bands it seems, out of those following in the footsteps of the likes of Cursed, Trap Them, Converge, etc. That 2000s-2010s-ish type of hardcore that's serious, dark, sometimes brooding but always punishing.

I don't really know why I waited so expectantly for Bloodmines because my experience with Baptists hasn't been that great so far. On paper they're exactly what I tend to go for in a hardcore band, but the result is usually quite bland it seems, and so far on only a few listens, that's what I'd describe Bloodmines as.

Baptists are produced and recorded by Kurt Ballou in GodCity, but are signed to Southern Lord, as opposed to the Converge-connected Deathwish, part of what seems like a new wave of hardcore on the former label. I really find it curious that Kurt would go for them because to me he seems to have a good ear to what works and what doesn't, that stuff that's not quite like everything else out there, like when he recorded Gavin Portland, Trap Them and Code Orange, to name a few. It's not just what I've so far perceived as Baptists' blandness that makes me surprised Kurt records them, it's also the fact that so much of Baptists' material thus far comes out as a rehash or rework of a lot of 2000s era Converge material, you know, Jane Doe and onwards, the stuff that has had so many people by the throats in anticipation whenever there's a new album coming, and has probably been some of the absolutely most influential material in modern day hardcore.

As I say, I find it curious that he'd record what sounds like what Converge might've discarded when recording an album, but then I had a thought, maybe that material is just pretty damn good. Because what does go on to a Converge album post-2000 is usually nothing short of spectacular, save for perhaps their newest LP, All we love we leave behind, which admittedly has its great chapters.

So I really hadn't thought much of Baptists until I had that thought today. And then it also occurred to me that perhaps Baptists best track had soured the rest of their material for me. The first effort I heard from them was Bushcraft. And the opening track on that is absolutely magnificent. Starts off with this phenomenal stand-alone gritty guitar riff, then come the crushing drum hits along with it, before the riff continues along to more d-beat style drumming. Just fantastic stuff, and the rest of the album unfortunately pales in comparison.

Then after thinking this, I decided I'd take another listen to Bushcraft, and as much as the "rehashed Converge" point stands, I actually find the material pretty fucking awesome. It's relentless and punishing, and it makes for a great listen even if they're not quite inventing the wheel.

And now, onto listening to to Bloodmines.