Top tracks — play these first
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The Saddest Day Start here — This opening track encapsulates the album's emotional depth, combining crushing guitar work with poignant lyrics that set the tone for what follows.
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Color Me Blood Red — The intense energy and visceral themes in this track highlight Converge's signature sound, blending chaotic instrumentation with deeply personal reflections.
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Farewell Note to This City — This song showcases a slower, more reflective side of the band, offering stark contrast to the aggressive tracks while maintaining an emotional punch.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends aggression with melody, showcasing strong composition and distinct sound within metalcore.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature rapid tempo changes, with aggressive riffs alternating between chaotic and melodic sections.
- Several songs incorporate dissonant chord progressions that create a sense of tension, particularly in the verses.
- The album's lyrical themes often reflect personal struggles and societal issues, delivered with intense vocal performances.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing experience
- explosive intensity and chaos
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Converge's presence in the hardcore scene and gained wider recognition.
- Themes
- emotional chaos· post-hardcore introspection
- Career context
- When 'Petitioning the Empty Sky' was released in January 1998, Converge was solidifying their presence in the hardcore scene following their debut album, 'Jane Doe'. This album marked a pivotal moment in their career, showcasing their evolution towards a more complex sound that would influence countless bands in the metalcore genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Botch· The Dillinger Escape Plan· Norma Jean
Tracklist
- 1 The Saddest Day Start here 7:04
- 2 Forsaken 2:20
- 3 Albatross 1:49
- 4 Dead 3:05
- 5 Shingles 4:13
- 6 Buried but Breathing 1:11
- 7 Farewell Note to This City 5:20
- 8 Color Me Blood Red 3:57
- 9 For You / Antithesis (live) 8:23
- 10 Homesong (live) 6:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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