Converge defintely hits hard with this one. Right from the 7 min. long epic first track "Saddest Day" to the insane live performances of "Homesong" "Antithesis" and "For You". I will admit, the disc didn't hit me right away and it is sort of an aquired taste with Bannon's voice being as crazy as it is but after about 3 full listens I was completely sold. Their live performance will leave you speechless and wanting more. I highly recommend all of converge's release's to any metal/hardcore fan looking for something out of the ordinary. Also check out coalesce, dillinger escape plan, and today is the day.

Review by Mike Watson:

The long awaited Converge reissues have FINALLY surfaced, and Converge fanatics nation, and even worldwide are rejoicing as there is even more need to own Converge merchandise. The newly re-done CDs have been given new life through the mastering genius of Godcity Studios and the brilliant art-work of frontman Jacob Bannon. The initial records of both albums, although ground breaking and amazing albums, were both fairly poorly recorded and mastered leaving fans with an unquenched thirst for the clear quality of the music.

Converge has quenched that thirst and more with the newly re-released albums. Both albums have been given complete new life and sound astonishing compared to their original releases. The sound quality on the re-issues is leaps and bounds beyond the original pressings, making the albums far more enjoyable and easily listenable. The most noticeable difference is on Petitioning the Empty Sky. Petitioning was originally recorded fairly empty and powerless, the re-issue however blows the listener away, re-mastered in a way that things in-audible on the original release are now made very apparent.

The Converge re-issues are an absolute must have for any Converge fan.

The band that brought metalcore to the masses with their strongest CD.

The Saddest Day is a true anthem, rightfully so. Amazing live, almost as good on the CD.

If you have any interest in hardcore you know this band and you know this CD. Odds are you're replacing the one you've scratched.

If you have a budding interest in hardcore this might not be the best starting point, but you'll need this CD down the road, consider it essential.

And if you're a Trustkill fan just throw out your CDs and buy this one. You'll be a better man for it.

This CD has been with me for a while as a burnt copy, but I recently bought it. Looking for a good price I came across here and was a bit annoyed about the reviews. Some are okay, but way too short to say anything substancial.

Someone said you have to like Megadeth to like Converge. Well, I can't stand Megadeth or any of those hair-metal bands from the 80's, early 90's, so I guess Converge touches a diverse audience.

If you don't know Converge yet it will take you by surpise. It is very loud and chaotic and it takes a while to notice the beauty in between the noise. This band is very technical and very unique, mixing noise with melody and having influences from punk, metal and hardcore and I can easily say it set a new sound taken further (or into another direction, I don't want to say Converge is standing still) by some of todays bands like Majority Rule. I really can't think of anything to compare it too, but if you like Dillinger Escape Plan, I'm positive you'll love Converge as well. Where DEP focusses more on technical sounds and structures, Converge mixes such elements with raw emotion. The lyrics are beautifully poetic and sad and the vocals grabs you by the troath.

The production on this album is lacking now and then, but not enough to bother me. If you haven't got anything by Converge yet, I recommend Jane Doe above PTES. It shows how the band perfected its style. If you do have Jane Doe already, you need this CD as well to hear an earlier stage of the band. This is more raw, less composed, but there are some tracks you just don't want to miss. The CD doesn't form such a united theme as Jane Doe, but offers its strength in diversity, exploration and emotion.

I recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys hardcore that takes the genre out of its punk roots into a whole new sound.

Though released years ago, and still miles above anything that the modern metalcore / hardcore scene has put out, 'Petitioning the Sky' seems to fall short of the work that Converge has put forth since then. Granted, at the time, 'Petitioning...' was up there, rivaling anything that other bands could put out (with the exception of the great Deadguy - who happens to be appropriately name dropped in the liner notes on this reissue), but in comparison to works like 'Jane Doe' and 'When Forever Comes Crashing' sounds dated and tired, lacking the ingenuity and musical progression found in later works. However with all that said, 'Petitioning the Empty Sky' is still a hell of an album and basically the template for every metalcore album since: raging guitar riffs, oddly clean sung verses, melodic chord progressions, the whole deal. I mean, "The Saddest Day" is arguably the best song that anyone having to do with the whole bare-bones hardcore / metalcore has ever put out, cathy, emotional, and brutal. On the part of the reissue, the producion is much cleaner, while still retaining its "rough around the edges" sound, the bonus song is solid, though the original artwork far more suited the record, the new packaging is decent. The clean up work on 'Petitioning the Empty Sky' is imaculate, warrenting even those who own the original to pick this up, definitely a worthy reissue.

8 / 10