HARDLORE chats with KURT BALLOU of Converge

Colin and Bo stopped by Godcity Studio in Salem, MA to talk to legendary recording engineer and CONVERGE guitar player Kurt Ballou.
This is the full, unedited 27 minute chat that was heavily condensed in the latest Hardlore spooky spinoff, HAUNTLORE: Salem Witch Hunt.
Available here:
• HAUNTLORE: Salem Witch...
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[@StablesSLCHC]

His wheezing laugh is so comforting, I don’t know how to explain it.

[@duhlike]

It's amazing. Best part of the show for sure.

[@humananimal814]

I always love listening to Kurt speak. Comes off very passionate and knowledgeable.

[@johnnyscifi]

Then...you see Converge perform, and he's a total savage, with a guitar!!!

[@tylert812]

Never realized how much Kurt reminds me of David Harbour

[@thefisthis]

And sounds so much like Rick Rubin haha

[@dinkystick]

Rivers Cuomo and Dave harbour with rick Rubins voice

[@deathkampdrone]

KB reminds me of Jan Molby

[@xJCOx]

This guy is the hardcore dad I never knew I needed until right now ❤

[@Ned_Schneebly]

“I’m down to play a rhombus”

[@benxo]

His voice is so comforting.

[@jordanhenderson9213]

The tunnel system is pretty cool. I believe you can find a tour of it, but it was originally built by merchants when Salem was a major sea port used for trading in order to get around paying duties and taxes. I think it was later used during the underground railroad as a stop to help get escaped slaves to Canada, and then was used later during prohibition to smuggle liquor. My mom use to work as a home health aid for a guy who was a kid during prohibition and has since passed but either he or his wife would tell her stories from when he was a kid about the cops sending the kids home around dusk so the boats could off load the liquor down around the Willows, though that might have been for the concert hall that use to be at the willows.

[@djd1194]

18:27 did Kurt Ballou of Converge fame say he's been to the backrooms? Crazy

[@danielhelmer8511]

My band once covered The Saddest Day at a show, circa 2000ish, without trying to learn it at all and it actually sounded pretty good.

[@Left_Hand_Path]

Babe, wake up, it’s hardlore time

[@reggieeeeeeee]

Who else looked up tabs for The Saddest Day while watching this

[@MOGO8907]

I wasn't much of believer either, Kurt, then as the kids say, I fu$&ed around and found out. The spiritual realm exists is all I'm saying.

[@The_Dusk_Sage]

This whole thing is amazing and hilarious. Thank you bruhs.

[@z.j.mcelwain2025]

This was an awesome episode haha

[@mattvdh]

super funny chat, seem like good dudes

[@mattvdh]

kurt is so nerdy i love it

[@ThePhantomnaut]

“The band is called… With Honor” - Kurt Ballou, maybe 2:21

[@FeelTheFrostbyte]

Jerome's Dream maybe? They recently got back together... from CT.... I'm pretty sure they've tracked here but I may be wrong!

[@pissycotslapshot]

It could have been the mixing for The Number 12 Looks Like You's Put on Your Rosy Red Glasses.

[@ThePhantomnaut]

​@@FeelTheFrostbyte I was thinking initially because they did record at Godcity but not the actual building we know today. Also the other thing to note was the Furnace Fest 2022 lineup. For #12, they are New Jersey but Kurt's memory can be fuzzy so they could have been it.

[@Mahmite]

only thing spooky about that building is the weird bump in the wood-floor. Had me watching my every step ;^)

[@foxwomb]

it's hardlore chat time

[@robertgoyette5863]

the saddest day question is a misquote haha someone asked dalbec how to play kurts part at the beginning of the song and dalbec said 'i have no idea'

[@Lochlan87]

Hell yeah

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Nice. Shared.

[@adampierce7468]

I want to know if Kurt can reproduce the sound from When Forever Comes Crashing that Steve Austin made before it was remastered.

[@courtneyroberthundermark5563]

This was good fun.

[@dannyrusso4980]

Pretty sure the band from CT he was speaking about editing in when he remembers was Jerome’s Dream. I think.

[@Turok1134]

13:00 Lol at Colin's face twitching. The man's a born performer.

[@runningdownadrm728]

this was cool

[@alexholzinger3579]

More Weight guy is called Giles Corey

[@trevorlahey9329]

1:44 theres a ghost in the window behind Kurt

[@HTRism]

3:34 this “omg”

[@pd_7773]

Shout out to Backstabbers Inc!

[@Chris.topher.]

Q: "How do you play The Saddest Day?" A: "ask Channel"

[@werdna3891]

Can anybody elaborate the Metro penthouse story? Obviously its the one in Chicago because Kurt mentions the FB. And the FB has some wild back ways and crazy inter structure built before modern ball return and automatic pin reset. So they have so much room no longer needed and its a ghost town. If you go there, the are jerks. Take a pic of the outside and the sign, but the bro vibe inside will kill that time you saw Refused there. Its that bad. They tried doing shows again. But it was like a Taco Tuesday type gimic. Brian Peterson did a decent job of booking great shows. So good that I almost forgive him for overpaying his friends bands and shafting the others. Which he did not so long ago booking at another establishment. The details are Hallmark channel worthy. Sorry for the jaded rant, but would love to hear about GnR and the penthouse above the Metro.

[@cccesarrr]

Ngl I thought this podcast had a whack name so I didn’t want to give it a chance but damn these two guys are the sweetest ❤ I’m a fan now

[@masterofnull9695]

Nu-crust lol

[@josephjames9090]

There's an option to translate ur comment to English and it turns into no crust lol This is what technology was made for we are in the future

[@nkostie]

His voice sounds like Rick Rubin

[@JEHNLEROY]

Haha cheddar pump

[@MN-vi7wc]

Jeromes Dream?

[@lukeshirtliff7861]

why is this on knotfest, does he mix their live sound?

[@corycourtney8923]

After Spiritual Violence, you might need some Spiritual Healing.

[@youfeartomorrow]

23:00 Giles Corey