The manic ear-drum ripping administered by "My Unsaid Everything" is only a pre-quake tremor when stacked next to the earth-shaker that is "The High Cost of Playing God." Converge crams so much murderous intent into this simply jaw dropping and mathy monster that it almost makes the album...just kidding. No amount of talent is sacrificed as other suspects complete the lineup; the slow-burner "In Harm's Way" is lit, allowed to slowly consume one's senses, and without warning explodes in a hellacious fireball. "Conduit" scatters the ashes left from "Harm's Way" and I promise few songs have such life to them as "The Lowest Common Denominator."

Fan favorite "Towing Jehovah" is a swift and effective punch in the face, and title track "When Forever Comes Crashing" is straight energy by a band that's at their vicious best in a mode where large amounts of speed are involved. The surprisingly delicate "Ten Cents" is an almost spacey interlude of quiet reflection, but none should be surprised by "Year of the Swine," a beastly noise horror spawned by some kind of schizophrenic algebra.

"Letterbomb" gives new meaning to the phrase "going postal" as it proceeds to kick some seriously riff-heavy arse, and "Love as Arson" is yet another eviscerating piece of deranged metalcore fury. The bonus track, a demo of "Bitter and Then Some" (from the album and Converge high point Jane Doe, which came out after Forever was released) has a polished yet raw intensity to it and already shows the startling direction Converge was heading in for on their defining album, Jane Doe.