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Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing Audio CD

A fair review of the Killswitch Engage "Alive or Just Breathing" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Killswitch Engage reviews here, or go back to the Killswitch Engage tabs.

Killswitch Engage Band: Killswitch Engage
Title: Alive or Just Breathing
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-05-21
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Numbered Days 2: Self Revolution 3: Fixation on the Darkness 4: My Last Serenade 5: Life to Lifeless 6: Just Barely Breathing 7: To the Sons of Man 8: Temple from the Within 9: Element of One 10: Vide Infra 11: Without a Name 12: Rise Inside

The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Ginger or Mary Ann?
For my part, I was turned on to Killswitch with the release of "The End Of Heartache," Jones' first record with the band, and did not pick up "Alive Or Just Breathing" until much later. Paper or plastic? Jesse Leach or Howard Jones? When it comes to fans of Killswitch Engage, the question over who is the better of the band's two vocalists is one of those passionate and never-ending debates. My verdict? It's a wash. Both vocalists are capable of pulling off the scream-the-verse-sing-the-chorus formula that has become the trademark of metalcore, and both write lyrics that are steeped in Christian spirituality but still secular enough to keep Killswitch from being saddled with the "Christian Band" label. The main difference between the two is that Jones appears to have had some vocal training, and it shows in his delivery, which is powerful but more polished and restrained than Leach's emotional, from-the-gut, scream-your-lungs-out approach. Leach, frankly, sounds like he is putting serious strain on his vocal chords (and voice problems reportedly contributed to his decision to leave the band not long after this CD came out), while Jones' singing and screaming sounds almost effortless. Whether you prefer Leach or Jones may boil down to whether you prefer a raw, purely emotional approach or can appreciate the value of a polished performance.

In many ways, Leach's vocal style is ideally suited to the diamond-in-the-rough that is "Alive Or Just Breathing. " This CD is raw and unpolished compared to the band's subsequent albums. Clearly guitarist/producer Adam Dutkiewicz had more time and resources to work with on Killswitch's later releases than he did here. Dutkiewicz is known primarily for his guitar work, but actually played drums on this album. He could sit behind the kit for almost anyone without embarassing himself, judging by his performance here. It is easy to hear why this record shook up the metal world when it was released. The mixture of hardcore brutality, melodic beauty and hopeful lyrics was a world away from the angry, nihilistic nu-metal that dominated the scene at the time. Killswitch was a band still finding itself on this CD; "Just Barely Breathing" and "Rise Inside" start strong but meander and lose focus, while "To the Sons of Man" is less a song than a two-and-a-half-minute tantrum. But songs like "Numbered Days," "Fixation On The Darkness," "My Last Serenade," "Life To Lifeless" and "The Element Of One" (perhaps the closest thing to a "power ballad" that Killswich has ever done) showed the talent and potential that would make Killswitch one of the biggest metal bands of this decade.

The history of rock shows the bands with the most longevity and influence are those who allow their sound to develop and mature over time, while maitaining the core of who they are. Killswitch has clearly come a long way since "Alive Or Just Breathing" came out, and in my opinion the addition of Howard Jones as vocalist is a big part of what made that evolution possible. If the band had taken the easy way out when Jesse Leach left and chosen a singer who was basically a Jesse Leach clone, rather than going out on a limb and taking a chance on Howard Jones, they might not have matured into the great band they are today. .


AMAZING!
Screw howard he turned kse into a boring band end of the heartache was okay but not as heavy and as daylight dies is just boring and not heavy,this right here is the best stuff they will ever put out jesse rules this is his band no matther what. This is kse best album ever stop hating metalcore THIS IS METAL not hardcore if you call yourself a metalhead than get this is heavy and amazing. His screams are amazing the death growls and singing are also awesome. It sucks he ruined his vocal chords but if you want metal you'll get it here and also get their first album too it's AWESOME!.


great
This is how metal should sound like,this is a strong album from KS an intertaining album to i like all of kill switches albums but this is their finiest and best album they made. this album was hot real serious alternative/metal kill switches best album. Road runner has great alternative/metal rap/metal and metal like artists like killswitch engage,slipknot,illnino,spineshank,coalchambe and more but killswitch is a real strong group that road runner have, the artists are strong and great to but KS,s performance is awsome,awsome vocals awsome guitars their just great,great album.


THE BEST OF KSE!
This album is a great hard kicking album every song is great jesse rules i like him better than howard he's a much better singer. Many people like killswitch now more than in their early days i don't get it they were heavier and better with their first two albums especially this one alive or just breathing. Today im not a big kse fan cause their newest album "as daylight dies"wasn't that good end of the heartache was better but they still rule. Alot of people dislike kse but guess what they RULE!SCREW RAP AND HIP HOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.


great album
espectially if they listen to rap. when your trying to get your friends to stop bad mouthing metal put this cd in it'll shut'em up.


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