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Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage Audio CD

A fair review of the Killswitch Engage "Killswitch Engage" 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.

Band: Killswitch Engage
Title: Killswitch Engage
Rating:

Release Date: 2009-06-16
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Never Again 2: Starting Over 3: Forgotten 4: Reckoning 5: Return 6: Light in a Darkened World 7: Take Me Away 8: I Would Do Anything 9: Save Me 10: Lost 11: This Is Goodbye

More singing and less screaming
There is a lot more melodic singing and less brutal screaming than on previous efforts. This new CD from Killswitch shows off the vocals of Howard Jones more than anything else. I really like that they did that because Howard is one of my favorite rock singers and his range is awesome. The usual catchy chorus and screamed verse is definitely still the blueprint here. In that regard, things seem a little too similar. But that's what everyone likes about Killswitch so it won't disappoint the fans. I was satisfied.

Refining, Not Revolutionizing, Their Sound
O'Brien is known for his work with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Incubus, The Offspring, Pearl Jam and AC/DC. There were a few raised eyebrows when word got out that Killswitch Engage tapped big-time producer Brendan O'Brien to record their new album alongside the band's guitarist and longtime producer, Adam Dutkiewicz. Was Killswitch following in the footsteps of their labelmates Nickelback, selling out and going soft in pursuit of radio play and elusive mainstream success? Or was this a sign that the band was finally listening to fans and critics who think it's time they moved beyond their "metalcore" sound? The answer to both questions, for better or worse, appears to be a resounding "No. " Any concerns about Killswitch going soft are silenced in the first few seconds of this album as the band tears into the thundering "Never Again. " That song, along with "The Forgotten," "Reckoning," and "I Would Do Anything" are among the heaviest songs Killswitch have ever made. Even the first single, "Starting Over," is very much in the vein of "The End Of Heartache" and "My Curse," meaning it won't be on playlists with Taylor Swift or the Jonas Brothers anytime soon.

Truth be told, "Killswitch Engage" does not sound radically different from the band's previous releases, and what differences exist are fairly subtle. Mike D'Antonio's bass lines and the guitar work of Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz are all quintessential Killswitch. No doubt that's because Dutkiewicz recorded all the guitar and bass parts, while O'Brien oversaw drums and vocals, where the biggest changes are heard. The drums really stand out on this album; Justin Foley's complex, off-time rhythms make every song more interesting. He might be the most underrated drummer in metal. But the most impressive performance on the album is that of vocalist Howard Jones, who has said that O'Brien pushed him to try things he hadn't done before. The results are impressive. Jones' hardcore screams are as strong as ever, and in his clean singing he adds soft crooning ("The Return," "Take Me Away") to the rich, operatic bellowing he's best known for. O'Brien's use of heavily layered, almost choral harmonies is a nice addition to Killswitch's vocal sound. Lyrically, Jones still dabbles in love-gone-wrong songs like "Starting Over" and "The Return," but almost gone from this record are the positive, uplifting, Christian-influenced lyrics found on previous Killswitch records ("Light In A Darkened World" is about the only song in that vein. ) Instead, Jones goes to the dark side, singing songs of anger ("Never Again"), betrayal ("The Forgotten," "Reckoning"), and grief ("Lost," "I Would Do Anything," "This Is Goodbye"). It sounds like he's exorcising some serious demons on this record, and it's his best work yet.

No doubt some will be disappointed that the new Killswitch Engage album still sounds like, well, Killswitch Engage. Maybe it's time to just accept that Killswitch Engage is a "metalcore" band, maybe even THE metalcore band. It's what they do, and they do it well. It's not their fault that hordes of inferior bands have copied their sound and made a mockery of it. Those who wish the band would change should be careful what they wish for; usually when a band tries to be something they're not, the results are unpleasant. (Examples: Metallica's "St. Anger," U2's "Pop," and anything Rush made after "Moving Pictures" in their Eighties' new wave phase. Ugh. )

The bonus edition includes a DVD featuring with interviews and answers to fan-submitted questions. It's amusing, but of more interest are the four bonus CD tracks: a new, environmentally themed song called "In A Dead World" and live versions of "Rose Of Sharyn," "My Curse" and "Holy Diver" that showcase Killswitch at their very best, playing in front of a roaring crowd. They should do a live album or another concert DVD someday.
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Starting Over
Less screaming this time around with more melodic tracks. KSE blazes on the scene again with yet another kick azz album. I'm a fan of all the KSE albums and love this one as well. Listen to it a couple of times before you decide to knock it. Heres how I rate the tracks:

1. Never. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 out of 5
2. Starting Over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 out of 5
3. Forgoten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 out of 5
4. Reckoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 out of 5
5. The Return. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 out of 5
6. A Light In A Darkened Room. . 4 out of 5
7. Take Me Away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 out of 5
8. I Would Do Anything. . . . . . . . . 2 out of 5
9. Save Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 out of 5
10 Lost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 out of 5
11 This Is Goodbye. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 out of 5 (My favorite song on the album).

Why can't we just enjoy listening to new songs
Having said this, I bought this cd not setting high standards. I will start out by saying this album is alright. This project by killswitch is not bad. I agree with others that it is not an amazing album but it is something that you can listen to while driving. People are always expecting the album of the year. I say just listen to some new songs and chill.

Not horrible, but not great either...
I am a newer fan of this band and of this type of music. . and I did enjoy some of their previous work I heard, Howard Jones is a great singer for this type of music, one of the best I have heard, so I decided to pick up the new CD (along with the new All That Remains). Although Howard sounds great here, I wasnt feeling it too much, I did enjoy a few of the songs but nothing really stuck with me except "Starting Over", and maybe 1 or 2 others. It is a MILLION times better than the All That Remains CD, and I will be keeping this one in my iPod shuffle, but it is nothing that I would bang out and listen to again. Too bad, I was really hoping it would rock.

My second complaint, why is this a self titled album? It is like their 4th or 5th album. . . I hate when bands do that. Can they not come up with a name for the album? Is it that hard? When bands do that it makes the non-fan think it is a debut album. Sorry, just had to vent there!!.

You can see a complete list of all Killswitch Engage discography, or go back to the Killswitch Engage tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.