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Killswitch Engage (CD/DVD)

Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage (CD/DVD) Audio CD

A fair review of the Killswitch Engage "Killswitch Engage (CD/DVD)" 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 (CD/DVD)
Rating:

Release Date: 2009-06-30
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Never Again 2: Starting Over 3: The Forgotten 4: Reckoning 5: The Return 6: A Light In A Darkened World 7: Take Me Away 8: I Would Do Anything 9: Save Me 10: Lost 11: This Is Goodbye 12: In A Dead World 13: Rose of Sharyn (Live) 14: My Curse (Live) 15: Holy Diver (Live) 16: Killswitch Engage: The making of the album, on tour and behind the scenes (DVD)

Loud Grumbling
He was my first in high school. I don't like loud screaming however I did like the drummer's original work--Justin Foley -that is I heard him on you tube playing his own music. We really liked each other.

Long time fans don't bother...they are done.
" The album accompanying this song among a dozen others, was raw, intense and uncompromising original metal. The first Killswitch Engage single i ever heard was "My Last Serenade. They had a sound unlike other metalcore bands with complex guitar structures, brutal breakdowns and beautifully sung hooks and ballads. After Jesse left the band, we heard a less brutal, intense band yet we discovered a great vocalist in Howard Jones. The End of Heartache was almost as good as its predecessor, same music, just different vocalist. As Daylight Dies saw a softer yet more beautiful side of the band, lyrically and musically. Although less heavy than the previous albums, it could be seen as an evolutionary step for even better music for them. However, this album shatters all thoughts of any evolution or progression for this band. The heaviness is there. Thats about it. The riffs are completely generic and boring, drumwork washed up and pretty boring as well, and as for the vocals, you'll be lucky to hear him scream just a few times. Im alright with bands singing more if the music is still good, but you wouldnt even think Joel and Adam are the guitarists on this album. Its pathetic. I gave this album two stars because it has three good songs. Reckoning, Light in a Darkened World, and Starting Over. Now when i say good, i mean good for this album, but if they were on any other Killswitch album, they would be skipped. Im very disappointed, and this is worst regression i've heard since Metallica's St. Anger. Perhaps not as bad. Anyways, if you like this album, thats awesome, if you dont, then you dont. More than likely this will not please long time fans. They have officially, and yes, im going to say it, sold out. These guys had so much potential to take the metal world by storm and they failed. Instead, i recommend Shadows Fall's new album, almost a complete return to form, maybe better. Also Megadeth's new album. .

how much Longer!
The album AOJB, @ that time, was like a light @ the end of the tunnel when the music scene seemed to be exhausted and no one had anything new to offer! The word was around about this band, friends telling friends and sharing mp3s and what not. Killswitch Engage in my opinion aren't the best Rock Band today, but they are good @ what they do!! I was introduced to KSE, like most of us, thru the heavily circulated video of "My Last Serenade". . Every Couple of years there are a handful of bands that manage to shake things up and bring something fresh to the table. . AOJB with Jesse Leach was fresh, everyone loved it. Soon after, TEOH with Howard Jones was different, but again fresh, because of a different vocalist. . Jesse Leach was missed, many hardcore fans didn't digest this well, but the result. . People loved it because Howard Jones lived up to it, and far surpassed peoples expectations. . but hey, even fresh gets stale yea. . So I'll come to my review of KSE's second Self Titled album. This album isn't half bad actually, it retains the quality of sound and style KSE have come to be known for, a major plus point would be that its more technical compared to their last album ADD, which i feel was just a continuation of TEOH and had very little to offer. Musically this album is less dynamic than previous ones, almost mellow I'd say. Could be because of the different producer this time around! I am however disappointed that none of the songs here leave a ringing in your head long after you've listened to it. for eg. like. . All songs off AOJB, "Rose of Sharyn" & "The End of Heartache" from TEOH, or even "Break the Silence" from ADD. It's really strange for a Band like KSE, who are known for their Dynamic Range and powerful Live Shows! If the keenest of listeners would analyze this, they could all agree, that with Jesse Leach it was never about Dynamics, it was more about the Edge that his vocals gave to the sound of the Band, Clearly visible all over AOJB! Not the case with Howard Jones. His vocals definitely have a wider range, and give the band a "Bigger" sound, ergo, the Dynamic! Whatever the case though, both vocalists are good in their own right. In closing the only thing I'd say would be that this album will definitely pull in younger, newer fans, but for the older fans, this could be a let down! A Solid 3. 5 Star rating from me would be just about right for now! Because if you're reading this, you already know what this band is capable of! Cheers ;o).

More or less, still the same band you know and love.
Not only is it their third effort with vocalist Howard Jones in tow but it is also their first to utilize the abilities of an outside producer, Brendan O'Brien, who has worked with everyone from AC/DC to The Offspring. Nearly ten years after releasing their first self-titled effort, metalcore's most iconic and definitive band, Killswitch Engage, have arrived with another self-titled album. Following up 2006's "As Daylight Dies," the new album has the dual task of living up to the already established, tried and true sound as well as bringing something new to the table for the fifth set of music in the band's career.

The opening track of the album, "Never Again," answers the question of whether or not a big name producer and heightening success has softened Killswitch Engage's technique with a resounding "No. " Vocalist Howard Jones still howls, croons and shrieks in the same fashion that made the band's breakthrough album -- 2004's "The End of Heartache"-- such a success, and the band still pummels on, with co-guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz shredding and chugging along with the crushing rhythm section of bassist Mike D'Antonio and drummer Justin Foley. Five albums in, nothing much has changed, as the marriage between melody and brutality has remained as strong as ever for this Massachusetts five-piece. In essence, this is the same Killswitch Engage we have come to know and love, with perhaps a few tinkerings that only serve to keep their reliable sound fresh and viable.

The question over Brendan O'Brien's influence still lingers in songs like "A Light in a Darkened World", "Starting Over" (this album's "Rose of Sharyn") and "I Would Do Anything," with slight pop flourishes peppered throughout. Thankfully, little tweaks here and there don't change the band's sound enough to make for sacrilege, and the album comes across less as an attempt to be Killswitch's version of Metallica's "The Black Album" and more like the band trying to retain their identity while expanding upon its already tried and true sound. "Reckoning" and "This Is Goodbye" (the album's crushing closing number) serve as comfort-food for the faithful fan, while experimentation comes to fruition in one of the album's strongest tracks, "The Return. " A slow-building, moody and textured piece, it serves as one of the few spots where the band breaks with their routine to deliver something truly outstanding. It works and it works well, but is unfortunately the only spot in the album where the band gets truly creative and steps outside of their comfort zone. More songs like this -- or at least with its spirit -- and the band's fifth album would have been the better for it.

Although the album doesn't break much from tradition, it's still a mostly fresh experience. The band is in top form, delivering a set of songs that will no doubt sound even better when performed live. Jones, in particular, ups the ante, giving his finest vocal performance to date, giving credibility to some of the more restrained moments of the album while holding true to the Killswitch Engage name in the album's heavier fare. "Killswitch Engage" (or perhaps "Killswitch Engage II") is no doubt a crowd pleaser, an album that if you're already initiated, will nestle itself comfortably in your ear-drums. New fans could look elsewhere for a better introduction, but as far as a band on its fifth album in its ten year long career, Killswitch Engage show no sign of slowing down and it can only get better from here.

The Special Edition/Digipak features four additional tracks as well as a bonus DVD. Three of the four tracks are live -- "Rose of Sharyn," "My Curse" and the band's brilliant cover of Dio's "Holy Diver" -- and capture the band at their best -- in a live setting. "In a Dead World," meanwhile, fits nicely along with the other eleven tracks that make up the album. The DVD is about a half an hour long, and covers the band's stint on The Warped Tour as well as the making of the album and the album's artwork. It also features some humorous interviews, and coupled with the live tracks, makes this package worth seeking out.

worthy of self titlement
however this is balanced out by having a more refined smooth sound- more soaring, more matured lyrical content to a degree- a fuller, if not quite as steeply pitched enegry. this album, as said by others, is lacking some of the raw energy of previous relases. in truth there is one thing that i'm annoyed about on this album; some of the songs have very abrupt endings where a fade or a pause at the end would seem to fit better.

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.