Up next on the chopping block is Killswitch Engage. I mean as far as metalcore bands go, I’d say that these guys are definitely one of the best ones out there. Plus they are one of the few where they have had one great vocalist then switched to another and back to their original. Anyway, here we go…….
Killswitch Engage- so for this album, we get an all out metal core assault. I mean this album starts off with a bang and keeps going. It’s also the first with frontman Jesse Leach and one thing to note is that Adam Dutkiewicz does not play guitar but is on drums. Anyway, this was an album that I didn’t really listen to but I wish I had after hearing this one. A great start and it gets 9/10
Standouts: Temple From The Within, Numb Sick Eyes, Irresversal
Alive or Just Breathing- I feel like this one is more melodic than the last one. While it’s still got that fast and aggressive metalcore sound, the songs are slowed down in parts and there are more clean vocals. This would also be the last album to feature Jesse Leach on vocals and Adam Dutkiewicz on drums. Overall, a great follow up album and it gets an 8.5/10
Standouts: Numbered Days, Life to Lifeless, The Element of One
The End of Heartache- I think I actually was in Manhattan on a trip when I bought this album at the Virgin Megastore. I actually purchased the MTV Headbangers Ball CD and when the song Rose of Sharyn came on, it stood out so I went back and bought the album and then when I saw Resident Evil Apocalypse, they had the song The End Of Heartache in the end credits. This is also the first album to feature Howard Jones on vocals and Adam Dutkiewicz on guitar. Personally I prefer this album to the last one and I want to say that even the production on this even seems better too. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: When Darkness Falls, A Bid Farewell, Take This Oath
As Daylight Dies- I remember hearing about and reading about this album on MySpace and magazines like Revolver. Also when MTV 2 had Headbangers Ball and Fuse had Uranium, they were always playing the song My Curse. Like seriously you couldn’t escape that song. Anyway aside from that song, the album as a whole is great. I would prefer it to be a little faster and not as melodic but at the end of the day, it’s a fantastic follow up and Howard does a great job as the bands vocalist and Adam and Joel make a great guitar team. I give this one 9/10
Standouts: This is Absolution, For You, Eye of The Storm
Killswitch Engage (2)- one of the few bands to actually have two self titled albums and no this is not a re-recording of the first album. I actually didn’t really know about this one until this review but first impressions are that this one is not as strong as other albums. Plus something seems a little off about the production like it’s a little muddy. This would also be the last album with Howard Jones on vocals. Overall, not their best but still a pretty good album and it gets 7/10
Standouts: Never Again, Save Me, Reckoning
Disarm the Descent- so this is the first album with Jesse Leach back on vocals and honestly, it’s almost as if he never left. While it’s not an all out metalcore album like the first album, it pretty much picks up where Alive or Just Breathing left off. The songs on here are also faster than that album and they also are more focused and mature. One thing I did notice is that there seems to be more blast beats than usual. Overall, a great comeback album and it’s a strong 8.5/10
Standouts: In Due Time, The Hell in Me, The Call
Incarnate- I guess for this one, there were troubles coming up with song ideas but to me, this is a pretty solid follow up. No it’s not as strong as other albums but if you are a fan of KSE with Jesse then you should like this album just fine. For me personally, I would say it’s not quite as strong as Disarm but it’s still a good album. I don’t know I just couldn’t get into it as much as Disarm. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Hate By Design, Cut Me Loose, Until The Day
Atonement- so I think I had heard the song The Signal Fire which guest stars Howard Jones on Sirius Liquid Metal so many times (thanks Jose Mangin) that I had to hear the rest of the album and I must say that this is a great album and not for just that one song. If you take everything they’ve done with Jesse so far and mix it all together, then you get this album. It’s definitely got something for everyone on here and aside from the song with Howard, the song The Crownless King also has Chuck Billy on it. Overall, this is a must listen and it gets 10/10
Standouts: The Crownless King, Ravenous, Take Control
Well with this band, it’s almost as if you are getting two bands in one except lyrically they are different. I am glad that they are cool with each other especially having Howard guest on a song is really cool. Now I have to say that if you go to their live shows, they like to have fun with the audience and Adam likes to make fun of the crowd. Now they have put out a B-Sides record but hopefully we get a new album sooner rather than later.
Album Rankings:
- The End of Heartache
- Alive or Just Breathing
- Atonement
- Killswitch Engage
- As Daylight Dies
- Disarm The Descent
- Incarnate
- Killswitch Engage (2)
Sinister Reviews 