Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Roadrunner Records
29 June 2009
by Mike Strata
Remember that pair of trainers you bought years ago? The ones that you’ve worn irrespective of the occasion, the weather and the ever -fickle finger of fashion? The ones that just feel so comfortable when you slip them on that it doesn’t really matter that they’re a little past their prime? Killswitch Engage are those trainers – in a metaphorical sense at least.
Over the last nine years or so the Massachusetts bruisers have pummeled us with album after album of melodic metalcore, becoming one of the genre’s leading lights in the process. They’ve spawned legions of imitators, who have in turn flooded the market, and yet KsE have always been able to keep their heads above water in the sea of mediocrity that is late noughties metalcore. Until now, that is.
Ostensibly there is nothing “wrong” with KsE’s latest offering, it has all the characteristics you’d expect of such a record in 2009. Brutal verses with soaring choruses? Check. Twin guitar harmonies with searing solos? Check. Song names using words such as ‘lost’, ‘never’, ‘forgotten’ and ‘dark’? Check. It’s just that just like those favourite trainers, the sole (SOUL – geddit?!) has worn away to the extent that it all just seems a little bit flat.
The album opens in typical KsE fashion with ‘Never Again’, all dramatic octave chords, blistering leads and Howard Jones bellowing his lungs out. Bless him. Unfortunately things don’t get much better than this, in fact they get quite a lot worse. Sure, ‘Starting Over’, ‘Reckoning’ and ‘A Light In A Darkened World’ are classic Killswitch, taken on their own they’re great tracks, but the rest of the album is so lacklustre that it completely dulls their effect. ‘Take Me Away’ is undoubtedly the lowest point, with the band pushing the loud/quiet/loud dynamic to breaking point and ending up sounding like pale imitations of their former selves.
Watch the video to ‘Starting Over’ by Killswitch Engage
The decision to switch producers from the band’s own joker in the pack, Adam D (he apparently co-produced), to Brendan O’Brien doesn’t really seem to have paid off either – this is still recognizably KsE, alas not sounding any fresher than you would expect. In fact, the guitars in particular sound a little worse than on past excursions, a little “buzzy” and trebly where they should be crushing.
There is one light in this darkened world however, and that is the vocal performance of Howard Jones. He screeches, shouts, screams and grunts in all the right places, but it’s his towering melodic vocals that rescue what would otherwise be a less-than-average album. Solid not spectacular, In truth this is less Nike, more Hi-Tec. Sorry boys.
3/6
Sounds like: All the metalcore you’ve ever heard
Top tracks: Starting Over, Reckoning
Killswitch Engage – Killswitch Engage tracklisting
Never Again
Starting Over
The Forgotten
Reckoning
The Return
A Light In a Darkened World
Take Me Away
I Would Do Anything
Save Me
Lost
This Is Goodbye
13 responses so far ↓
1 Luke Morton // Jul 3, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Great review, but it’s a bit gutting the album isn’t too good. I’ll give it a listen though, might find a gem or two.
2 SilentScreaming // Jul 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm
So it doesn’t sound like old Killswitch. Big deal. If the band has “spawned legions of imitators,” why not try to change and rise above them?
3 Hugh Platt // Jul 3, 2009 at 7:47 pm
The new songs didn’t really do much for me at Download, so I’m not too surprised reading this review.
It has sold by a bazillion though. Killswitch are gonna explode over the next 12 months.
4 Jack // Jul 4, 2009 at 2:37 am
Heard it on Myspace. Fucking bullshit album. What a waste of a band.
5 jmet // Jul 4, 2009 at 2:45 am
I think Starting Over and The Return really stand out from the rest of the disc. The big time producer thing might not be for them but that is something worth trying at least once if you can get there. This record really comes in 3rd behind the last two but it’s still a podium finish.
6 Josh // Jul 4, 2009 at 7:51 am
I agree with the whole sneaker analogy not the best KSE album but it wont stop me listening casue its still killswitch. And the album does grow on you
7 Fawaz // Jul 5, 2009 at 9:09 am
Oh what the fuck. Metalheads these days. On one hand you bash bands for repeating the same formula, and once they try out something new and you happen to dislike it, then the band should stick to their old style. Like seriously make up your fucking mind already. Personally I love the album. In a metal scene which is overrpopulated with deathcore and metalcore bands, this definitely stands out.
8 Mark // Jul 5, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Actually Fawaz,
The problem is…that this album sounds EXACTLY what you thought KSE would deliver… which makes it incredibly boring….Howards vocal on this album is diabolical in terms of his chorus melodies…
I love Killswitch, but this review totally hit the nail on the head…spot on.
9 Jack // Jul 5, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Yeah, it’s crap because they’re NOT doing anything new. At all. DULL DULL DULL.
10 Avangelist // Jul 6, 2009 at 12:26 am
I reviewed this a few weeks back and wrote pretty much the same thing. Nothing wrong just nothing good.
I would goes as far as to say they’re more like Hi-Tech or BKnights, if you remember them. Or perhaps Dunlop Green Flash, we all think they’re great but when you get a pair they last a few months at best.
11 mark chavez // Jul 6, 2009 at 2:37 am
I would say this one is great. Not as daylight dies but really close. I like how they got a big producer to help them get over the hill. KSE is the best in you got 2 support them go get the album. i got it in, it does grow on you.
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