Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage Review
Thursday July 2, 2009
Killswitch Engage is a natural progression for the band. While still packing plenty of punch and aggression, their melodic side is even more developed on this CD. “The Return” is a ballad, with almost all clean vocals from Howard Jones. There are a few other songs that are some of the most accessible Killswitch Engage has done.
Tracks like “Light In A Darkened World” are more in the vein of recent Killswitch, with pummeling drums and screaming vocals easing up into memorable riffs and melodic singing. The twin guitars of Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel are excellent throughout, whether it’s dishing out thrashy riffs, harmonies or fills. “Save Me” especially showcases their chops and versatility.
Read the complete Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage Review
(CD cover courtesy Roadrunner Records)
Comments
I disagree completely. This album is uninspired and almost gives you the feeling that the band is bored. The guitars are mushy, most songs are forgettable. I doubt this guy really listened to their other albums.
I agree completely crawler. This album is shockingly bad in comparison to their older material. Seems as if KsE is trying to go more mainstream. Sad.
I disagree that they’re trying to go more mainstream… While I do feel the album lacks inspiration (big time), I think it’s for the opposite reason – it lacks any sort of “hooks” whatsoever, and seems much less “mainstream” to me than their previous albums. Now it’s not that I really mind that, but it seems they’ve tried too hard to get away from sounding that way, and as a result the riffs are just simply not as catchy, as the guys just sort of pound out a bunch of generic notes. Even the two songs that I would consider the most mainstream (tracks 2 and 6), are nowhere near as accessible as The Arms of Sorrow and My Curse. Having said that, kudos to the band for mixing in some very tricky timings and speeding up the pace beyond any other recent effort. Technical skills-wise, the guitar work is outstanding, but comes a single note here and a single note there away from having some beautiful riffs and melodies.
Gone through the album three times and still think it lacks past efforts. As said in the previous post it lacks any hooks. To many ballads. Need to be more in your face. Just lacks the previous firepower. Cannot come close to touching End of Heartache or As Daylight Dies. Best song is probably The Reckoning. Quite disappointed by this effort as I treking from NYC up to Hartford to see them on the Mayhem tour. They are always great live, just do not know if these new songs will translate well at the concert. That being said, I am sure the album will grow on me as time goes on.
I am sorry, this album is not the KsE I once knew. I have listened to them since their first S/T and saw a progression to failure. The first 3 albums are classics. The last one and this one are not good. There is nothing new, its boring, and most of all its no longer “metal”. This is a commercial sounding album for the masses. To me this album sounds as if it was prepared and recorded in less than a month. Its main focus it to sell. KsE is nothing but a money making product at this time. Not sure if its the actual band or the business people (label) that have done this. Vocally its boring, its the same formula that appeals to non-metal folk. When talking to a fellow KsE fan it saddened me that this fan did not know the band Slayer. Yet they are going to Mayhem…I feel KsE will lose their die hard fans but will acquire a ton of non-metal fans which in turn someone will profit a lot. I feel this album gets no stars as it does not appeal to me at all.
i have to agree with Edward. This album is NOT what killswitch used to be. I have been following these guys since the days of Jesse Leach and have to say i was more than disappointed in this album. i have listened to it about 4 maybe 5 times and its just so boring and repetitive. No question, the band members are very very very talented. but in my opinion both albums since end of heartache are just not very good. seems as though they just sit in their comfort zone and want to make a quick dollar. could it be roadrunner? or the band itself? who cares, point is this is not what Killswitch Engage once stood for. very dissapointing
sorry guys, i have loved KSE since the start too, and you guys thrash and put down them left and right, but they sound amazing on this cd, Maybe they are mainstream, would you sit back and not make money? no you wouldnt.. maybe cuz my favorite song on the album is “i would do anything” But this cd is amazing, along with every other KSE cd, so… Shove it.
I don’t think it is that bad it isn’t the same i know but powerful lyrics. most of there songs have a emo undertone to it. the special addition is cool live preformances of my curse. on the dvd they said they wanted to try something new and i think for them they have.
NEEDS TO BE HEAVIER!!! AND TO HAVE MORE SCREAMING!!!
Reckoning is the best song on the album because its the heaviest.
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s keep something in mind here: the previous Killswitch albums were produced by Adam D. On this album, they had a different guy producing – a guy who has admitted that he hates metal as it “doesn’t feel personal”. Did you really expect this album to be as heavy as the other albums? Anyway, I love this album… I just hope that in the future, they’ll get someone who appreciates metal to produce for them. Oh, and hopefully Adam D gets some more singing parts.