Killswitch Engage 2009 review

When it comes to basic American metal dishing out pure goodness without variation of genre, Killswitch Engage pulls it off perfectly. Since their second album, ‘Alive or Just Breathing’, they have been able to keep a steady hold on metal fans everywhere; and because of their originality, thanks heavily to Howard Jones unique vocal style, they have been able to lift tired metal junkies out of the same metal routine provided by many less than creative bands. Their new album is no exception either. ‘Killswitch Engage’, the bands second self-titled album and fifth overall, is the easy to like new addition to the Killswitch enterprise.

Essentially, the band has changed very little since their last album. You may think that’s a bad thing, but I respectfully disagree. Why fix what’s not broken? But before anyone automatically assumes that Killswitch’s new endeavor isn’t worth buying let me assure you that there is change to be heard. While not super noticeable, the overall sound has mellowed out a little bit. You know how Killswitch does a really good job of switching between mellow and brutal, right? Well this time the mellow is amped up just a little bit. If you reach into your 2006 section of your CD collection, you’ll find that their previous album, ‘As Daylight Dies’ had an angrier feeling to it. But that changes none of the good feelings that I get from this one.

It is clear that the new album is much more meaningful and even poetic in its execution than their previous albums have been. They’ve given you the extreme of their ability, and now they probably want to make some sort of impression with their lyrics over their music. Throughout the whole album, there is a theme of redemption from some sort of ugly past as well as retribution on an unknown enemy. In the opening song, ‘Never Again’, they express their experience with this enemy with the line “Nothing can change what you’ve done, nothing can change the way I feel”. Some sort of pain inflicted upon the speaker is made apparent. Then they talk about the future and how they are going to move on from their past with “lead me back to where my heart belongs”. This theme of renewal is continued in several songs, including ‘The Return’, ‘A Light In a Darkened World’, and ‘I Would Do Anything’.

Accompanying these meaningful lyrics is very well put together and, as usual, well recorded music. The opening song, ‘Never Again’, pretty much tells whoever’s listening exactly what to expect for the rest of the album. It starts off loud and menacing for the verse, and then slows down, showing off Howard Jones lovely singing voice during the chorus. In fact, if there is anything wrong with this album at all, it is the lack of variation between song structures. Each song has its own sound; I’m not saying each song sounds identical. Only that almost every song on the album pushes through with a heavy verse and then mellows down in the chorus, usually followed by an intense bridge.

With that being the only flaw I have found on the whole album, I would recommend it to anyone that already trusted in Killswitch’s style and to anyone who appreciates a very professional metal album. If you’re into all the big mainstream metal bands but you’ve never heard these guys, give their new album a listen. Overall, I wouldn’t say that this was their best album ever, as their previous had a little more variation, but it warrants no complaint either. It is definitely worth getting.

Artist: Killswitch Engage

Album: Killswitch Engage

Label: Roadrunner Records

Release Date: June 30, 2009

Length: 38:49

Rating: 4.5/5