Killswitch Re-Engage-d
There are four phases a metal band goes through on the road to pursuing their dreams. Phase I are the angry early days when the faster and harder takes precedence over everything else; this is the phase where the good bands establish their fan base and, if the stars align correctly, attract the attention of labels. Next comes Phase II or the “growth” phase, also commonly known to the fans of the previous stage as the “sellout” phase, where artistic expression and an appreciation for influences other than Slayer find their way into the creative process, winning new fans and alienating old ones. Then there’s Phase III, which I like to refer to as the “Stale” phase. This bump in the proverbial road has consumed more bands than Jager benders and the IRS combined. “Stale” finds bands trying desperately to cling to the success discovered in the “Growth” phase in an effort to stay relevant. Normally, bands will plod along in this phase for an album or two, trying to feign intensity and interest while trying to fool others, as well as themselves, into believing that they still are making music “on their own terms.” This phase is normally highlighted by either the departure of band members or disbanding in general to move on to, well, back to, the angry early days to start the whole cycle over again.
Most bands never see the fourth stage, “Rebirth,” when a band gets its shit together and finds that happy medium between the first two stages to become something…more.
Never have the four previously mentioned stages been so exquisitely illustrated as in the case of Western Massachusetts’ own Killswitch Engage. After achieving critical acclaim and modest success with their debut Alive or Just Breathing released on Roadrunner Records in 2001 (see Phase I), the band moved gloriously onto Phase II with two more Roadrunner releases, 2004’s The End of Heartache and 2006’s As Daylight Dies. Phase II also saw the departure of original singer Jesse Leach and introduced Howard Jones in his place. Howard’s vocals gave Kilswitch a smoothness that had not been a part of the original KsE sound. On the strength of singles including “The End of Heartache” and “My Curse,” Killswitch Engage began to enjoy the fruits of Phase II, earning sought-after slots on many prominent tours and festivals like “Music as a Weapon” and “Download Festival” and receiving more mainstream exposure in films like Freddy vs Jason ~ and even having their music featured by the WWE.
Yes…life is good in good ol’ Phase II…and then…Phase III.
The 2007 self-titled release by Killswitch Engage debuted at number 7 on the Billboard charts but dropped quickly after its impressive first showing. The album was directionless, soft and downright whiney at times. There were none of the hooky riffs or sick breakdowns that were Killswitch trademarks on their previous albums and Howard just couldn’t seem to get over whatever everlasting love had escaped him, leaving fans ~ myself included ~ lyrically disappointed and saying, “Enough already.”
It appeared that Killswitch Engage were headed straight into Phase III oblivion, and worse yet, irrelevance…unless…
Enter. Phase. IV.
Amidst Facebook posts and “Tweets” regarding the writing of the new album, it was announced that Howard was leaving the band for undisclosed reasons. After this revelation it was then disclosed that original singer Jesse Leach was returning to the band. This news created a giant buzz in the metal community and helped amp up the anticipation for what was to come.
What came next was Phase IV exemplified; it was a rebirth.
The 2012 release of Disarm the Descent reaffirmed KsE as a powerhouse in the metal community. The [re]addition of Jesse and perhaps the subtraction of Howard breathed new life into a band that seemed to be desperate for something new. Ironically, they had found just that in something…or rather someone…old.
The new energy was on full display at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH on June 8. A homecoming of sorts, the band was on point with new and old material alike, engaging the sold-out crowd as only KsE guitarist Adam Dutkeiwicz can…with badminton of course, lobbing shuttlecocks into the crowd between breakdowns and solos alike. Jesse commanded the stage with confidence and, while his voice lacks that smoothness that Howard’s had, the intensity he exudes is infectious and the crowd was ready and willing to take all he wanted to give.
Killswitch Engage have reinvented themselves in the simplest way possible, by going back to the beginning, by going back to what made them so good in the first place…by being themselves.
Watch the official video for “In Due Time” from Disarm The Descent, directed by McFarland and Pecci, HERE.
www.youtube.com/artist/killswitch-engage
All photos were taken at the 6/8/13 show at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.