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Killswitch Engage: Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage: Killswitch Engage

Melodic Metalcore
Rating: 4.5/5.0

Roadrunner Records
www.killswitchengage.com
www.myspace.com/killswitchengage
Review: Ethan Hartranft,  07.05.2009

American metalcore masters, Killswitch Engage, return to create a second self-titled album. It's been 9 years since the band's first album and by now they've refined their music into a science. As soon as the album begins it takes off into outer space and doesn't stop until the final track plays. The first thing that jumps out at a listener is how incredibly melodic the album is. The second, is the album's deep routs in thrash. The song 'Starting Over' is the most melodic piece Killswitch Engage has ever done while 'The Forgotten' and 'I Would Do Anything' are very heavy thrash and riff focused. Another amazing thing is the complete contrast between the first two songs on the album. 'Never Again' is the fastest and most brutal track and seems to be a reassurance to the band's hardcore fan base. However, right after that 'Starting Over' has an echoing chorus that sets the overall melodic tone for the rest of the album.

'Never Again' is the kind of song fans think of when they think of Killswitch Engage; fast, brutal and unstoppable. Bass is fully present and accounted for on 'Starting Over' as well as 'Save Me'. 'The Returns' is the most mellow song and owes a little more than a lot to Iron Maiden. Another standout it 'A Light in a Darkened World'. Who says metal lyrics need to be about death, destruction and other nasty things? The band blows this out of the water with this song's inspiring lyrics. As the album rounds out, 'This is Goodbye' features some amazing guitar fills and 'In A Dead World' builds into a satisfying crescendo to end the album.

Killswitch Engage's self titled album is modern metalcore at it's best. The pioneers of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal have given us a bright diamond in the rough of the American metalcore scene.

In Short

Killswitch Engage's self titled album is modern metalcore at it's best. The pioneers of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal have given us a bright diamond in the rough of the American metalcore scene.

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