Jesse Leach Rejoins KSE
2012-02-07 by Dan FUCKING Gibbes | 136 Replies | 6246 Views

After much speculation about who would take long-time singer Howard Jones' spot as the vocalist of pivotal metalcore band Killswitch Engage after he left at the beginning of this year, judging from the band's official page they've found a replacement. A photo of the band on their home page shows Jesse Leach smiling amongst his old band-mates, and while no official statement has been made by the band or their management with this picture alone it's safe to assume Leach is back on board.

Leach was in the band from it's inception till 2002 and recorded the both the band's eponymous debut as well as "Alive or Just Breathing."

http://www.killswitchengage.com

Stumble Twitter


Comments:Add a Comment 
wakeupdead
February 6th 2012

2191 Comments


how did i know this would happen? stokeddddd

TheSpirit
February 6th 2012

15495 Comments


Pretty awesome news actually

Digging: Kuxan Suum - Kinich Ahau

Dummit
February 6th 2012

310 Comments


i like em both...good move, i guess.

FictionalFlames
February 6th 2012

1406 Comments


Not surprised.

Ire
February 6th 2012

39306 Comments


okay

Digging: Of Montreal - Daughter of Cloud

JakeStallion
February 6th 2012

389 Comments


Great news! Hopefully he can bring some life back to the band after their awfully boring last album.

BrahTheSunGod
February 6th 2012

1279 Comments


YESS. called this as soon as Adam and him started working together again. This should be good, Leach is a superb vocalist.

FrankRedHot
February 6th 2012

6448 Comments


No one seems to realize that Adam D is the one that's destroying KsE, not Howard. As long as Adam is running things, don't expect an improvement.

Dev518
February 6th 2012

550 Comments


Times of Grace had some good tracks and Alive or Just Breathing was great so I have pretty high hopes for this.

wacknizzle
February 6th 2012

8220 Comments


if i actually liked killswitch engage i'd be pumped. lol metalcore, not quite. swedish dm and thrash mixed with hardcore breakdowns does not make metalcore. Converge and Botch are metalcore.

Digging: King Crimson - Lizard

Fieryfenderz
February 6th 2012

1106 Comments


Could really pull KSE out of the gutter they've been in the past few years. The songwriting on the Times of Grace album was excellent IMO.

Digging: The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us Is the Killer

heyadam
February 6th 2012

1457 Comments


Oh my God yes!

Digging: Into It. Over It. - Proper

Kris.
February 6th 2012

10223 Comments


SURPRISE SURPRISE

this is kinda cool tho

chesse13
February 6th 2012

2078 Comments


"No one seems to realize that Adam D is the one that's destroying KsE, not Howard. As long as Adam is running things, don't expect an improvement."

i thought i was the only one the realize that. i also think i'm in the minority but i'll really miss howard in this band



heyadam
February 6th 2012

1457 Comments


And how is Adam D ruining things?

Scoot
February 6th 2012

15612 Comments


could see it being as good as times of grace but not better

Digging: Hum - Downward Is Heavenward

FuzzyWookie
February 6th 2012

136 Comments


Nice. Happy to hear this.

FrankRedHot
February 6th 2012

6448 Comments


Adam D is the driving force behind the poppier hooks and riffs. I'm not saying making the music more radio-friendly is a
bad thing, but they haven't really convinced me there move into the mainstream is anything more than "meh."

heyadam
February 6th 2012

1457 Comments


Well I liked everything up until their second self-titled, which completely blew. But that was when they removed Adam D from the production process and listened to someone else, which resulted in a complete piece of crap of an album.

IAmHollywood
February 6th 2012

1443 Comments


reading this news article is probably the closest thing I will hopefully ever come to being exposed to this band any further

Ignimbrite
Contributing Reviewer
February 6th 2012

4680 Comments


"from it's inception"

yo um learn how to use your damn apostrophes

Digging: Deafheaven - Sunbather

AfterTheBreakdown
February 6th 2012

6886 Comments


always liked jesse better than howard

chesse13
February 6th 2012

2078 Comments


no you haven't

Relinquished
February 6th 2012

17050 Comments


I knew this was gonna happen

this year gets better and better

AD does do the choruses most of the time but I think Joel got lazy with the thrash riffs and went with the direction the band was going indicated by the popularity with The End of Heartache.

PwnageEngage
February 6th 2012

14 Comments


lol @ Adam D destroying the band.

Although their last album was far from their best, you can't blame Adam for all of it. So what if they bring in hooks and more melodic riffs? Not only is he a superb guitarist but one of the best if not THE best producers in the Metal genre today.

He also is a HUGE impact in their live shows.

AfterTheBreakdown
February 6th 2012

6886 Comments


fuck off cheese!

thedougler
February 6th 2012

208 Comments


(fart sounds)

Gmork89
February 6th 2012

5203 Comments


YES

Jamdbz
February 6th 2012

46 Comments


Oh wow

Scoot
February 6th 2012

15612 Comments


"superb guitarist"

lol

Trebor17
Contributing Reviewer
February 6th 2012

39839 Comments


bad singer

Digging: The World is a Beautiful Place And... - Whenever, If Ever

jayfatha
February 6th 2012

2882 Comments


That band pic is now awkward

Apollo
February 6th 2012

9453 Comments


awesome news

Digging: Erlen Meyer - Erlen Meyer

TechieCore
February 6th 2012

662 Comments


Fuck you all, Howard made this band. Sure Jesse was the first vocalist, but Howard made KsE who they are.

And I saw this coming, oh well, at least I can still listen to End of Heartache. Their next album will suck balls.

EyeForAnEye
February 6th 2012

1617 Comments


^
ssshhhhh

stoked.

AfterTheBreakdown
February 6th 2012

6886 Comments


no chance in hell they can make a shitter album than their last album.

FrankRedHot
February 6th 2012

6448 Comments


I didn't know you could call the backup/rhythm guitarist for a band with a mediocre one "superb." I guess that means KsE's lead guitarist must be Jimi Hendrix or Chuck Schuldiner.

WesMantooth
February 6th 2012

30 Comments


Fuuuuuuck yesssss.

Shuyin
February 6th 2012

8457 Comments


this guy is nowhere near howard



band sucks anyway

Digging: Mouth of the Architect - Quietly

andcas
February 6th 2012

57823 Comments


meh.

Digging: Faith No More - The Real Thing

theat001
February 6th 2012

86 Comments


I don't care if Leach comes back (haven't heard much from either of them to be honest...but what I have heard was pretty enjoyable), but I don't think they should have handled it the way they did. A lot of crazy kids got the idea in their head that one of them could replace Howard. Instead, they probably will just have Leach come back.

Relinquished
February 6th 2012

17050 Comments


mark my words that the next record will be better than their last two, maybe three

Yazz_Flute
February 6th 2012

18366 Comments


THERE IS A STRENGHTH IN NUMBAHS

Digging: Polkadot Cadaver - Last Call in Jonestown

bloc
February 6th 2012

32274 Comments


Band was and will be average with any singer

Digging: Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork

Gmork89
February 6th 2012

5203 Comments


They were always able to uplift me, a lot of good memories with their music.

joshieboy12345
February 6th 2012

2002 Comments


Awesome news, like both vocalists, their new album will rule.

Digging: The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation

Acanthus
February 7th 2012

8650 Comments


Jesse never impressed, but it'd be cool to have the band released some killer new material.

Digging: Muse - Absolution

Gmork89
February 7th 2012

5203 Comments


This was pretty much the only way I wasn't going to be disappointing by Howard leaving.

BallsToTheWall
Contributing Reviewer
February 7th 2012

41144 Comments


Why is this news if it's not official?

Digging: Soap and Skin - Sugarbread

Butkuiss
February 7th 2012

2692 Comments


Nostalgia'ing like a biatch here. Seeing Times of Grace in a few weeks. Even more stoked now.

BassDemon333
February 7th 2012

3098 Comments


Yes oh my fucking god this is great news if its true

Digging: The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us Is the Killer

MasBarHigeuoris21
February 7th 2012

1144 Comments


Great news! Hopefully their music will improve now

zrosschristian
February 7th 2012

281 Comments


OMG, THIS IS EPIC NEWS!!!!....if it's true.

Makemebad35
February 7th 2012

625 Comments


Not a bad move. Will be interested to hear how the new material sounds with him back.

dimsim3478
February 7th 2012

2772 Comments


Why is this news if it's not official?

It's not just a photo of the guys, it's actually the BACKGROUND to the website.

Digging: Deafheaven - Sunbather

snerefedsav
February 7th 2012

674 Comments


very unsurprising. don't know if that means the band will improve though. howard was a very good vocalist, so it's not like it was his fault the band started to suck in the first place

Digging: The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation

GnarlyShillelagh
Contributing Reviewer
February 7th 2012

3655 Comments


LOLWUT

Rowan5215
February 7th 2012

519 Comments


Lol at the comments that Adam is ruining the band. Not only is he an amazing producer, and NOT ONLY is he a rockin' guitarist, he also has an AMAZING voice. His clean vocals make this band.

Digging: The Cat Empire - Steal the Light

XingKing
February 7th 2012

3707 Comments


So who is going to do Howard's cleans now? I find it hard to believe Leach can pull that off.

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
February 7th 2012

28827 Comments


Fuck you all, Howard made this band. Sure Jesse was the first vocalist, but Howard made KsE who they are.


How the fuck did Howard make this band? Pretty sure it was the members involved in Alive Or Just Breathing that "made" the band - Howard just came in afterwards and rolled with what was already established

Digging: Calibre - Spill

devious
February 7th 2012

297 Comments


The only people who honestly think Howard made the band are the same people who think Holy Diver was a KsE original.

Funeralopolis
February 7th 2012

8586 Comments


never really liked the new singer so it is good to see old guy back

Digging: Deafheaven - Sunbather

dimsim3478
February 7th 2012

2772 Comments


So who is going to do Howard's cleans now? I find it hard to believe Leach can pull that off.

Jesse's a lot more of a '90s style metalcore singer. No way he can pull off Howard's stuff but the application of his style to his own work is really fantastic.

sspedding
February 7th 2012

4448 Comments


ok.

Digging: TesseracT - Altered State

Deviant.
Staff Reviewer
February 7th 2012

28827 Comments


A lot of Howard's cleans were really cheesy though, which probably made the cover of 'Holy Diver' such a great idea. Jesse always had far more conviction in his voice

devious
February 7th 2012

297 Comments


Truth Dev.

Acanthus
February 7th 2012

8650 Comments


Perhaps the band will go harder because of this, that'd be cool.

Emim
February 7th 2012

25553 Comments


Band was and will be average with any singer


Dallas Taylor.

Grimlin
February 7th 2012

750 Comments


jesse's kse had more variety than howard's so i'm happy for this as long as the music reverts/get's better

Tijnmans
February 7th 2012

316 Comments


I seriously don't give a shit

Ire
February 7th 2012

39306 Comments


bleh band

BassDemon333
February 7th 2012

3098 Comments


I agree with Deviant, Howard didn't make this band at all, they basically layed down the foundation of their sound when Jesse was involved. Not to mention Alive Or Just Breathing is easily their best album and how Jesse has improved drastically as a vocalist since then. I'm very excited for the new Killswitch album now.

KILL
February 7th 2012

52104 Comments


hes better than the black dude yea

DarthMann
February 7th 2012

13123 Comments


still wont listen to kse soz

AdamK
February 7th 2012

987 Comments


I thought howard on the end of heartache and as daylight dies was pretty good

MoosechriS
February 7th 2012

3519 Comments


This is what i wanted to hear!!!! New album now please

Durrzo
February 7th 2012

696 Comments


That's pretty fucking awesome. I really like Jesse's sound and he's gotten a hell of a lot better over the years. Excited for new material.

Strider
February 7th 2012

4597 Comments


So Good

iFghtffyrdmns
February 7th 2012

7046 Comments


definitely thought it was news about jesse lacey

bummer.

D41V30N
February 7th 2012

860 Comments


Thanks Captain Obvious. As if we didn't know this was about to happen.

iamSeraph
February 7th 2012

796 Comments


nothing surprising but ultimately it forces me to smile anyway.

Digging: Strawberry Girls - French Ghetto

simonpettersen
February 7th 2012

272 Comments


Sucks to see Howard leave... was kinda hoping for a Philswitch album tho... would've been sick, but loose All That Remains over Killswitch... haha, not happening. I like both singers tho, they have both much talent, Alive or Just Breathing is absolutely their most complete album to date. Haha, what will happen to Times of Grace now? Seeing how it's... the same band.

FearThyEvil9
February 7th 2012

8422 Comments


I'll take Leach over Howard anyday. Plus, Jesse has improved considerably since he was in Killswitch.

Digging: Deafheaven - Sunbather

Wizard
February 7th 2012

17316 Comments


This doesn't mean their music is going to improve so the band still sucks.

Spec
February 7th 2012

23740 Comments


I'm just interested to see what they come up with. Howard is probably the better singer of the two but Jesse has more emotion in his vocals.

Digging: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

iFghtffyrdmns
February 7th 2012

7046 Comments


CONGRATULATIONS


go stretch your ears and get a neck tattoo!

DinosaurJones
February 7th 2012

266 Comments


WOW THAT SURE CAME OUT OF LEFT FIELD.

MetallicOpeth
February 7th 2012

14670 Comments


Whoa

AtomicWaste
Contributing Reviewer
February 7th 2012

1634 Comments


I've always been a Howard fan, but Hymn of a Broken Man showed that Jesse grew to be the better vocalist. I'll be interested to see how this new album turns out, because it was the musical direction of KsE II that made it only mediocre, not the singing.

Digging: TesseracT - Altered State

ABurton
February 7th 2012

137 Comments


sad day for the world of african-american metal,
a great day for everyone else.

Why so many beards?

FrankRedHot
February 7th 2012

6448 Comments


Guess they aren't black metal anymore.

ADemonicSloth
February 7th 2012

41 Comments


Great news, their best work was with Jesse, Alive or Just Breathing still sounds incredible to me after many years.

StrizzMatik
February 7th 2012

3066 Comments


Alive Or Just Breathing = one of the best metalcore albums of the 00's easily

Digging: Alice in Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here

omgraptors
February 7th 2012

760 Comments


the guy with the beard is awesome.

oh wait...

bloc
February 7th 2012

32274 Comments


Dallas Taylor.

Step Up rules, everything else is passable.

Imperial
February 7th 2012

1567 Comments


This could be good...

ASnideRemark
February 7th 2012

4568 Comments


This is really cool actually

PurpleDino
February 7th 2012

2872 Comments


gonna spin AoJB in celebration

macadoolahicky
February 7th 2012

1835 Comments


cool story bro

but seriously, this is good I guess

austin888
February 7th 2012

319 Comments


Honestly, I was kind of surprised, considering all the other projects he has going on. This is good news nonetheless.

Timmons
February 7th 2012

552 Comments


yay. they look really cool in that pic.


TheSpirit
February 7th 2012

15495 Comments


if i actually liked killswitch engage i'd be pumped. lol metalcore, not quite. swedish dm and thrash [metal] mixed with hardcore breakdowns does not make metalcore. Converge and Botch are metalcore


lawyered

bloc
February 7th 2012

32274 Comments


Converge and Botch are two of the worst bands in metalcore

po0ty
February 7th 2012

459 Comments


i wonder whos dick is bigger...jesse or howards. anyone know?

Acanthus
February 7th 2012

8650 Comments


Idk, ask Allie Foster.

TomAkaVeto
February 7th 2012

1315 Comments


"Converge and Botch are two of the worst bands in metalcore"
Bloc, I hope you're trolling.

bloc
February 7th 2012

32274 Comments


He...ha....hehe.....HA....HAHA-







BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA

DieDead
February 7th 2012

222 Comments


Please tell me that the Allie Foster thing is a rumor.

AfterTheBreakdown
February 7th 2012

6886 Comments


hahahahaha

simonpettersen
February 8th 2012

272 Comments


@wacknizzle
Strange how they are concidered founders of metalcore....

dimsim3478
February 8th 2012

2772 Comments


^Mike was in an early-ish metalcore band (and even that was pretty fucking thrashy), but shit like Starkweather and Integrity were around LONG before these guys.

Butkuiss
February 8th 2012

2692 Comments


They're not 'founders' per se, but they sure as hell helped push it into the mainstream in a major way, especially the second-wave melodic metalcore style.

MuhNamesTyler
February 8th 2012

1300 Comments


Sweet news

Digging: Octaves - Which Way the Wind Blows

TenSecondsToThink
February 8th 2012

689 Comments


Alive Or Just Breathing was a great album, I wonder if the next one will be as well.

Digging: TesseracT - Altered State

TenSecondsToThink
February 8th 2012

689 Comments


poseaf

bennyola09
February 8th 2012

234 Comments


KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ANNOUNCE NEW SINGER: JESSE LEACH

HE SERVED AS BAND'S ORIGINAL SINGER ON LANDMARK ALBUM ALIVE OR JUST BREATHING


The band further said, "Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."


chesse13
February 8th 2012

2078 Comments


why did Howard leave again? i bet it was just so this guy could come back

FrankRedHot
February 8th 2012

6448 Comments


Strange how concidered is really spelled considered.


It's also strange how the only person/site/publication that calls KsE "founders" is Wikipedia.

LowFatYogurt
February 8th 2012

26 Comments


holy shit this is great

eleventhsun
February 9th 2012

1088 Comments


Wow, the guy wasn't that good of a singer. Did some mellows, did some ok growls. Nothing life changing.

Did he write the music? I don't see how his return is gonna make them write good music.

BigHans
February 9th 2012

24015 Comments


best metalcore band ever

eleventhsun
February 9th 2012

1088 Comments


I think As I Lay Dying are better than these dudes. They aren't spectacular but I believe they write better music.

Apollo
February 9th 2012

9453 Comments


"Converge and Botch are two of the worst bands in metalcore"

Bloc....have my babies

BigHans
February 9th 2012

24015 Comments


Converge fucking suck

bloc
February 9th 2012

32274 Comments


Haha, it's nice to know a few guys who think similarly.

Imperial
February 9th 2012

1567 Comments


Converge and Botch are two of the worst bands in metalcore


Shut up man.

heyadam
February 10th 2012

1457 Comments


gonna spin AoJB in celebration [2]

AfterTheBreakdown
February 10th 2012

6886 Comments


me too

andcas
February 10th 2012

57823 Comments


bloc, you forfeited your right to weigh in on metalcore long ago.

bloc
February 11th 2012

32274 Comments


Good because it's a battle not worth fighting for

Vorender
February 11th 2012

7 Comments


Adam D is my hero and favorite producer. Anything he touches turns to gold. Times of Grace was my 2nd favorite album of 2011 behind Fair to Midland. Welcome back Jesse!

andcas
February 11th 2012

57823 Comments


who has time to battle when you just came to party.

bloc
February 11th 2012

32274 Comments


LOL that was good

Hospital
February 11th 2012

1708 Comments


definitely thought it was news about jesse lacey [2]

but srsly never was a killswitch fan

TrantaLocked
February 12th 2012

1084 Comments


"So who is going to do Howard's cleans now? I find it hard to believe Leach can pull that off."

Try listening to Jesse leach sing.

Immortallix
February 13th 2012

38 Comments


I kinda agree with the ppl saying crap about Adam, I used to think he was amazing, but all he does is churn out the same stuff every album.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





MUSIC NEWS
Another new SWS song
Panopticon/Vestiges Stream
Parasit stream debut album
Ray Toro posts new song
Gaza Rise From The Ashes
Sleeping With Sirens new song
TMBG Uploading Discography
New Chthonic video
New Charli XCX Vid
New Revocation album
Of Solitude and Solemn stream
New Boards of Canada Track
New Camera Obscura Song
Deafheaven Album Stream
Justin K. Broadrick CoL Remix
Anvil stream new album
New H. Heights album details
Integrity album stream
Washed Out new album
Arctic Monkeys new song
Metallica new movie trailer
New A Wilhelm Scream Album
Toby Driver film soundtrack
I the Mighty New Single
New Matt Corby song
Boards of Canada Debut Video
Deftones s/t album tribute
New Gnarwolves Video
New Misery Signals Album
New Atmosphere video
Goodie Mob album info
New Lody Kong video
The Limousines new song
Pre-order New Deafheaven Album
Trevor Bolder dead at 62
Baths streams album
Black Sheep Wall EP Stream
Falling in Reverse new song
Another New Deafheaven Song
New Meads of Asphodel Song

» see all news

RELATED REVIEWS
Killswitch Engage
Disarm the Descent
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage II
Killswitch Engage
As Daylight Dies
Killswitch Engage
Set This: World Ablaze [DVD]
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage: Remastered
FAQ // STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // SITE FORUM // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2013 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Privacy Policy

IndieClick Music Network