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Review Summary: More of the same from Metalcore icons makes for dull listening.... Whilst the age old saying of "If it ain't broke don't fix it" works in many situations, you can't help but feel that Killswitch Engage have more to give than this. This, their fourth major album effort, sees the band doing more of the same. However, whereas this was a welcome thing in previous efforts, this time it feels lacklustre and tiresome.
From the opening riff of "Never Again", it becomes clear what the problem is. That being...Killswitch Engage just have nothing new to offer. A few years ago this riff would have been gargantuan but now it feels unoriginal and far too cliched when played by the band who pretty much invented this musical style. Second track "Starting Over" is a lovely slice of melody and metal, demonstrating that the metallic crunch of this genre could be mixed with a big heart and catchy melody. Sadly, it just feels too much like "Rose of Sharyn" or even "Break The Silence". And that's the main problem with the whole album- nothing seems fresh and new anymore.
Whilst "The Return" hints at KsE going down a more melodic route (this song has clean vocals all the way through), there is an overwhelming feeling of this song being "The Arms of Sorrow" Part 2.
There are no classics on this album- there is no "End of Heartache", no "My Curse". There is no song on this album that stands out like on the previous albums.
As always, the musical talent is as good as expected from Killswitch Engage. The guitar work is suitably heavy, yet with the aforementioned melody shining through when needed. The drumming does a commendable task, although it is not the highlight. Howard Jones' vocal skills are once again on full display but it's all "been there, done that".
This album is not a disaster, neither is it unpleasant listening. It's just not refreshingly original anymore. Songs such "The Reckoning" have anthemic quality, as does "Light in a Darkened World", but sadly these are highlights on an album that is filled with songs that sound too much like KsE's back catalogue.
For a lesser band, this album would be considered a brilliant debut, but it is a disappointment for KsE. And perhaps that speaks more of the band than this album, that they are renound for quality. Or maybe it just shows that the band have run out of ideas. Either way, this isn't an awful album, just a disappointment considering the pedigree of the band in question.
| other reviews of this album |
Thompson D. Gerhart STAFF (2.5)
A flub, pure and simple. Let's hope Killswitch Engage re-evaluate their "new direction" an...
Phantom (2.5)
"Killswitch Engage" covers no real new ground in terms of musical progression, with the ba...
Nosferatwo (3)
Killswitch puts on the brakes and stops their descent into self-parody....
Crownley (2.5)
Killswitch Engage attempts to appeal to a larger audience, but forgets how to appeal to th...
Blindsided (4)
Brutal, crushing, melodic and just as metal as you ordered your Killswitch....
Oneiron (1.5)
Lamb of God isn't the only band into ripping themselves off anymore....
ZomarK (2.5)
Progression? I see no Progression. Sure they are more technical but I was really lookin fo...
peartnoy (3.5)
Overly catchy and somewhat repetitive, but still a very pleasant listen....
Locrian (3)
Although it doesn't live up to what the band promised, Killswitch Engage's fifth album is ...
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Good review, although perhaps a tad short. I'm an old school KSE fan, I haven't been digging their new stuff, exactly because of the reasons you highlight. This material isn't bad, but been done and rehashed far too much.
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Killswitch engage, yuck.
/review
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah, their new material is essentially becoming a bit like a bad tribute band. Just noticed you're digging SA. Brilliant album!
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The thing is, I think The Days of Grays is a huge letdown, but I find myself listening to it more and more.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Yeah, although I found Unia to be a letdown too. There's about 7 or 8 songs from both those albums that would make one amazing album when put together!
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Good review man, pretty much sums up my initial thoughts on the album. It's a grower for me though, and the more I listened to it, the more I realized how they've grown as (traditional) song writers.
They're doing a lot of the same things, and these songs don't pack the punch of earlier material (save for Never Again and I Would Do Anything) but the melodies (while seeming bland at first) have as much or more staying power than any melodies they've ever written (IMO).
Pos'd.
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Good review. Seems like you could write this same review for a lot of metalcore bands these days. And I haven't listened to any Killswitch ever. I don't know why, because I listen to a good amount of metalcore, and I've liked the albums where their guitarist(?) produced, like The Fall of Ideals. What's a good place to start?
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Which is sad, because I remember being hugely into Shadow's Fall when they had a relatively small fanbase.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
The Art of Balance by Shadows Fall is an early metalcore classic.
@shortone323: you should definitely listen to Killswitch, and start with Alive or Just Breathing. Definitely their best album, and one of the best (if not THE best) metalcore albums ever.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
When compared to Alive or Just Breathing and The End of Heartache, this album is pretty weak. "The Return" is my favorite track on this though.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
I actually like this album as much or more (as an entire album that is) more than The End of Heartache. TEOH had more high points (see, title track, Bid Farewell, When Darkness Falls, Breathe Life) but also more low points (see Declaration, Wasted Sacrifice and Hope Is...).
Just my opinion though.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Well, I agree with you to a certain extent. The entire 2nd half of TEOH after the title track is rather boring after several listens. The first half is just awesome though. I love "Rose of Sharyn". I can listen to the entire Alive or Just Breathing album without skipping any tracks though, its their best work to date.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
agreed on Alive or Just Breathing completely. That one is fantastic all the way through and is one of my favorite albums ever.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Pretty mediocre stuff, but still really catchy. I actually like As Daylight Dies better though.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
As Daylight Dies is awesome, their 2nd best album in my opinion.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
People here seem to hate on that record for some reason, I think it kicks ass too.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
yeah I've noticed that, don't understand why it gets hated on. There's really not a bad song on the album, and there are even a few straight-up classics (title track, This is Absolution, Unbroken, Still Beats Your Name just to name a few that fit that description for me).
It most definitely kicks ass.
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ive moved past KSE...
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You pretty much seem to make the same statement in one way or another in every single paragraph:
"Killswitch Engage just have nothing new to offer"
"nothing seems fresh and new anymore"
"but it's all "been there, done that"
"It's just not refreshingly original anymore"
It's an okay review, but at the end I was like "I get it already!"...keep at it though, there's potential here!
Anyway, haven't really listened to this band since AoJB...
| | | Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off
^ if that's a most precious blood reference, kudos.
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