Review Summary: A step up from their debut, and a contender for their best album ever. Strong, passionate music with a purpose.
Background: Killswitch Engage are a metalcore band from Massachusetts, USA. This is their second release, and their debut on a major label. Whilst retaining the aggression from their first album, the band have also included more melodic elements and variety on this release. This is also the last record with Jesse Leach, who left soon afterwards.
Music: Most of the time, when someone says "metalcore from Roadrunner", it's enough to turn someone off the band instantaneously. But this band are something different, and in my opinion this album is enough to restore anyone's faith in metalcore. After a debut that received hardly any promotion, Killswitch Engage went in to record this major label debut, and have released something far stronger than what was on the first one. There is still the recognizable pounding metalcore, with chug-chug riffs and gutteral screams of Leach, such as in the opener Numbered Days and the rip-roaring burst of energy that is To The Sons Of Man. But they branched out as well, as is clearly the case with tracks My Last Serenade and Just Barely Breathing. The former starts with a soothing harp intro before blasting into an impressive double-bass performance from Dutkiewicz. The latter contains a variety of tempos and guitar-playing styles to keep the listener's interest (the tremolo during the intro is of particular note).
One thing which sets this album apart from other releases is how unified the sound is. The drums and guitars compliment each other rather than strain to outdo each other. The songs which were initially on the debut album feel tighter on this one, controlled chaos rather than all-out destruction. Compare versions of Temple From The Within to see what I mean.
One final major difference between this album and the last is the inclusion of acoustic instrumental pieces. These act as more than just transition pieces, they also set the mood for the songs to follow, and are artfully executed.
Vocals/Lyrics: Jesse Leach is the most recognizable character in this album, using his versatility to deliver a powerful message. Lyrical themes cover both positive and negative aspects such as unity, compassion for one another and a wake-up call to those who are "just breathing". Within this album there are shouts, whispers, gutteral growls and high-pitched shrieks, all coming from one man (with a bit of backup such as on Fixation On The Darkness).
The one thing that really shines through in Leach's performance is passion. No matter what he's singing, he puts such an amount of energy into it that you feel you're listening to him perform in front of you.
Production: Adam Dutkiewicz, now renowned as a brilliant producer in metal circles, certainly influenced how this album turned out. The clean production which may sound too polished to those who like a rawer sound, but it means that every instrument is audible and discernible, including the bass. In the acoustic tracks, everything is mixed to provide relief from the storms on either side, and in the case of Without A Name add suitably to the tension before the rumbling Rise Inside.
25th Anniversary Edition: For those of you who are interested in the double-disc version, I have this to say. Do not be fooled by the number of extra goodies on this disc, because only half the songs there are actually worth getting. The two original tracks are fantastic, and fit right in with the other songs on the album proper. The instrumental track is similar to Without A Name if extended to a full tracklength, and the out-takes are hilarious. The demos are mostly identical to the final versions, and Howard's version of Fixation On The Darkness is impressive if only because of how well he fits Jesse's voice.
Conclusion: Certainly a step-up from their self-titled album, Killswitch Engage deliver the goods in the form of a strong slab of metalcore before all of the clones came to ruin the image. If you like groovy metalcore, then you should at least try this album to see if you like it. If you have any interest in metal in the 00s (arguably not much to offer), then this is certainly a good port of call to make.
Songs To Try: My Last Serenade, Just Barely Breathing
