Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage in 2007 (shown from left to right: Mike D'Antonio, Howard Jones, Justin Foley, Adam Dutkiewicz).
Background information
Origin	Westfield, Massachusetts, USA
Genres	Metalcore
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Roadrunner, Ferret
Associated acts	Aftershock, Overcast, All That Remains, Shadows Fall, The Empire Shall Fall, Blood Has Been Shed, Times of Grace, Death Ray Vision, Seemless
Website	www.killswitchengage.com
Members
Jesse Leach Mike D'Antonio Adam Dutkiewicz Justin Foley Joel Stroetzel
Past members
Howard Jones Tom Gomes Pete Cortese

Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the dismantlement of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer Justin Foley. The band has released five studio albums and one DVD.

Killswitch Engage rose to fame with its 2004 release The End of Heartache, which peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold in December 2007 for over 500,000 shipments in the United States. The title track, "The End of Heartache", was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005, and a live DVD titled (Set This) World Ablaze was released in 2005. Killswitch Engage has performed at festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Ozzfest, Download Festival, Rock on the Range, Rock Am Ring, Mayhem Festival, Pointfest, and the Australian Soundwave Festival. The band has sold over four-million records in the United States alone and has been widely referred to as "one of the founders of metalcore."

History[link]

Early years (1999–2000)[link]

Killswitch Engage formed from the two metalcore bands, Overcast and Aftershock during the late 1990s.^[1] After the death of Overcast in 1998, bassist Mike D'Antonio jammed with Aftershock guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. Dutkiewicz recruited guitarist Joel Stroetzel from Aftershock, and vocalist Jesse Leach of the band Nothing Stays Gold (who were signed to a record label owned by Dutkiewicz's brother Tobias Dutkiewicz, who was also the vocalist in Aftershock), to form a new band, Killswitch Engage.^[1] The band's name is derived from an episode of the television series The X-Files entitled "Kill Switch", written by William Gibson. Gibson gave the episode this title after meeting the industrial band Kill Switch...Klick.

In 1999, Killswitch Engage recorded a demo tape containing four tracks, including "Soilborn," Killswitch Engage's first song.^[2] The demo tape was first released at the band's first show, opening for melodic death metal act In Flames, in November 1999.^[1][2]

[edit] Debut album and Alive or Just Breathing (2000–2002)

They released their self-titled debut album in 2000. Although initially the album was not a financial success and did not land on any charts, it attracted the interest of Carl Severson, who worked at Roadrunner Records at the time. Severson handed Killswitch Engage to several Roadrunner representatives. Mike Gitter, a talent agent of the company, contacted D'Antonio, attended several of the band's shows, and offered the band a recording contract with Roadrunner. Realizing Roadrunner had the resources to promote and distribute Killswitch Engage releases, the band accepted his offer, declining several offers from smaller labels.^[3] For a brief time in 2000 and 2001, ex-Overcast guitarist Pete Cortese joined Killlswitch Engage, but left in 2001 when he became a father.^[3] Killswitch Engage began writing new material for their second album in November 2001. Mixed in January at Backstage Studios by producer Andy Sneap,^[4] the album was titled Alive or Just Breathing for lyrics in the song "Just Barely Breathing". A music video for the single "My Last Serenade" increased the band's exposure, and the album peaked at number 37 on the Top Heatseekers chart.^[5]

New lead singer and drummer (2002–2004)[link]

Howard Jones served as Killswitch Engage's primary vocalist following Jesse Leach's departure from 2002 until 2012.

Following Alive or Just Breathing's release, which was written and recorded for two guitarists, the band decided to expand and become a fivesome; Dutkiewicz moved to guitar and former Aftershock drummer Tom Gomes filled in the vacant drummer position. After Leach was married on April 20, 2002 and began touring again he fell into a depression. Leach left the band a few days before the band was meant to play a show and sent the band members an e-mail telling them he had quit. D'Antonio said in an interview that "after three years of hanging out with the dude, and considering him a brother, to just get an email was a little bit harsh."^[6]

The band immediately started to search for a replacement vocalist and found Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed. Jones disliked the band's sound when he first heard it. He commented "I was like, ‘Meh.’ I come from hardcore and dirtier metal, and Killswitch sounded so clean. But the more I listened to it, I realized there’s some really good songs here".^[7] After hearing about Leach's vocal problems, Jones contacted the band and was accepted as the replacement. Philip Labonte of All That Remains tried out for lead vocals but lost to former vocalist Howard Jones. Without listening to the entire self-titled album or Alive or Just Breathing, Jones had to memorize seven songs for his debut at the 2002 Hellfest.^[7]

The new lineup played on the Road Rage tour in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands in 2002 with 36 Crazyfists and Five Pointe O. Touring continued through the New Year's Day, and in 2003 the first song to feature Jones, "When Darkness Falls", appeared on the soundtrack of the 2003 horror film Freddy vs. Jason.^[8] Following the 2003 Ozzfest, drummer Gomes left the band because he wished to spend more time with his wife, to pursue his band Something of a Silhouette, and because he was tired of touring.^[9] He was replaced by Justin Foley of Blood Has Been Shed, and Foley's first tour with the band was the MTV2 Headbangers Ball in 2003.^[10][11]

[edit] The End of Heartache (2004–2006)

The End of Heartache was released on May 11, 2004, and peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200 with 38,000 sales in its first week,^[12] and it also peaked at number 39 on the Australian album chart.^[13] The album went on to sell more than 500,000 copies in the U.S and was certified gold on December 7, 2007.^[14] The album received mostly positive reviews, with Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone calling the album a "stunning collection, retaining much of their signature musical brutality".^[15] Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic commented "riff upon riffs are piled sky-high into each number that follows, it's the unpredictable rhythmic shifts used to build and then relieve internal pressure that fuel the Killswitch Engage power source".^[16]

"The End of Heartache" became the main single for the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and in 2005 the song was nominated in the Best Metal Performance in the 47th annual Grammy Awards. In late 2004, The End of Heartache was re-released as a special edition album, with a second disc featuring various live performances, a Japanese bonus track, and a re-recorded version of "Irreversal". During the summer of 2005, the band returned for Ozzfest, and on November 1, 2005, Alive or Just Breathing was re-released as part of Roadrunner Records' 25th anniversary. On November 22, 2005, the live DVD (Set This) World Ablaze was released, which contained a live concert at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts, an hour-long documentary, and all the band's music videos. The DVD was certified gold in the U.S. on April 8, 2006.^[14]

[edit] As Daylight Dies (2006–2008)

Killswitch Engage at Rock im Park in 2007.

Killswitch Engage played the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2006, having already played Australian dates without Dutkiewicz, who was suffering from back problems and needed corrective surgery. On May 23, 2006, the song "This Fire Burns" was released on the WWE Wreckless Intent album.^[17] The track was intended to be the new theme song for WWE superstar Randy Orton; however, it was scrapped and later became the theme song for the WWE Judgment Day 2006 pay-per-view. "This Fire Burns" is formerly used as the entrance theme for WWE Raw superstar, CM Punk (along with his stables the Straight Edge Society and The New Nexus) from 2006 until 2011 and was later re-released as "This Fire" on the As Daylight Dies Special Edition.^[18]

Recorded in three months, As Daylight Dies was released on November 21, 2006 and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart with 60,000 sales in its first week. "As Daylight Dies" proved to be one of their biggest albums yet.^[19] It also entered the Australia album chart at number 29.^[13] Mixed by Dutkiewicz, the album received mostly positive reviews—Thom Jurek of Allmusic called it "a Top Five metal candidate for 2006 for sure".^[20] Decibel Magazine contributor Nick Terry said "To call As Daylight Dies addictive would be an understatement. That it outdoes its already impressive enough predecessor could almost go without saying".^[21] Cosmo Lee of Stylus Magazine commented "the album is astonishingly badly sequenced", even though it praised the album as being "less emotionally heavy-handed, and a lot more fun".^[22] As of November 27, 2007, As Daylight Dies has sold more than 500,000 units in the United States.^[23]

The album's first single, "My Curse", peaked at number 21 on the Hot Mainstream Rock chart, and is featured in the video games Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Burnout Paradise and is available as downloadable content for Rock Band and Rock Band 2. "The Arms of Sorrow" peaked at number 31 on the same chart. The band's cover of Dio's "Holy Diver", originally recorded for a Kerrang! compilation album titled High Voltage,^[24] peaked at number 12 on the Mainstream Rock charts.^[25] Early in 2007, the band had to cancel three of its European tour dates with The Haunted due to Dutkiewicz's back problems. He required emergency back surgery and was replaced on the tour by Soilwork guitarist Peter Wichers.^[26]

Due to Dutkiewicz's back problems in early 2007, he was replaced by Damageplan and The Mercy Clinic frontman Patrick Lachman during the No Fear Tour.^[27] Dutkiewicz recovered and was able to finish the No Fear tour, and the band began filming its video for As Daylight Dies's second single, "The Arms of Sorrow". On August 6, 2007, Dutkiewicz was forced to leave the Warped Tour so he could fully recover from his back surgery and continue daily physical therapy. He was replaced by Killswitch's guitar technician Josh Mihlek for select songs, until his return on August 14, 2007.^[28]

In June of 2008, Killswitch Engage toured Japan with Thy Will Be Done as direct support.

Self-titled fifth album (2007–2009)[link]

Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (left) is well known for his unique stage attire.^[29]

Killswitch Engage entered the studio in October 2008 to start recording their next album with Dutkiewicz and Brendan O'Brien co-producing the album.^[30] In mid-February, bassist Mike D'Antonio confirmed in an interview with Metal Hammer that "drums were finished", and that he had “finished up the last few bass fixes". He also stated that Howard [Jones] is in Atlanta finishing vocals, and that "it shouldn’t be too much longer now.”^[31] From March to May, Killswitch Engage was a part of Disturbed's Music as a Weapon IV festival along with Lacuna Coil, Chimaira, Suicide Silence, Bury Your Dead and more. On April 14, the band announced the name of their album as Killswitch Engage, the second time the band has self-titled the name of their album. The album was released on June 30, 2009,^[32] debuting at #7 on the Billboard 200, marking the band's highest chart position for an album.^[33] In July and August, Killswitch Engage took part in Mayhem Festival with headliners Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Bullet for My Valentine and others. In February 2010, Killswitch Engage announced that vocalist Howard Jones would not be performing with Killswitch Engage during their winter tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquillity; during the time, All That Remains vocalist, Philip Labonte was substituting for Jones until he could return.^[34] At least one source speculates that Jones' departure was due to back pain.^[35] On March 18, 2010, original vocalist Jesse Leach returned to the band for a series of songs. From then on, Leach and Labonte performed as substitute vocalists for the remainder of the tour.^[36]

In 2010, they contributed the track "My Obsession" to the God of War: Blood & Metal soundtrack.^[37]

The band was later added as late replacement to 2010's Download Festival in June, after original sub-headliner, Wolfmother could not attend as scheduled.^[38]

Sixth studio album announcement (2010-present)[link]

After the 2010 Download Festival, Killswitch Engage took a break from the road, and its members pursued other interests. Adam Dutkiewicz formed the band Times of Grace with then former Killswitch Engage lead vocalist Jesse Leach and released the debut album "The Hymn of a Broken Man" on January 18, 2011.^[39] Along with Dutkiewicz and Leach, Times of Grace added Joel Stroetzel to their tour lineup.^[40] Justin Foley provided the drum tracking for the band Unearth on their new album "Darkness in the Light", released on July 5, 2011. Foley will also travel with the band for their 2011 summer tour.^[41] D'Antonio started the hardcore band Death Ray Vision, with Shadows Fall vocalist Brian Fair and former Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese.

In an interview with Gun Shy Assassin, Mike D'Antonio has stated that the band is currently in the works for a sixth studio album. D'Antonio stated, "Currently, everyone is individually writing demos for the next Killswitch Engage record. There is no release date yet, but I would assume it will be out early 2012."^[42]

On August 26, 2011 Adam Dutkiewicz announced on the Killswitch Engage Facebook that they had begun to write for their 6th album and thanked all their fans for being so patient. He wrote "YO! Its Adam D! We're about to begin writing our new record. Thanks to all of our fans for waiting so friggin' patiently...now let's turn on the "riff faucet" and RAGE!" ^[43]

On December 1, 2011, Mike D'Antonio posted online that Killswitch Engage should be entering the studio around February/March 2012 to record their sixth album expected around summer 2012. He also stated that the band had eight demos finished for the new record.^[44]

Howard Jones's departure[link]

On January 4, 2012, the band announced via the band's official website, along with their other official sources, that Howard Jones had left the band after his nine-year membership with them.^[45] In this statement, the band did not disclose the reason for this decision, keeping the reasons a personal matter:^[46]

"To our family, friends and fans: We have decided to continue on without Howard Jones as the singer of Killswitch Engage. We love Howard and are thankful for the nine years that we've had him in the band. Out of respect for everyone involved we will not be discussing the specific reasons behind this decision. Howard is a part of our family and always will be, and we wish him well. He has left big shoes to fill, so we certainly have our work cut out for us to find the next singer of Killswitch, something we plan on making priority #1 going forward. Most importantly, thanks to all of you for all the support throughout the years and for sticking by us for all this time. We really do appreciate it and we very much look forward to having a new record for all of you in the not too distant future that we can all be proud of. Sincerely, Adam, Joel, Mike & Justin."^[47]

Soon after the announcement of Jones's departure, rumors began that Philip Labonte of All That Remains would officially take over lead vocals due to his previous history with the band, of not only having a close friendship with the members, but also due to his substitutions for Jones in the past. Labonte quickly disregarded the rumor.^[48]

On January 6, 2012, Howard made a lucid explanation regarding his departure on his facebook page and the band's official website:

"Well, I guess I will shed a little light without going too deep. As some of you may know, I've had a pretty interesting couple of years to say the least battling with some personal issues. One of the low points being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that went unchecked for years. The rest of the band stuck with me through it, and to be honest they are the ones that kept me going. The whole experience definitely put a scare in me. Recently we've all been in writing mode but somehow I couldn't get excited about the new album and all the touring that would go with it. The guys saw it before I did. In hindsight I now realize that my heart wasn't in it. I have had an amazing decade with KSE. I love Justin, MikeD, Joel and Adam for hanging in there and standing by me no matter how bad it was. I have so many good memories, and those are the ones that I will keep. Will I be involved in music again? Sure, I have been in bands for a little over half my life, can't stop now. Until then, get the new KsE album, it's going to be good. Thanks everyone for letting me try to entertain you, and I wish myself well in my future endeavors. Gone fishin' Howard"^[49]

Jesse Leach's return[link]

On February 8, 2012, Killswitch Engage announced that original vocalist Jesse Leach will fill the singer vacancy in the band, stating,

"After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity. 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. "^[50]

Jesse Leach also commented on his return to the band,

"It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the 'Howard-era songs,' as well as some Alive or Just Breathing-era songs and we all felt the synergy. I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written. It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KsE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."^[50]

Since Jesse Leach's return, Killswitch Engage has begun the process of recording their latest album, expected to release in late 2012. The band performed Leach's first show since 2002 at the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest on April 22, 2012.

On February 16, 2012, Killswitch Engage were announced to perform at Download Festival 2012 at Donington Park. They are to be the second sub-headliner for the second stage on Saturday.

Musical style and lyrical themes[link]

	"My Last Serenade" noicon Sample of "My Last Serenade" from Alive or Just Breathing (2002). Vocalist Jesse Leach's last single with Killswitch Engage. "My Last Serenade" includes both screaming and clean vocals. "My Curse" noicon Sample of "My Curse" from As Daylight Dies (2006). Songs by Killswitch Engage such as "My Curse" incorporate elements of hardcore such as breakdowns.
Problems listening to these files? See media help.

Killswitch Engage's genre is largely considered metalcore^[51] or melodic metalcore,^[52] combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore.^[10] Like many metalcore bands, Killswitch Engage incorporates both singing and screaming vocals in their music.^[10] In 2009, MTV, while naming "The Greatest Metal Bands of All Time" referred to Killswitch Engage as "one of the founders of metalcore".^[53] Jason D. Taylor of Allmusic said Alive or Just Breathing is "a pure metal album that seemingly has ignored any fashionable trend and instead relies solely on skill and expertise to sculpt some of the meatiest heavy metal since the glory days of Metallica and Slayer."^[54]

Both former vocalists, Jesse Leach and Howard Jones write lyrics that are considered to be positive.^[3] Jesse Leach stated on (Set This) World Ablaze, that the lyrics contain "unity, positivity, [and] love."^[3] On the lyrical themes of Killswitch Engage, Ultimate Guitar reviewer Amy Sciarretto notes:

"[Howard Jones] has come into his own since 2004’s The End of Heartache, and he continues to hit the notes, wax about relationships, faith-issues and other relatable issue (sic) on this second self-titled effort."^[55]

On Killswitch Engage's 2009 release, Howard Jones states the change in lyrical themes:

"I've got enough to draw on to write some stuff that can be dark. Maybe there's still a hint of positivity in it, but there are some songs on there that are not positive at all."^[56]

Band members[link]

Current members

• Jesse Leach – lead vocals (1999–2002, 2012–present)
• Mike D'Antonio - bass guitar (1999–present)
• Adam Dutkiewicz - lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–present), drums (1999–2002)
• Joel Stroetzel - lead guitar (1999–2002), rhythm guitar (2002–present)
• Justin Foley - drums (2003–present)

Former members

• Tom Gomes – drums (2002–2003)
• Pete Cortese - lead guitar (2000–2001)
• Howard Jones - lead vocals (2002–2012)

Touring members

• Patrick Lachman – guitars (2007)
• Josh Mihlek – guitars (2007)
• Peter Wichers - guitars (2007)
• Phil Labonte – lead vocals (Feb–Mar 2010)
• Jesse Leach - lead vocals (Mar–May 2010)

Timeline[link]

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Colors =

id:vocals  value:red          legend:Vocals
id:lead    value:purple       legend:Lead_Guitar
id:guitar  value:green        legend:Rhythm_Guitar
id:bass    value:blue         legend:Bass
id:drums   value:yellow       legend:Drums
id:lines   value:black        legend:Studio albums

LineData =

at:06/04/2000 color:black 
at:05/21/2002 color:black 
at:05/11/2004 color:black 
at:11/21/2006 color:black 
at:06/30/2009 color:black 

BarData =

bar:Jesse  text:"Jesse Leach"
bar:Howard text:"Howard Jones"
bar:Pete   text:"Pete Cortese"
bar:Joel   text:"Joel Stroetzel"
bar:Mike   text:"Mike D'Antonio"
bar:Adam   text:"Adam Dutkiewicz" 
bar:Tom    text:"Tom Gomes"
bar:Justin text:"Justin Foley"

PlotData=

width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Adam   from:01/01/1999 till:05/29/2002 color:drums
bar:Joel   from:01/01/2002 till:end color:guitar
bar:Mike   from:01/01/1999 till:end color:bass
bar:Jesse  from:01/01/1999 till:06/01/2002 color:vocals
bar:Jesse  from:02/08/2012 till:end color:vocals
bar:Howard from:07/01/2002 till:01/04/2012 color:vocals
bar:Pete   from:01/01/2000 till:10/01/2001 color:lead
bar:Adam   from:05/30/2002 till:end color:lead 
bar:Tom    from:06/01/2002 till:08/30/2003 color:drums
bar:Justin from:10/01/2003 till:end color:drums
bar:Joel   from:01/01/1999 till:05/29/2002 color:lead

</timeline>

Discography[link]

Albums

• Killswitch Engage (2000)
• Alive or Just Breathing (2002)
• The End of Heartache (2004)
• As Daylight Dies (2006)
• Killswitch Engage (2009)

References[link]