NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Roadrunner Records) -
Killswitch Engage have come a long way in their decade long existence as a band. Going from a self-titled debut release as a side project touring in a van and playing some of the smallest venues across the country, to a second self-titled full length release on a Major Label from a career band that now tours on a bus and plays Arenas both at home and abroad is not too shabby for a band that only has 10 years under it's belt. Especially when you consider there are plenty of metal bands that have been around twice as long and still tour in vans, and will most likely never play an arena.
This is not to say that Killswitch Engage didn't deal with their fair share of snags along the way. From unexpectedly losing their frontman not long after the release of their Roadrunner debut, to having to replace a drummer right in the middle of the touring cycle for the same album, KsE pushed forward unhindered and undeterred by such setbacks. Having Adam D. vacate the drums to switch over to guitar was one of the best things for the band, as Adam has an over the top stage presence that would have been stifled from behind the drum kit. At the same time, having Tom Gomes take his leave from the band right after a successful stint on Ozzfest 2003 could have ended up being a lot worse for the band than it turned out to be.
Recruiting Justin Foley before hitting the road as a part of the inaugural Headbangers Ball tour was pivotal to the band's success, and in hindsight, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. In regards to the vacated vocalist position, there were plenty of auditions for the position, which included Phil from All That Remains. And while it would have been rather interesting to see what a Phil Labonte fronted version of Killswitch Engage would have turned out like, the addition of Howard Jones as the new frontman once again turned out to be one of the best decisions the band would make.
Despite an initial negative disposition amongst many fans regarding Howard's place in the band, Killswitch Engage went back into the studio to record their third album, 'The End of Heartache'. The lyrical content was decidedly darker than that of it's predecessor, but the music was consistent and fans seem pleased by the release. The fact that both 'The End Of Heartache' and it's follow up, 'As Daylight Dies' went on to achieve Gold certification for sales of more than 500,000 copies each is a testament to the fact that a metal band can be successful without any blatant commercialization of their sound or style.
Musically and stylistically, the band has matured to a large degree over the course of five albums, not only in managing to stay relevant in an extremely oversaturated genre they helped create, but in finding out what works for the band without becoming a parody of themselves, or changing their sound to the point of alienating their fans. While the previous record leaned toward a softer more melodic sound, the most recent release sees the band come full circle, reverting back to a solid mix of melody and aggression that has defined their sound from the beginning. And as long as the band can maintain the core elements of that sound without becoming stagnant, there's nothing to keep them from becoming a part of that upper echelon of bands that have managed to maintain musical integrity and become a success at the same time.
10 years running, Grammy Nominated, 2 gold records and over 1 million albums sold in the U.S. alone. Those are some major accomplishments for any band, and even moreso for a band that started out as "something to do for fun on the side." Hopefully their 'road less traveled' success story will inspire the next generation of bands to ask themselves what they're really in it for...
