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| Killswitch EngageThe End of Heartache2004 Roadrunner 
 Review by: Pastepunk See others by this writer Killswitch Engage (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on May 14th 2004 The last memory I have of my beloved car before it was stolen in 2002 was driving home late at night on the Capital Beltway, stuck in a traffic jam, listening to Killswitch Engage's newly released Alive or Just Breathing, at an unfathomable volume, with the two front windows rolled completely down. Although I'd love to have my car back, I think its last (legal) ride had it going out in a blaze of glory. Unlike my car however, Killswitch Engage have been on an incredible ascendancy in the past couple of years, with the band largely spearheading the re-emergence of metal into the mainstream arena, and doing such with their integrity fully intact. On Killswitch Engage's meteoric path, the band has whethered a dramatic line-up change with the addition of Blood has Been Shed's commander Howard Jones into the lead vocal position, and drummer, Justin Foley coming on board as well. Although Jones' vocal style differs widely from former vocalist Jesse Leach, I think the band is now stronger than ever in that domain. Jones' melodic bellows are delivered effortlessly, and with undeniable passion, and his screams (in both audio and visual mode) are strikingly sinister. “A Bid Farewell,” the disc's opener, puts Jones' range on the line, as he becomes the epicenter of a dramatic convergence between melody and intoxicating guitar riffs. The band treads on similar terrain on the single, “Rose of Sharyn,” as well as the stunning title track. Musically, The End of Heartache is a healthier sounding release than Alive or Just Breathing, with greater soul and more teeth, even if the band beats to death a series of riffs throughout the tweleve tracks. The fifth song on here, “Breathe Life” is one of the most flexible sounding songs that Killswitch Engage has ever written, as it ebbs and flows through a variety of chugging tempos, and builds into a monolith of pent up aggression, held back only by its crassly abrupt ending. One element of change that's pretty noticeable on “The End of Heartache” is the insertion of gang vocals on a handful of tracks, including the closer, "Hope Is..." Gang vocals in metalcore is something that should be treated with caution, but Killswitch Engage do well in making such a device define a song's edge. The eighth track, “Declaration,” captures the band toying around with some serious Swedish death-metal influences, and while some may decry how prevalent this has become among metal bands these days, I think Killswitch Engage properly treat the song as a fine transition between the mostly melodic title track, and the crushing follow-up, "World Ablaze." My only grievance on “Declaration” is that Jones' screamed vocals tend to flame out towards the end of the song, and the track ends (again) on an abrupt note.
I'm not entirely sure why "The End of Heartache" should be scrutinzed with the ever-nebulous standard of
perfection as the endzone, but Killswitch Engage do things that well... other metal bands only dream of
doing with their music. I've argued before that Bad Religion's trilogy of Suffer, No Control, and
Against The Grain, are perhaps the best 90 minutes of US punk rock ever created, and I don't think it's
a stretch to argue that Killswitch Engage's Alive or Just Breathing, and The End of Heartache, together
make up perhaps the best 90 minutes of US modern metal ever released. The End of Heartache is an essential
purchase.
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Love this album... well well well, all you peopel who think your so great...why do't you so out and be the singer in a band. its probably not as easy as it sound. kse is nuts omg this band kick butt! man eveery time he sings i get all these goose bumps all over like he is talking to me! and it makes me quiver all ove it's not about the zine (which is rough) it's about the music and isn't that why you guys come to this sight to get more info about Killswitch who by the way are deff a good band killswitch engage fucking rocks...the lead singer has a good voice and the beats are just deadly...if you dont like it..then coff KIllswitch is the best death metal band ever what the hell?!?! wuts with dudes who gave KsE half stars and who listen 2 fucking simple plan and gud charlotte. If you dont like the music fuck off and suck someone elses dick. Killswitch r awsome in their own damned right this kind of shit reminds me of being 16, wearing xl black pantera tshirts, having long hair, and thinking i was a bad ass getting cigarettes underage. in other words, this kind of shit is embarassing. your dam right killswitch is a good album but one thing you have very wrong is that Killswitch is not punk rock, it infact is Nu Metal lol, that was some guy trying to get free points in an online contest. just so you know when people thank others inside there CD covers its usually because their thanking them for their support and love during the time of making the bands album, next time use your brain b4 you write things down. and i think this is one of the best albums of 2004. so its getting my full support. On the inside cover Adam Dutkiewicz thanks his Mum and Dad for letting him do what? I take it that everybody who gave this CD half a star is 10 years old? Fuck you childish pricks. This is one of the best albums of 2004. You know what really makes me sick is all you little Jr, high kids who consider themselves to be these musical experts. You have no idea what you're listening to, you just like to shit on everything. Also, quit with the fucking genre shit. Music is music. Who gives a fuck if it's nu metal, post hardcore, pop punk or whatever. What makes you better than the music? Nothing. "Black people should stick to rap" oh cool, metal...er...wait..hmm..sounds like...hmmm..everything else I've heard siince I was born! yay! Hey slap the label on it, it breaks no new ground, it's SAFE kids! eat it up! this kind of shit reminds me of being 16, wearing xl black pantera tshirts, having long hair, and thinking i was a bad ass getting cigarettes underage. in other words, this kind of shit is embarassing. "I listened to this in the record store - sounds like old hatebreed." People who like this crap should go listen to some Khanate. That'll cure 'em. By the way, what a fucking stupid name for a band. "Killswitch Engage." OOOHHH WOW SO HARDCORE. Pffft. What a pile of fucking ass. How the fuck can people listen to this garbage? Goddamn. This score is for the moron below me, who apparently thinks that Hatebreed is nu-metal. And KsE totally sounds like old Hatebreed mixed with a little Shadows Fall. Ok, to the guy below...you must be deaf...KsE sounds nothing like hatebreed. to anyone who calls this "nu metal" is obviousely retarded. killswitch engage does not faintly resemble "nu metal". because new metal means mallcore, and this is definitely not mallcore. this album is great. the reviewer hit it on the head. I listened to this in the record store - sounds like old hatebreed. Guy below is sooo the guy who wrote the review. "the dude who wrote the review is a dick. i mean, you like nu metal and run a punk zine ? what the fuck ?" As soon as you refer to KsE as Nu Metal you lose all credibility. You see, it's ok to be ignorant of the facts, but it's just wrong to wear that ignorance like a fucking badge of honor. This is nu metal and its shitty. How many metal bands will they sell under the Label hardcore? I fucking hate you metalheads I still prefer Leech's voice. umm... 47 ways to answer your question. three bad religion albums are the best 90 minutes of US punk? "the dude who wrote the review is a dick. i mean, you like nu metal and run a punk zine ? what the fuck ?" Black people should stick to rap music deff a good cd.... why the hell is this called punknews when only nu metal, metal and lame indie/alternative is reviewed here....i know everything is punkrock in the end... It's not Nu Metal dumbass, it sounds nothing like korn or limp bizkit. the dude who wrote the review is a dick. i mean, you like nu metal and run a punk zine ? what the fuck ? c'mon, "and justice for all" slays too. "Good album, just as catchy as before, even with the line up changes. As for the cover art..."Hearts Once Nourished With Hope And Compassion" anyone?" "best metal band ever" "i love the song with gang vocals... totally sweet brah! score's for new BAD RELIGION... Aw man, that sucks, i've never seen in flames before and I was looking forward to it, with hopes that they would play alot of "colony"! Shit. notfeelingcreative, be prepared for a bad set from In Flames. They play mostly new songs with little or no stage presence. Compared to KsE, they were pure shit. How the mighty have fallen... its metal its lame and i hate you yeah, I agree with the sentiment that he sings a tiny bit too much. A lot of times it ruins the momentum of the song, so that the chorus can slow down and allow the dramatic singing to come to the forefront. Holy shit, I just told my boss, I wouldnt be in next saturday so that I could go see Killswitch with in flames!! Can't fucking wait! my most long awaited album for two years. jesus this is incredible. Pffft what a pile of fucking dogshit. Good review Jordan, I'm now thinking of picking this up, though I havent been a huge fan of their past work. This is shit. And you kids say you like metal. good review. fantastic follow-up to alive or just breathing. I had my doubts about the future of this band when Jesse left but its great to see that they have developed the kse style well. Personally, I like the increase in singing, it gives the songs more of an epic depth; 'rose for sharyn' being the best example. i don't agree that this is the best modern metal whatever whatever but the album is decent, nonetheless. i like this album a lot. howard jones fits the bill pefectly. my only gripe is that there was a little too much singing where screaming would've fit the bill. Apparently, the bass player came up with the album cover himself, but the minute I saw it, Shai Hulud's 1997 'Hearts Once Nourished..." came to mind. This album isn't bad. Jones fills Jesse's shoes perfectly. Good album, just as catchy as before, even with the line up changes. As for the cover art..."Hearts Once Nourished With Hope And Compassion" anyone? i didn't like it all that much, the lyrics sound like every other band on roadrunner records. This is good, heavy stuff. I agree with the review and the score. Yep the cover is terrible, but this album is all sorts of wicked. Nice review Jordan. My favourite tune has to be 'The end of Heartache'. Absolutely brilliant. I just bought this today, and it's amazing. Yes, the art is cheesy, but i bought it to listen to it, not look at it. i admit, the cd cover design is hideously cheesey. great stuff though this actually isn't all that bad. i love the song with gang vocals... totally sweet brah! no. you're lame. and this is a great album. Yeah, just as bad as the Silverstein cover. Killswitch Engage will not receive special treatment. That cover is lame and you know it. "Hope Is..." is an instant "stuck on repeat" classic. |
