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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name =| image = Killswitch Engage Pic08.jpg| alt = Four men are shown on stage, from left to right, one man plays bass guitar, while another man sings into a microphone, the man shown in the back plays on a large drum kit while the man on the far right plays guitar.| caption = Killswitch Engage in 2007 (shown from left to right: Mike D'Antonio , Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones , Justin Foley , Adam Dutkiewicz ).| image_size = 250| landscape = Yes| background = group_or_band| origin = Westfield, MA|Westfield , Massachusetts , USA | genre = Metalcore | years_active = 1999–present | alias =| label = Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner , Ferret Music|Ferret | associated_acts = Aftershock (band)|Aftershock , Overcast (band)|Overcast , All That Remains (band)|All That Remains , Shadows Fall , The Empire Shall Fall , Blood Has Been Shed , Times of Grace (band)|Times of Grace , Death Ray Vision| website = URL| http://www.killswitchengage.com/| current_members = Mike D'Antonio Adam Dutkiewicz Justin Foley Joel Stroetzel | past_members = Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones Jesse Leach Tom Gomes Pete Cortese Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts , formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast (band)|Overcast and Aftershock (band)|Aftershock . Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of bassist Mike D'Antonio , guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz , and drummer Justin Foley . The band has released five Killswitch Engage discography#Studio albums|studio album s and one Killswitch Engage discography#Video albums|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 RIAA certification|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
Early years (1999–2000)
Killswitch Engage formed when the two metalcore bands, Overcast (band)|Overcast and Aftershock (band)|Aftershock disbanded during the late 1990s. Following the disbandment of Overcast in 1998, bassist Mike D'Antonio jam (music)|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.cite web |url= http://www.killswitchengage.com/killswitchengage/band.f/band.html |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010210205445/www.killswitchengage.com/killswitchengage/band.f/band.html |archivedate=2000-10-21 |publisher=KillswitchEngage.com |last=Walker |first=Morgan |date=May 2000 |accessdate=2010-02-11 The band's name is derived from an episode of the television series The X-Files entitled " Kill Switch (The X-Files)|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 album|demo tape containing four tracks, including "Soilborn," Killswitch Engage's first song.cite web |url= http://www.killswitchengage.com/killswitchengage/release/release.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010808110151/www.killswitchengage.com/killswitchengage/release/release.html |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE |archivedate=2001-08-08 |publisher=KillswitchEngage.com |accessdate=2010-02-25 The demo tape was first released at the band's first show, opening for melodic death metal act In Flames , in November 1999.
Debut album and Alive or Just Breathing (2000–2002)
They released their Killswitch Engage (2000 album)|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 A& R|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.cite video |people = Korycki, Denise (director), Starace, Lia (editor) |date = 2005-11-22 |title = (Set This) World Ablaze |url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ |format = |medium = DVD |language = |publisher = Roadrunner Records |location = |archiveurl = |archivedate= |accessdate = 2010-01-09 |time = 11:40, 14:00, 35:00, 13:18 |id = UPC|016861093990|oclc = |quote = |ref =
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. Killswitch Engage began writing new material for their second album in November 2001. Mixed in January at Backstage Studios by producer Andy Sneap ,cite web |title=Archive News – November 2001 |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |date=2001-11-06 |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=239 |accessdate=2007-12-21 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.cite web |title=Killswitch Engage biography |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.se/artist/Killswitch+Engage |accessdate=2007-12-17
New lead singer and drummer (2002–2004)
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."cite web |title=Killswitch Engage Land New Frontman |author= |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2002-07-04 |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=4557 |accessdate=2007-12-17
The band immediately started to search for a replacement vocalist and found Howard Jones (American musician)|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". After hearing about Leach's vocal problems, Jones contacted the band and was accepted as the replacement. Philip Labonte of All That Remains (band)|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.cite web |title= Killswitch Engage – Decibel Magazine |author=Parks, Andrew |publisher= Decibel Magazine |url= http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/dec2006/killswitchengage.aspx? terms=Killswitch+Engage& searchtype=2& fragment=True |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071226042252/ http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/dec2006/killswitchengage.aspx? terms=Killswitch+Engage& searchtype=2& fragment=True |archivedate=2007-12-26 |accessdate=2007-12-17
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 .cite web |title=Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack |publisher=Amazon.com |url= http://www.amazon.com/Freddy-vs-Jason-Various-Artists/dp/B0000ALFXD |accessdate=2007-12-18 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.cite web |title= For metalcore’s prodigal sons Killswitch Engage, The End of Heartache is just the beginning. |author=Terry, Nick |publisher= Decibel Magazine |url= http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/jan2005/killswitch_engage.aspx |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060506004152/ http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/jan2005/killswitch_engage.aspx |archivedate=2006-05-06 |accessdate=2007-12-17 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.cite web |title=Killswitch Engage |author=Ditzel, Eleanor and Apar, Corey |publisher=Allmusic |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p436947|pure_url=yes|accessdate=2007-12-17cite web |title=Billboard Bits: EMI/WMG, Liza/VH1, 'Headbanger's Ball' |author= |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2003-09-22 |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1984261 |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071226181634/ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1984261 |archivedate=2007-12-26 |accessdate=2007-12-18
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,cite web |title=Usher Keeps Rolling At No. 1 |author=Whitmire, Margo |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2004-05-19 |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1000513474 |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071218124344/ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1000513474 |archivedate=2007-12-18 |accessdate=2007-12-07 and it also peaked at number 39 on the Australian album chart.cite web |title=Australian charts |publisher=Australiancharts.com |url= http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp? interpret=Killswitch+Engage& titel=The+End+Of+Heartache& cat=a |accessdate=2007-12-17 The album went on to sell more than 500,000 copies in the U.S and was certified gold on December 7, 2007.cite web |title=Gold and Platinum |publisher=RIAA.com |url= http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php? table=SEARCH |accessdate=2007-12-17 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".cite web |title= Killswitch Engage – The End Of Heartache |author=Caramanica, Jon |publisher= Rolling Stone |date=2004-08-19 |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/killswitchengage/albums/album/5243697/review/6383805/the_end_of_heartache |accessdate=2007-12-18 Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic commented " guitar riffs|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".cite web |title=The End of Heartache – Killswitch Engage |author=Rivadavia, Eduardo |publisher=Allmusic |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r690951|pure_url=yes|accessdate=2007-12-17
"The End of Heartache" became the main single for the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse , and in 2005 the song was nominated in the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|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.
As Daylight Dies (2006–2008)
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.cite web |title=Wwe: Wreckless Intent CD |publisher=CDuniverse.com |url= http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7067002/a/WWE:+Wreckless+Intent.htm |accessdate=2007-12-19 The track was intended to be the new theme song for World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE superstar Randy Orton ; however, it was scrapped and later became the theme song for the Judgment Day (2006)|WWE Judgment Day 2006 pay-per-view . "This Fire Burns" is formerly used as the entrance theme for WWE Raw superstar, CM Punk from 2006 until 2011 and was later re-released as "This Fire" on the As Daylight Dies Special Edition.cite web |url= http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/cmpunk/ |title=WWE: Superstars – Raw – CM Punk |accessdate=2010-01-09 |publisher= WWE
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.cite web |title=Jay-Z Reclaims His 'Kingdom' With No. 1 Debut |author=Hasty, Katie |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2006-11-29 |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003465594 |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070929224555/ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003465594 |archivedate=2007-09-29 |accessdate=2007-12-17 It also entered the Australia album chart at number 29. Audio mixing (recorded music)|Mixed by Dutkiewicz, the album received mostly positive reviews—Thom Jurek of Allmusic called it "a Top Five metal candidate for 2006 for sure".cite web |title= As Daylight Dies AMG review |author=Jurek, Thom |publisher=Allmusic |date= |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r930742|pure_url=yes|accessdate=2007-12-18 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".cite web |title= Engage your boners |author=Terry, Nick |publisher= Decibel Magazine |url= http://www.decibelmagazine.com/reviews/dec2006/killswitchengage.aspx? terms=Killswitch+Engage& searchtype=2& fragment=True |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071226042256/ http://www.decibelmagazine.com/reviews/dec2006/killswitchengage.aspx? terms=Killswitch+Engage& searchtype=2& fragment=True |archivedate=2007-12-26 |accessdate=2007-12-18 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".cite web |title=Killswitch Engage Stylus |author=Lee, Cosmo |publisher= Stylus Magazine |date=2006-12-05 |url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/killswitch-engage/as-daylight-dies.htm |accessdate=2007-12-17 As of November 27, 2007, As Daylight Dies has sold more than 500,000 units in the United States.cite web |title=Success Keeping Killswitch Engage Out Of Studio |author=Graff, Gary |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2007-11-27 |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003677914 |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071130142421/ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003677914 |archivedate=2007-11-30 |accessdate=2007-12-18
The album's first single, " My Curse (song)|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 (song)|The Arms of Sorrow " peaked at number 31 on the same chart. The band's cover of Dio (band)|Dio 's " Holy Diver (song)|Holy Diver ", originally recorded for a Kerrang! compilation album titled High Voltage ,cite web |title=Killswitch Engage Don Swords, Armor for ‘Holy Diver’ Video |author= |publisher= MTV |date=2007-08-08 |url= http://headbangersblog.mtv.com/2007/08/08/killswitch-engage-don-swords-armor-for-holy-diver-video/ |accessdate=2007-12-18 peaked at number 12 on the Mainstream Rock charts.cite web |title=Killswitch Engage Artist Chart History |publisher=Billboard.com |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071226181348/ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do? model.vnuArtistId=403514& model.vnuAlbumId=811005 |archivedate=2007-12-27 |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do? model.vnuArtistId=403514& model.vnuAlbumId=811005 |accessdate=2009-12-31 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 .cite web |title=Killswitch Engage explain tour postponement |publisher= NME |date=2007-01-16 |url= http://www.nme.com/news/killswitch-engage/25862 |accessdate=2007-12-18
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.cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=67450 |title=Ex-DAMAGEPLAN Singer To Play Guitar For KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – Feb. 20, 2007 |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |date=2007-02-20 |accessdate=2009-12-30 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 (song)|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.cite web |title=Video Interview |publisher=RoadrunnerRecords.co.uk |date=2007-10-23 |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/artists/KillswitchEngage/ |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080131202001/ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk/artists/KillswitchEngage/ |archivedate=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-01
In June of 2008, Killswitch Engage toured Japan with Thy_will_be_done|Thy Will Be Done as direct support.
Self-titled fifth album (2008–2010)
Killswitch Engage entered the studio in October 2008 to start recording their next album with Dutkiewicz and Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien co-producing the album.cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/KILLSWITCH-ENGAGE-ANNOUNCE-NEW-ALBUM-IN-WORKS-19684.aspx |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM IN WORKS& #33; |date=2009-12-04 |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |accessdate=2009-12-30 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.”cite web |title=roadrunnerrecords.com: Killswitch Engage Offer Studio Update – Feb. 19, 2009 |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-02-17 |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/KILLSWITCH-ENGAGE-IN-STUDIO-UPDATE--PHOTOS-19845.aspx |accessdate=2009-03-03 From March to May, Killswitch Engage was a part of Disturbed (band)|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 (2009 album)|Killswitch Engage , the second time the band has self-titled the name of their album. The album was released on June 30, 2009,cite web |title=roadrunnerrecords.com: Killswitch Engage Announce New Album |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-04-14 |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/KILLSWITCH-ENGAGE-ANNOUNCE-NEW-ALBUM-20143.aspx |accessdate=2009-04-14 debuting at #7 on the Billboard 200, marking the band's highest chart position for an album.cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=124254 |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: New Video Interview With JOEL STROETZEL Available |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-07-26 |accessdate=2009-12-30 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 (band)|The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquillity ; during the time, All That Remains (band)|All That Remains vocalist, Philip Labonte was substituting for Jones until he could return.cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=134834 |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Frontman Forced To Leave Tour; ALL THAT REMAINS Singer To Fill In |date=2010-02-09 |publisher= Blabbermouth.net |accessdate=2010-02-10 At least one source speculates that Jones' departure was due to back pain .cite web|url= http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/02/10/howard-jones-leaves-killswitch-engage-tour-phil-labonte-takes-o/ |title=Howard Jones Leaves Killswitch Engage Tour, Phil Labonte Takes Over |publisher= Noisecreep |date=2010-02-10 |accessdate=2010-02-14 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.cite web|url= http://www.antimusic.com/news/10/march/re19Killswitch_Engage_Reunite_With_Original_Frontman_Jesse_Leach.shtml|title=Killswitch Engage With Original Frontman Jesse Leach
In 2010, they contributed the track "My Obsession" to the God of War: Blood & Metal soundtrack.cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/God-Of-War-Blood--Metal-Tracklisting-Revealed-20950.aspx|title=God of War: Blood & Metal track listing
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.cite web|url= http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/news/article.aspx? aid=daefbe87-e16a-404a-bb3d-880f742fd51d|title=Killswitch Engage at Download 2010
Sixth studio album (2011-present)
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 former Killswitch Engage lead vocalist Jesse Leach and released the debut album " The Hymn of a Broken Man " on January 18, 2011.cite web|url= http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/08/killswitch_engage_guitarist_te.html|title=Killswitch Engage guitarist teams up with original singer Along with Dutkiewicz and Leach, Times of Grace added Joel Stroetzel to their tour lineup.cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=152767|title=TIMES OF GRACE Announces Touring Lineup 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.cite web|url= http://www.nme.com/news/killswitch-engage/57324|title=Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley joins Unearth for UK tour 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."cite web|url= http://gunshyassassin.com/news/killswitch-engages-writing-material-for-new-album/|title=Killswitch Engage Writing Material For New Album
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& #33; Its Adam D& #33; 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!" cite web|url= http://www.facebook.com/killswitchengage/posts/10150274799956581|title=Killswitch Engage Facebook New Album Post
On December 1st, 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.url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=166729 |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Bassist: 'We Have Eight Demos Finished For The New Record' However the departure of Howard Jones might have delayed any news for the upcoming album. |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date= |accessdate=2011-12-01
Departure of Howard Jones
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 themcite web|title=Howard Jones Leaves Killswitch Engage|url= http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/top-posts/howard-jones-leaves-killswitch-engage/|publisher= Metal Hammer |accessdate=5 January 2012. In this statement, the band did not disclose the reason for this decision, keeping the reasons a personal mattercite web|title=Howard Jones Leaves Killswitch Engage|url= http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/top-posts/howard-jones-leaves-killswitch-engage/|publisher= Metal Hammer |accessdate=5 January 2012: Blockquote|"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." http://www.killswitchengage.com/index.php/kse/ 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. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=167917
On January 6, 2012, Howard made a lucid explanation about his departure on his facebook page and the band's official website: Blockquote|"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" http://loudwire.com/howard-jones-explains-exit-from-killswitch-engage/The band is currently looking for a new singer.
Musical style and lyrical themes
Listen |filename=My Last Serenade.ogg |title="My Last Serenade" |description=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 singing|clean vocals . |filename2=My Curse.ogg |title2="My Curse" |description2=Sample of " My Curse (song)|My Curse " from As Daylight Dies (2006). Songs by Killswitch Engage such as "My Curse" incorporate elements of hardcore punk|hardcore such as breakdowns. Killswitch Engage's genre is largely considered metalcore cite web |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r690951|pure_url=yes |title=allmusic ((( The End of Heartache > Review ))) |publisher= Allmusic |last=Rivadavia |first=Eduardo |accessdate=2010-01-04 or melodic metalcore ,cite web |url= http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/killswitch-engage |title=Killswitch Engage | MTV UK |publisher= MTV UK |accessdate=2010-01-09 combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk|hardcore . Like many metalcore bands, Killswitch Engage incorporates both singing and Screaming (music)|screaming vocals in their music. In 2009, MTV , while naming "The Greatest Metal Bands of All Time" referred to Killswitch Engage as "one of the founders of metalcore".cite web |url= http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal/greatest_metal_bands/071406/index13.jhtml |title=The Greatest Metal Bands of All Time |publisher= MTV |accessdate=2009-12-30 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 ."cite web |title= Alive or Just Breathing – Killswitch Engage |author=Taylor, Jason |publisher=Allmusic |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r588062|pure_url=yes|accessdate=2007-12-17
Both former vocalists, Jesse Leach and Howard Jones write lyrics that are considered to be positive. Jesse Leach stated on (Set This) World Ablaze , that the lyrics contain "unity, positivity, and love." On the lyrical themes of Killswitch Engage (2009 album)|Killswitch Engage , Ultimate Guitar reviewer Amy Sciarretto notes: quote|"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 on this second self-titled effort."cite web |url= http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/killswitch_engage/killswitch_engage_2009/index.html |title=Killswitch Engage (2009) Review |last=Sciarretto |first=Amy |date=2009-06-30 |publisher= Ultimate Guitar |accessdate=2010-01-08On Killswitch Engage's 2009 release, Howard Jones states the change in lyrical themes: quote|"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."cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=121841 |title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: Interview, Performance Footage From U.K.'s DOWNLOAD Festival Posted Online |date=2009-06-12 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |accessdate=2010-01-08
Band members
;Current members
Mike D'Antonio - bass guitar (1999& ndash;present)
Adam Dutkiewicz - lead guitar , backing vocalist|backing vocals (2002& ndash;present), drum kit|drums (1999& ndash;2002)
Joel Stroetzel - rhythm guitar (1999& ndash;present)
Commons category|Killswitch Engage KillswitchEngageGood article Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Massachusetts Category:American metalcore musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1998 Category:Roadrunner Records artists Category:Musical quintets
