Massachusetts metallers Killswitch Engage are currently mixing their new album with veteran British producer Andy Sneap [Megadeth, Testament, Exodus, Accept, Arch Enemy, Nevermore]to mix their new album for an early 2013 release via Roadrunner Records. The recording sessions for the CD were overseen by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, an acclaimed producer in his own right who has previously worked with All That Remains, The Devil Wears Prada and As I Lay Dying, among others.
Killswitch Engage‘s forthcoming album will mark the return of the band’s original vocalist, Jesse Leach, who rejoined the group earlier this year following the departure of Howard Jones after nine years and three successful albums.
“[The recording process] was great,” Leach tells Loudwire. “I came off tour I was filled with energy, ready to go, we knocked out a bunch of stuff. I had joined the band, the record was there, we’re on tour so I really didn’t have time to write. I took the past two months not only recording but writing so I’m there with an idea, being in the other room writing and going to Adam saying, ‘Here’s my idea I just wrote, what do you think?’ So there’s real spontaneity some of the songs that we just finished up. I had maybe five or six solid ideas when I came off tour and the rest had to be developed as we were recording it. It was exciting but at the same time tough because for me I’m digging deep down into my emotions and my psyche trying to come up with stuff that is honest and emotive and relevant, hopefully for the listener. It’s tiring but well worth, anything that’s worth achieving you got to suffer a little bit for it. I think mentally and spiritually and a little bit physically we were suffering but all of that made for an amazing record that I’m really proud of.”
He added, “The music is definitely the fastest Killswitch record ever. It’s very heavy but still maintains the signature Killswitch hooky, melodic stuff there, too. There’s definitely melody attached, but I pulled out some new styles vocally, yelling and screaming and growling and layers and it sounds massive.”
Asked what the vibe has been working on the new record with the other members, Leach said, “These guys have welcomed me back with open arms and just very encouraging and digging the stuff that I’m doing and these guys were just like, ‘Wow! We’re really excited. We feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve been this excited about music,’ and that just makes me feel amazing. It makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Killswitch Engage fans have already had the opportunity to hear one of the cuts that will appear on the upcoming CD: a rough mix of the song No End In Sight was recently leaked online, and as a result the band has started playing it live.
“That song is the weakest song on the whole record,” Leach tells Loudwire. “That’s my opinion. I actually almost wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t even on the record because I think other stuff is much better, but probably since we played it and fans know it, we’ll put it on, but in my opinion, that’s definitely the weakest song. Now that the record is done, in retrospect, that would not be the song that we would be playing live.”
Leach sang on the band’s first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark release, 2002’s genre-definining Alive Or Just Breathing.
Killswitch Engage‘s April 22 performance at at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival marked the band’s first concert with Leach in more than nine years.
Killswitch Engage will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Alive Or Just Breathing by performing the entire album during their U.S. headlining tour in November/December. Support on the trek will come from Shadows Fall and Acaro.
Upcoming Shows:
Nov. 24 – San Bernardino, CA – NOS Event Center [California Metalfest VI]
Nov. 25 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
Nov. 27 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
Nov. 28 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne
Nov. 30 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theater
Dec. 01 – Kansas City, KS – Beaumont Club
Dec. 02 – Dallas, TX – Trees
Dec. 04 – Tampa, FL – State Theater
Dec. 05 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl
Dec. 07 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
Dec. 08 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
Dec. 10 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
Dec. 11 – Columbus, OH – Alrosa Villa
Dec. 12 – Toronto, ON – Opera House
Dec. 14 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
Dec. 16 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
Dec. 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Willamsburg Music Hall
Dec. 18 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Dec. 19 – Northampton, MA – Pearl Street
Dec. 20 – Portland, ME – State Theater
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‘Howard Jones’ Has Left ‘Killswitch Engage ‘ [Jan. 2012]
It’s Official: ‘Jesse Leach’ Rejoins ‘Killswitch Engage’ [Feb. 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ ‘Jesse Leach’ ‘Blew Us Away In Auditions’ [Feb. 2012]
‘Jesse Leach’ On New ‘Killswitch Engage’ Material: ‘People Are Gonna Be Really Surprised’ [Feb. 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ Singer: ‘Metal Has Changed, But I’ve Changed As Well’ [April 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ Performs Brand New Song In Michigan; Video Available [July 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ To Perform Entire ‘Alive Or Just Breathing’ Album At ‘California Metalfest VI’ [Sept. 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ To Embark On ‘Alive Or Just Breathing’ 10th-Anniversary Tour [Oct. 2012]
‘Jesse Leach’ Completes Laying Down Vocals On New ‘Killswitch Engage’ Album [Nov. 2012]
‘Killswitch Engage’ Taps Producer ‘Andy Sneap’ For New Album Mix [Nov. 2012]