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. Having Leach — who had appeared on the band’s first two albums and more recently played with Dutkiewicz in a new project,Times Of Grace — back in the fold has “felt 100 percent natural,” Adamtells Guitar World magazine. “Jesse sounds a little different from Howard — he’s obviously not a big black man,” he says with a laugh. “But he’s bringing his own thing to it.”
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. “It’s actually the one tune that’s pretty different from the other stuff,” Dutkiewicz tells Guitar World. “Overall the rest of the album is a little faster, a little meaner, a little growlier — thrashy but with lots of clean parts. We’re going a little more extreme this time.”
In an interview with the Brock And The Fatguy radio show, Leach stated about Killswitch Engaged‘s new material, “People are gonna be really surprised; [we’re] setting the bar up high once again. It’s really fast and it’s really heavy. It’s not what people are going to anticipate, I’m sure. I literally am getting chills right now talking about it. It’s gonna blow the doors off people, man. It’s gonna be great.”
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
Related articles:
Times Of Grace – Hymn Of A Broken Man [CD review]
‘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]