Adam Duktiewicz has been a member of Killswitch Engage since 1999. Initially he was on drums, but in 2002 he took over duties on lead guitar and backing vocals. The band was riding high after the release of the fourth album ‘As Daylight Dies’ (2006). However, in the middle of their European tour in 2007,
Duktiewicz suffered severe back problems and underwent emergency surgery in a Londonhospital. He stated “I thought my career as a performing artist was over. If I can’t walk on my own, I can’t play.” He started writing an album about his experiences whilst in hospital and continued this during the long recovery period. “I had a little tape recorder I would sing into once I got home. I didn’t tour with Killswitch for quite some time. I would slowly get ideas down, just hum them or sing them, on that tape recorder.”
Jesse Leach was the original lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and recorded their first two albums. However, whilst on tour he would often experience problems with his screamed vocals and lose his voice. He began to suffer from depression and resigned from the band in 2002. He went on to join a hard rock band called Seemless and tour extensively with them. Although Adam and Jesse had remained friends, Jesse was surprised when Adam called him and asked if he would do vocals on a side project. Jesse said “In all my life, I have yet to write a record that bares my soul as much as this record does. Adam and I had a real spiritual connection while making this and I know that it comes through in the performances and lyrics. This record has our blood, sweat and tears flowing through it. It is painfully honest at times. In short this record is our catharsis.”
Given their shared history, this album is going to remind you of early Killswitch Engage. But also time has moved on and there is an injection of modern metal into the metalcore. Opening with military style drumming, the guitars pile up staccato riffs as they trade clear and screamed vocals throughout. “There is a strength in numbers, we must unite mankind / There is a strength in numbers, our faith lies deep inside / We struggle, we suffer, so we must come together / We struggle, we suffer, but we will live forever”.
The following tracks feature soaring clear vocals and are more melodic. However, in the latter half of “Where The Spirit Leads” they unleash some molten metal riffs and harsh screaming “Let my mouth be the blade / Let my song be filled with me”. Also ‘Until The End Of Days’ starts with restrained ambience, gently chiming guitar and clear vocals, then it switches to metalcore chugging and screamed vocals, and switches back and forth several times. Then its my favourite track ‘Live In Love’ with its squally metalcore riffing and declaration “In my life I have seen all the ways hatred destroys mankind / Break society’s system, change the mercy, there’s no compromise/ Don’t mistake kindness and compassion for weakness, It takes so much more strength to be selfless and live in love”. The band have released a video for this song to promote the Rise Above Foundation, which provides Massachusetts children in foster care with enriching activities, opportunities and experiences.
There is a gentle instrumental, before the outpouring of emotion on the title track. It has a galloping pace as they contemplate pride and self-remorse in equal measures. This theme spills over into the acoustic ‘The Forgotten One’. Whilst ‘Hope Remains’ starts off gently, it slowly but surely ramps back up to metalcore territory. Surprisingly the album finishes with a track laden with aching emotions as they counterpoint “I will not fall from grace” with “You’re at the end of your rope / I will love again”.
“The cool thing with these songs is that they are about negative situations, but there’s always a positive twist on it, talking about how you have the power to turn it around yourself,” Adam says. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel,” Jesse agrees. “There’s always hope.”
Rating: 8/10
Track list:
01 Strength In Numbers
02 Fight For Life
03 Willing
04 Where The Spirit Leads Me
05 Until The End Of Days
06 Live In Love
07 In The Arms Of Mercy
08 Hymn Of A Broken Man
09 The Forgotten One
10 Hope Remains
11 The End Of Eternity
12 Worlds Apart
13 Fall From Grace
Band members
Adam Dutkiewicz – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
Jesse Leach – vocals
Weblinks: Website
Label: Roadrunner, 2011
Reviewed by Peter John Willoughby