Killswitch Engage ialah mereka yang bertanggung jawab memfofularkan scene metalcore, sebuah genre yang telah menyeksa ramai mental metalhead genuine dan ialah secara asasnya merupakan kombinasi muzik hardcore, sedikit melodeath, jeritan stail emo sambil diselitkan dengan vocal bersih yang meleweh. "Alive Or Just Breathing" ialah album pertama mereka yang hampeh tapi masih lebih ok jika hendak dibandingkan dengan album ini. Dalam "The End of Heartache", "Killswitch Engage" telah meluaskan lagi elemen emo mereka memandangkan memang amat ketara jika kita perhatikan dari sudut tajuk album yang agak bapok juga untuk dipertikaikan. Kini diorang dah ada penyanyi baru dan aku boleh kata mereka masih lagi dengan stail yang lama, tinggalkan clean vocal Howard adalah jauh lebih hampeh dan 2 kali kemaruk emonya dari vokalis yang lepas. Muzik yang dipersembahkan disini ialah Hardcore (awek myspace kalau dengar ni.. huih, mesti cair! Tambah lagi awek scooter, pergh..) yang digaul dengan perisa nu-metal dan ya, E-M-O. (eja betul betul.. bukan ENO ya?).

Album ini amat ketandusan riff dan segala yang dapat dijumpai disini hanyalah breakdowns, pembukaan dan pengakhiran yang melodik. Itu sahaja! Setiap lagu boleh diramal kesudahannya, memandangkan kesemuanya menggunakan modal struktur verse nu-metal – korus – bridge.. Oh, ada tak aku bagitau korang yang kat sini memang tak ada langsung solo gitar? Aduh, memang mengecewakan. Aku terpaksa mengaku secara jujurnya vokal Howard jauh lebih bagus apabila dibandingkan dengan Heafy dari Trivium tapi sekurang kurangnya Trivium memiliki sedikit riff (walau pun sepesen), KsE pula ialah segala-galanya berkisar tentang breakdowns semata-mata! Paling koman pun, ada lah kut satu dua melodi yang boleh tahan dan itu aje lah point mahal yang ada pun. Terutama part intro melodik dari lagu tajuk album tetapi hancur berkecai kesudahannya setelah dikikah dengan clean vokal yang sumbang dan apa lagi kalau lagi lagi bukan breakdown yang membosankan. KsE juga pandai menggunakan vokal beramai ramai dengan baik tapi malangnya korus tanpa menggunakan vokal secara berkumpulan adalah lebih bertepatan untuk konsep muzik sebegini.

KsE tak adalah menjengkelkan sangat seperti Trivium memandangkan tak ada sesiapa pun yang boleh membuat muzik yang menjelekkan seperti Trivium walau jika mereka mencuba sedaya upaya sekalipun! Setiap satu lagu mempunyai struktur yang sepesen dengan vokal clean emo yang tidak disenangi tapi tak adalah seakan vokal keanak anakan Matt Heafy. Liriknya pulak gila emo betul terutama sekali dalam lagu tajuk album (contoh:- "For the end of my broken heart"?) Huih, gila jiwang tu geng! "When Darkness falls" mempunyai korus yang paling teruk dalam album, menambah burukkan lagi situasi apabila ia dicampurkan dengan kerja vokal yang teruk. Hope is..." mengandungi satu satunya korus berkumpulan yang mantap tapi berkesudahan dengan sedih sekali – breakdown potong stim lagi!! Apa lagi nak dikata, setiap lagu disini semuanya kedengaran lebih kurang Trivium. Cuma ada satu lagu je yang menarik & aku boleh consider - Rose of Sharyn. Walaupun liriknya jiwang dan mempunyai breakdown yang boleh diramal tapi sekurang kurangnya ia mempunyai melodi yang menarik dan vokal yang boleh dimaafkan.

Jika engkau adalah seorang penggila metalcore, engkau pasti menyukai cd ini tapi jika engkau ialah seorang metalhead yang genuine dan engkau pernah mendengar sebuah band metalcore – nasihat aku ini cuma lah acuan muzik sama yang telah dilakukan berulang kali dalam fasion emo dengan melodi yang boleh diagak struktur turun naiknya. Dicadangkan kepada peminat metalcore, hardcore dan emo atau mungkin generasi remaja mallcore yang mesra mtv. Lagipun, struktur lagu yang ringkas dan clean vocal yang annoying turut mengalir dari akar mallcore, maka dengan ini dapat dirumuskan para remaja mallcore pun pasti tidak akan alah pada muzik sebegini.



0.2/5 - Metal Basher

The 2000 release of Killswitch Engage's debut self-titled full-length is a rip-roaring, fist-clenching mallcore kinda metal buffet that serves up abrasive instrumentation and a side of tranquilizing melodies, which are combined with positive lyrics similar to the style of Sonni (P.O.D). Considering the brutal nature of Killswitch's music, such lyrics are almost oxymoronic, but the band's strong chemistry and impressive professionalism pulls their sound together into an end product that makes total sense. Thankfully, their message is far from the theme of metal that identifies and dwells on the world's flaws in a negative manner. On the contrary, the inspiring words of vocalist Jesse Leach are meant to encourage his listeners to find strength from within their souls and to use that strength for fighting and defeating systems that create social and environmental obstacles.
Forgive me if I'm making Killswitch Engage's message seem like the message of money-tainted musicians on major labels such as Gays Against the Sheens, whose message is spoon-fed to their fans by glorified propaganda that provokes resistance against "the man." This is not my intention whatsoever as Killswitch's message is conveyed in a style far from Gays Against the Sheens' method. When I listen to Killswitch Engage, I believe in myself as an individual and fully embrace the band's message because it is presented in a straightforward manner without gimmicks or propaganda. Leach's authentic words, which are complimented by the bass playing of Mike D'Antonio, the guitar playing of Joel Stroetzel, and the drumming of Adam Dutkiewicz, create a true demonstration of heart. There are no oppressors singled out as the perpetrators at large. Instead, the scale of accusations is widened to the larger scheme of good versus evil and right versus wrong.
For music that has such a positive influence on my character, I can't remember feeling so choked up while listening to music since purchasing this album shortly after its release. I must admit that it truly inspires me. Sometimes, I drive my scooter while listening to "Vide Infra," and I vigorously point at belligerent drivers experiencing road rage and scream, "To pass judgment, judgment will be passed upon you!" During "Soilborn," an anthem strongly emphasizing the importance of seizing the day, I cruise along as unsuspecting pedestrians wonder why I'm shouting "I will strive for the truth!" or "I will strive for integrity!" If they only knew how much gratification I get out of listening to Killswitch Engage, I wouldn't appear like such a lunatic.
Chances are that it's not my regurgitated lyrical science that grabs their attention. Most likely, it's the devilish music blaring from my scooter courtesy of Killswitch Engage. The grinding guitar work of Stroetzel, whose photo in the inside layout resembles Jason Mewes (of Jay and Silent Bob fame), is rarely mellow except for during a few songs. Though for the most part, he shreds intensely through high and low chords. Stroetzel's steel axe slices like the razorblade featured on the colorful cover art, and his pace does not represent a challenge at all for D'Antonio's diligent bass playing abilities. Laying the foundation beneath this crunchy exchange are well-rationed double bass beats and maniacally galloping rhythms courtesy of Dutkiewicz's drums. Among this well-constructed chaos is the quadrupled vocal attack projected by one front man named Leach. Leach's wide range of low-pitched growling, medium-pitched hardcore yelling, high-pitched screaming, and energetic, clean singing always keeps the message interesting with words enthusiastically jumping from style to style. This combination is best demonstrated on my favorite song entitled "Irreversal," which is probably the band's most valid case for the amount of talent they possess. Other album highlights include the emotional opener "Temple from the Within," and the melodic, piano-laden "One Last Sunset," which is the album's instrumental conclusion, written and performed by Dutkiewicz with a guest pianist by the name of Jim.
Actually, I'm a little surprised that given Killswitch Engage's shades of brilliance and raw power, they are not more highly acclaimed. However, I don't expect their lack of accolades and mild obscurity to remain constant. With a second effort in the works and their continuously mind-blowing live shows, they are destined to become a household name in the world of metal and hardcore. Therefore, I highly suggest that you start paying them their well-earned respect soon. While their music is closer to the metal end, their words fall closer to the mallcore end, so anyone who can appreciate true and original music on either end of the spectrum should "inscribe these words on their heart" and support the cause of Killswitch Engage. This is hardly mallcore!!


- Sarah Nisa