This page will contain additional articles about Killswitch Engage, as they become available.Killswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is a metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, USA. MusicKillswitch Engage's sound infuses hardcore, crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling vocals with melodic elements. Their music, most frequently described as metalcore, Gothencore or melodic death metal, is strongly influenced by European metal bands such as In Flames, which seek to generate a sense of drama from the contrast between savagery and melody. This contrast between hardcore and melodic sounds is embedded within the band's familiar song structure, which juxtaposes savage, screaming verses and melodic, anthemic choruses. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz has described Killswitch Engage as "a metal-core band with a pop element". A key feature of Killswitch Engage's sound is the use complex single-note riffs featuring dual-guitar harmonies, punctuated by pinch harmonic squeals, a guitar style which has its roots in European metal. Band HistoryFollowing the demise of his band Overcast in 1998, bassist Mike D'Antonio trawled the underground Massachusetts hardcore and heavy metal scene in search of a line-up for a new band. In 1999, D'Antonio met Dutkiewitz and Joel Stroetzel, Aftershock's guitarists. Dutkiewitz became the drummer, while Stroetzel remained on guitar. The trio searched for a vocalist and eventually hired Jesse Leach, formerly of Corrin and Nothing Stays Gold. The now four member band took the name of "Killswitch Engage", a name proposed by D'Antonio after watching an episode of the FOX television programme The X-Files. The band was signed to the music label Ferret on the strength of its live performances, and subsequently won an opening slot with In Flames during their U.S. tour. This and their debut self-titled album was sufficient to earn the band a record deal with Roadrunner Records. In 2002 they released Alive or Just Breathing, a successful record which greatly increased the band's exposure and placed them on the Billboard Magazine Heatseeker chart. The CMJ New Music Report described the record as "more addictive than crack cocaine that's been smothered in nicotine AND drenched with chocolate." Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed on vocals. Jones also recruited that band's drummer Justin Foley, replacing Tom Gomes, who left to live in Los Angeles with his wife. The new lineup played on the Road Rage tour in The Netherlands in 2002 with 36 Crazyfists, and in 2003 played the Ozzfest and MTV2 Headbangers' Ball tours. Their first release was the song "When Darkness Falls" which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2003 horror film Freddy vs. Jason. The band's third album, and the first to feature Jones on vocals, was The End of Heartache which was released on May 11 2004. The album ultimately went on to sell more than a quarter of a million copies in the U.S. It also debuted on the top 40 of the Australian album charts on May 17, 2004 following a successful tour of that country with Anthrax. In the latter half of 2004, the band supported Slayer on their US Jagermusic dates, and headlined shows with From Autumn to Ashes, 18 Visions and 36 Crazyfists. In December 2004 the track 'The End Of Heartache' was nominated in the 'Best Metal Performance' category for the 47th annual Grammy Awards. Band membersAs of 2004, Killswitch Engage consisted of:
Jesse David Leach was the original singer of the band. Discography
References
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Jesse David Leach was the original singer of the band. According to Albert Goldman's biography, John Lennon named Reminiscing as one of his favorite songs of all time. As of 2004, Killswitch Engage consisted of:. Lady has also accumulated more than two million plays, and Goble is the first and only Australian songwriter ever to win four "Million Air" awards from BMI. In December 2004 the track 'The End Of Heartache' was nominated in the 'Best Metal Performance' category for the 47th annual Grammy Awards. Reminiscing, written by Goble, was recognised by BMI as one of the most frequently played songs in the history of American radio, with more than four million plays to its credit. In the latter half of 2004, the band supported Slayer on their US Jagermusic dates, and headlined shows with From Autumn to Ashes, 18 Visions and 36 Crazyfists. Birtles, Shorrock and Goble have also performed a number of reunion concerts, but due to the fact that they sold their rights to the LRB name when they left the band, they were forced to appear under the name Birtles Shorrock Goble: The Original Voices of the Little River Band after the current lineup of the group took legal action to prevent them from performing simply as Little River Band. It also debuted on the top 40 of the Australian album charts on May 17, 2004 following a successful tour of that country with Anthrax. They also performed "Help Is On Its Way" that night. The album ultimately went on to sell more than a quarter of a million copies in the U.S. The original members were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 18th Annual ARIA Music Awards of 2004. The band's third album, and the first to feature Jones on vocals, was The End of Heartache which was released on May 11 2004. LRB are considered to be among Australia's most significant bands. Jason. Farnham was replaced by the returning Shorrock, but he, Birtles and Goble all eventually left the group in the late Eighties. The band (which now has no original members) is based in America and they continue to perform and record. Their first release was the song "When Darkness Falls" which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2003 horror film Freddy vs. Farnham's popularity in Australia was increasing at this time, and he left the band to return to his solo career, achieving huge success in Australia (he was also managed by Wheatley). The new lineup played on the Road Rage tour in The Netherlands in 2002 with 36 Crazyfists, and in 2003 played the Ozzfest and MTV2 Headbangers' Ball tours. In Australia the band continued to be favourites and songs such as "Down On The Border" and "Playing To Win" were major hits. Jones also recruited that band's drummer Justin Foley, replacing Tom Gomes, who left to live in Los Angeles with his wife. Subsequent singles were only minor hits. Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed on vocals. John Farnham replaced Shorrock in 1982 and the first single with Farnham, "The Other Guy" reached #11 in the US. The CMJ New Music Report described the record as "more addictive than crack cocaine that's been smothered in nicotine AND drenched with chocolate.". The pressures of success and constant touring gradually took their toll on LRB and all the original members gradually left during the Eighties. In 2002 they released Alive or Just Breathing, a successful record which greatly increased the band's exposure and placed them on the Billboard Magazine Heatseeker chart. In the US he failed to make an impression but in Australia he had one substantial hit, a cover version of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover". This and their debut self-titled album was sufficient to earn the band a record deal with Roadrunner Records. In 1982 Shorrock left to pursue a solo career. tour. During their career the band have sold more than 20 million records and scored 13 Amercan Top 40 hits. The band was signed to the music label Ferret on the strength of its live performances, and subsequently won an opening slot with In Flames during their U.S. From 1978 until 1981, they achieved six consecutive US Top 10 singles with "Reminiscing", "Lady", "Lonesome Loser", "Cool Change", "The Night Owls" and "Take It Easy On Me". The now four member band took the name of "Killswitch Engage", a name proposed by D'Antonio after watching an episode of the FOX television programme The X-Files. During this period McLachlan left the group and was replaced by George McArdle. The trio searched for a vocalist and eventually hired Jesse Leach, formerly of Corrin and Nothing Stays Gold. More concert performances in the US followed, and in 1977 "Help Is On Its Way" (an Australian number one single) and "Happy Anniversary" both narrowly missed the US Top 10. Dutkiewitz became the drummer, while Stroetzel remained on guitar. This resulted in a hit single, "It's A Long Way There", which broke into the Top 30 and galvanised the commitment of the band members. In 1999, D'Antonio met Dutkiewitz and Joel Stroetzel, Aftershock's guitarists. Fuelled by a very successful Australian hit single "Curiosity Killed The Cat", the band began making promotional visits to the US in 1976. Following the demise of his band Overcast in 1998, bassist Mike D'Antonio trawled the underground Massachusetts hardcore and heavy metal scene in search of a line-up for a new band. Wheatley's first-hand experiences of the rip-offs in the Sixties music scene, combined with his subsequent experience working in music management in Britain and the United States in the early '70s, enabled him to help LRB become the first Australian group to enjoy sustained commercial and chart success in the United States. A key feature of Killswitch Engage's sound is the use complex single-note riffs featuring dual-guitar harmonies, punctuated by pinch harmonic squeals, a guitar style which has its roots in European metal. A key factor in their eventual success was their manager Glenn Wheatley, who had been the bassist in te highly-regarded Australian rock band The Masters Apprentices. This contrast between hardcore and melodic sounds is embedded within the band's familiar song structure, which juxtaposes savage, screaming verses and melodic, anthemic choruses. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz has described Killswitch Engage as "a metal-core band with a pop element". Remembering the indifferent reaction they had received in the UK, they decided the new band would focus on establishing themselves in the US. Their music, most frequently described as metalcore, Gothencore or melodic death metal, is strongly influenced by European metal bands such as In Flames, which seek to generate a sense of drama from the contrast between savagery and melody. Like namy other Australasian groups of the period, both Axiom and Mississippi had tried to break into the UK record market without success. Killswitch Engage's sound infuses hardcore, crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling vocals with melodic elements. They found immediate success in Australia, but individual members had greater ambitions. Killswitch Engage is a metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, USA. Prior to that, Birtles had been the bassist in '60s pop band Zoot (which also included singer-guitarist Rick Springfield) and Shorrock had been the lead singer of leading Australian 60s pop band The Twilights and early 70s country rock band Axiom. Wise Men Promotions interview with Joel Stroetzel, June 27, 2004 (http://www.wisemenpromotions.com/interviews/kse.htm) Retrieved January 27, 2005. The group evolved from the harmony-rock group Mississippi in 1975. Noize Pollution interview with Adam Dutkiewicz, 6/4/02 (http://noizepollution.com/killswitch_engage/killswitch_engage_interview.asp) Retrieved January 27, 2005. Formed in Melbourne, Australia, and named for the Victorian township of Little River, the band's original members were Glenn Shorrock (vocals), Rick Formosa, Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble (guitars), Roger McLachlan (bass) and Derek Pellicci (drums). All Music Guide Killswitch Engage article (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311071654390588&sql=B5mkcu3ikanxk/). Little River Band is an Australian rock music band. Killswitch Engage web site page on band history (http://www.killswitchengage.com/band.aspx/). The End of Heartache (2004). Alive or Just Breathing (2002). Killswitch Engage (2000). Justin Foley - drums. Howard Jones - vocals. Mike D'Antonio - bass, artist for all album covers and t-shirts. Joel Stroetzel - guitar. Adam Dutkiewicz - guitar, producer, played drums on their self-titled album, and Alive or Just Breathing. |