Reviews list for Killswitch Engage - Atonement (2019)

I always thought the two best Killswitch Engage albums were the best by the band. While that's still the case, Atonement has joined the 5-star club, bringing back the perfect glory of that earlier era.

You really gotta thank Jesse Leach for leveling up the awesomeness in this band. Though Howard Jones is also amazing in his vocals. The emotional majesty comes from both the melodic and hardcore sides coming together. Atonement shows the band switching from Roadrunner to Metal Blade, which I guess is why what would've been special edition bonus tracks ended up in a separate EP. This album is the band's best in over 15 years and might just be an exciting groundbreaker!

The first track and single "Unleashed" already has what's to come in this offering. Then "The Signal Fire" lights up the heavy fire, and Howard makes a small but amazing comeback in the second verse with his massive screams. The drums and guitars are so fast and furious with intense variation. Next song "Us Against the World" can provide motivation and strength for you to fight against different challenges. In the majestic highlight "The Crownless King", Killswitch Engage continue bringing back some of the earlier heaviness. Chuck Billy of Testament has brought forward enough fury for this song to have potential in the DOOM soundtrack.

"I Am Broken Too" still shows the band intensifying their sound while mostly having melodic emotion. "As Sure as the Sun Will Rise" follows that motive with more brutality in the verses. We also have the catchy "Know Your Enemy" with more hardcore yells. The mid-tempo "Take Control" shows the band having the pleasure of reinventing the wheel without breaking the original wheel.

"Ravenous" doesn't lose any melody yet they still have their metal heaviness. "I Can’t Be the Only One" has the power to inspire you to be brave enough to battle against your personal issues. "Bite the Hand That Feeds" is a killer way out.

All in all, there aren't any problems at all in Atonement. Everything is well-composed with the band's usual blend of brutal and melodic. Atonement has its strengths to give listeners the strength they need. So intense while so inspirational! This solid offering shows that the band has not lost any steam, and I look forward to reviewing the next couple releases. Bring on the fire!

Favorites: "The Signal Fire", "The Crownless King", "I Am Broken Too", "As Sure as the Sun Will Rise", "Take Control", "I Can’t Be the Only One"

It's no doubt that Killswitch Engage used to be kind of a big deal in the Metalcore scene. That time has passed though, and the band has not adapted. This album could've been released in 2007 and no one would have bat an eye, except maybe for the production value. But that was over ten years ago and a lot has happened in the Metalcore world. Melodic Metalcore, the kind that bands like Killswitch or As I Lay Dying has fallen out of favor, first for the scene years and then either for a sound that is more rooted in Hardcore or straight up Prog Metal with breakdowns. To throw an album like "Atonement" into the ring at this point in time will please no one but diehard fans of the bands' original sound - of which I am not one.

That said, it's also not a sound that is completely trash. For most of its runtime the album chugs along nicely, making for some okay background music. A few standout tracks have been sprinkled in as well, such as "The Signal Fire" which features former singer Howard Jones and "I Am Broken Too", both stand out mostly due to their catchy vocal delivery. As soon as the band ventures outside of their comfort zone though (which they do rarely enough), it's immediately clear why they chose not to experiment. Probably the most unusual song is the closer "Bite the Hand That Feeds" which - and get this - doesn't do chugs in simple eighth or sixteenth notes but rather has some weird pattern that just makes for an unsettling listen. If you're not already a big fan of the band, steer clear of this album.