Reviews list for Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage (2009)

You know how amazing a band is when their weakest album is still strong. One tip-off of how Killswitch Engage's 5th album stands below the others is the fact this album if self-titled. Nothing wrong with that, but they already have a self-titled debut. Fans have called this 2009 album "KSE II", since it's their second self-titled album. I think it would make sense to just call this album "KSE V", since it's their 5th album overall. Still you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Killswitch Engage has had their music spread through both the underground and the overground, and KSE V has helped them continue their reign. Again it can never top any of their other releases, but it's another proud work and the band still have their way...

One of the band's strongest opening tracks is "Never Again" with full-on guitar aggression and a clever breakdown-gone-solo. Up next, "Starting Over" is tear-jerking banger filled with metalcore emotion. Then we have another great anthem in "The Forgotten", having a bit of jazzy experimentation in the tempo changes and more of the screaming-singing vocal alternation. Next track "Reckoning" kicks things up in monstrous vengeance. However, it ends up being a bit generic.

Then things lighten up in "The Return". It's quite strong despite having just clean singing along with the pop-ish chorus. Still it's a great ballad similar to a few that they done in the past (that one reader be like "Says you not being a big fan of ballads!"). "A Light in a Darkened World" has some of their strongest guitars, drums, and vocals yet, leading to brutal breakdown and beautiful acoustic bridge. Sh*t, that song's so phenomenal! "Take Me Away" starts with strong guitar shredding, then it flops into full-on weak vocals. My least favorite of the band. Coming close to that fate is the heavy "I Would Do Anything", but it saved by the vocals regain their strength along with heavy rhythms.

I don't have much to say about "Save Me", which is great though nothing noteworthy. One more ballad-ish track "Lost" drives through in sorrow and passion from Howard's vocals singing lyrics of love and loss. "This is Goodbye" is a more typical track with only what is expected from the band. It's still good, considering its balance amongst the more experimental tracks. The special edition bonus track "In a Dead World" is one of my favorite tracks by the band in general. The melodies, riffs, screams, cleans, and drums, all in a brilliant balance! The impact even comes from the light bridge. The darkness and light all lead into an powerful outro. If that glorious highlight was in the standard edition, replacing "Take Me Away", I would give this album rating an extra half-star.

The special edition also has a few live bonus tracks, but that's not important for this review. KSE V is, like all the band's other albums, something for longtime fans, hardcore listeners, and metalheads. Not the strongest but it still rules. All before Howard Jones' goodbye to the band....

Favorites: "Never Again", "The Forgotten", "The Return", "A Light in a Darkened World", "Lost", "In a Dead World"