Westfield, MA · metalcore

Killswitch Engage

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Metalcore's standard-bearers — 'The End of Heartache' still detonates, two decades of the genre's template played by its authors.

Killswitch Engage formed in Westfield, Massachusetts, in 1999 out of the wreckage of two earlier bands, Overcast and Aftershock. Bassist Mike D'Antonio and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, initially on drums, recruited guitarist Joel Stroetzel from Aftershock and vocalist Jesse Leach from Nothing Stays Gold. The band's name comes from an X-Files episode written by William Gibson.

A four-song demo including 'Soilborn' appeared at their first show, opening for In Flames in late 1999. Their self-titled debut followed in 2000 and drew little commercial attention on release, but caught the ear of Roadrunner Records, who signed the band after seeing them play.

The band's approach set screamed verses against clean, melodic choruses over down-tuned, harmonised guitar riffs, a template many bands followed through the 2000s. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz also produced much of their work, shaping the wider scene's sound. The End of Heartache (2004) remains their best-known record, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200, going gold, and earning a Grammy nomination for its title track.

The band has had two lead singers, Jesse Leach and Howard Jones, with Leach returning in 2012 after Jones's departure. Their fourth album, As Daylight Dies, went platinum behind the single 'My Curse,' while Disarm the Descent, Leach's first record back, reached the US top ten and drew a further Grammy nomination.

Killswitch Engage has picked up further Grammy nominations, Boston Music Awards and Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards since, and released a ninth studio album, This Consequence, in 2025. Songs from The End of Heartache, alongside a cover of Dio-era Ronnie James Dio material, remain fixtures of their live sets.

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metalcore