"We Couldn't Agree on a Title," the new album by Killswitch Engage

Jaguar 1: Doesn't is suck how anyone who got a new PC will be stuck with us as the artwork for the band's first album?
Jaguar 2: Who gives a crap? We look fucking sweet!




I have a love/hate relationship with Killswitch Engage. On one hand, the band is responsible for killing metalcore by introducing clean choruses into songs. At the same time, they aren't anywhere nearly as annoying as their imitators.

Anyway, Killswitch Engage's second self-titled album (I have no idea what Adam D. was thinking when he did this) doesn't really rock the boat, picking up right where As Daylight Dies left off and continuing their musical progression towards a yet more melodic sound, not that this is a bad thing since Howard Jones has always had an impressive signing voice. If your idea of metalcore is Converge, then this album probably isn't for you. For those who long for the days when Iron Maiden and Dio were the the face of metal, this is the album that you've been waiting for with melodic riffs and vocal hooks abound without ever descending into power metal cheesiness, making the album accessible without overdoing it, like Rhapsody of Fire does. (I fully apologize to Rhapsody of Fire fans. I'm deeply sorry that your favorite band sucks.)

Even thoguh the album doesn't change much about KSE's sound and Brendan O'Brien's production doesn't fit the band's sound as well as their self-produced albums have, it's still a good listen, but one for the fans only.

7/10