Artist: Killswitch Engage
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 5/11/04
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Title: The End of Heartache Artist: Killswitch Engage Label: Roadrunner Records Release Date: 5/11/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
Wow, have I been dreading this one. In the two years since the release of Alive or Just Breathing I feel like I'm the only one who considered these guys just a mediocre metalcore band. I just didn't get what the big deal was. I had heard this sound done so many times with so much more success that I couldn't help but be disappointed in their last record. That's not to say it was bad, I actually enjoyed it when it was on, but it was nothing special. Apparently everyone in the metal community disagreed with me.Fast forward two years and I got my first taste of The End of Heartache on the ride up to the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in the car of my buddy Famine, who was quite excited about the record. Granted I was in a car, getting psyched for a festival, and catching up with my buddies, but it still failed to really move me. I liked it, but I didn't understand why Famine (as well as everyone else at the fest) was so excited by it.
"One word review: Engineered." Finally I received my own copy and went through numerous listens without any change in my opinion: good solid metalcore, far from essential. But I persevered, I continued listening to the album over and over, trying to force myself to get into it. Willing it into my good graces, submersing myself in its essence. I only focused on the cool parts to the album and tried to ignore my little pet peeves. And then it happened. I was, after a great amount of effort, finally able to convince myself that I'm a fan of this record. In many ways it strikes me in the same way that Soilwork's Figure Number Five does. It is a meticulously crafted metal album that is engineered to break into the mainstream. It's slicker than grease and infectious enough for the average teenager to 'rock out' with.
To be honest, this album has a lot of really cool shit going on. Some of the riffs are just plain awesome, putting me in the mood to break something. The biggest problem I have with this record is that it's just not very adventurous. It's so formulaic and contrived, it's a little irritating. I mean, does every song have to go riff, harsh vocal, riff, clean vocal chorus, harsh vocal scream, riff (lather, rinse, repeat)? In this respect, every song sounds the same. This would be the death knell for most other bands, and the only reason these guys avoid it is that they're actually very gifted songwriters. They have such a solid base that their attempt at TRL acceptance can be forgiven. It's not that this album is disappointing, because it's actually much better than I expected it to be, it's that it is frustrating because it shows me what this band could be if they weren't so predictable.
And while it might sound like I'm being harsh on the record, I really do like it a lot. New singer Howard Jones really rocks out when he sings: "What is love, anyway? Does anybody love anybody, anyway?" Oh wait, that's a different Howard Jones (or is it?). Seriously, Mr. Jones brings a lot to the table, and has a solid performance here, as well as an accessible enough voice to lead the band toward bigger and bigger audiences. But the best part of this album is definitely the thick guitars which, despite some of the more melodic vocals and melodies, can be quite pummeling.
This is a really solid record, but it is definitely not taking any chances. If you liked their last record, you'll probably shit yourself over this one. One word review: Engineered.
Death's Review:
I mourn for those who never knew you. It won't be long, we'll meet again.
"I'm just amazed that something so popular could also be so good." Killswitch Engage have stepped up big-time with their new album, The End of Heartache. Two years ago, I wasn't even sure if I liked the band, mostly because the album had ever-so-slight nu-metal overtones and was too rooted in hardcore for my tastes, and because I didn't really like the new singer. New vocalist Howard Jones, however, is a different story. Damn, dude, the man can sing. He can also belt out the requisite killer metalcore scream too. But more importantly, the band has really elevated its musical sound and style. Like Shadows Fall and God Forbid before them, Killswitch Engage have developed a more layered, textured, mature, and frankly more "metal" approach. Part of this is because the band has simply gotten better. Part of it is because the musical landscape has changed to embrace bands sounding like Metallica and Pantera at their prime. And then there is the increased emphasis on guitar solos that has now come to the fore. All of this combines to make me turn the corner and actually start liking Killswitch Engage.
(Ready for the trademark Death run-on sentence? You know, the passionate, "I love this fucking music" rant that tells you how I really feel about the record? OK, here goes.)
But what makes me absolutely love this album and elevate The End of Heartache to become a serious contender for one of the best albums of 2004 is their amazing penchant for sophisticated yet memorable melodic lines and their newly developed songwriting skills which have resulted in wonderful songs like "Rose of Sharyn," which I absolutely cannot get out of my head, and will probably stick with me throughout what should prove to be the quite glorious Summer of 2004. Seriously. This album fucking rocks, and I can now say with absolute certainty that Killswitch Engage deserves every bit of the respect, attention and commercial adoration they have been receiving from fans, critics and the media (can you believe they sold almost 40,000 copies on their way to debuting at #21 on The Billboard 200 album chart?). Honestly folks, what more do you really want from these guys? If you don't like The End of Heartache, then you have never been and never will be a Killswitch Engage fan. I'm just amazed that something so popular could also be so good.
Hel's Review:
Two years, one new vocalist, and a dizzying amount of touring later, Killswitch Engage presents us with their newest studio effort, The End of Heartache. I have to admit, I was both looking forward to and dreading this new record. Looking forward, because on the last album, my biggest complaint was the vocalist, and I have determined from their live shows that I like the new vocalist much better, so I found myself curious how it would change my opinion once embedded on plastic. Dreading, because despite the fact that I like the new vocalist better, in the last two years I have witnessed this band perform more times than I have the ability to keep track of. And I must admit, I’m getting a little tired of them, despite the consistently excellent quality of their live performances. So I guess the band really are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
"Killswitch fans will wet themselves when they hear this one." The new vocalist performs both of his roles very well; he is an excellent growler and also brings a new level of melody and soul to the clean vocal sections. He is everything his predecessor was not, as far as I am concerned. The production on the new album is absolutely immaculate, and sounds nothing less than perfect. The musicianship and songwriting are still on par, if not better than on the last effort. The songs are undeniably catchy. There is no doubt that with this record, Killswitch Engage stands poised to complete the conquest of the mainstream audience they have been working on for the last two years. At the same time, they will only more firmly cement the affection their fans already hold for them.
Personally, I am not as blown away by this record as I expected to be, but I am certain that this is the product of my recent over-exposure to the band. After all, I did see them twice in two weeks, and both of those were within the past month. I suppose it is only natural I would be suffering from a little burnout at this point. I once again find myself wishing I could give a half skull rating – this would be a perfect 3.5 – but since I cannot, I will give the album the credit which it is due, and not penalize them a half skull for having been in the right place at the right time too often of late. Killswitch fans will wet themselves when they hear this one.
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