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Killswitch Engage – This Consequence Review
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Hailing from the almighty state of Massachusetts (Westfield, to be precise), Killswitch Engage are a cornerstone of the Metalcore genre, and have been a force within the New Wave of American Heavy Metal (not to be confused with the original NWOBHM). Their output has been consistent from their humble beginnings back in the year 2000, and although their output has been limited in recent years, they are back to delivering another helping of the signature sound that they have been honing for 25 years.
To find out more (and you know you want to) feel free to read on!
Killswitch Engage – This Consequence
Release Date – February 21, 2025
Genre: Metalcore/Heavy Metal
Band Line-up:
Jesse Leach – Vocals
Adam Dutkiewicz – Lead Guitar/Production
Joel Stroetzel – Rhythm Guitar
Mike D’Antonio – Bass Guitar
Justin Foley – Drums
Track Listing:
1. “Abandon Us” (3:38)
2. “Discordant Nation” (2:40)
3. “Aftermath” (3:38)
4. “Forever Aligned” (4:06)
5. “I Believe” (3:55)
6. “Where it Dies” (3:27)
7. “Collusion” (3:22)
8. “The Fall of Us” (4:19)
9. “Broken Glass” (2:30)
10. “Requiem” (3:29)
Metalcore icons and Heavy Metal merchants Killswitch Engage are back with This Consequence, their ninth studio album overall and their first since 2019’s Atonement. Despite the over five-year gap between releases, not much has changed in the sound and swagger of the band, lending to the credence than if it isn’t broke, then don’t fix it. On the surface, this sounds like a good idea, and if you are into the band and their message, then you are perfectly okay with that.
While the band may have been near the introduction or, at the very least, what counts as the popularization of Metalcore, they at one point in time helped to invent the wheel. With that in mind, it will not surprise you to learn that they don’t take too much credence to reinvent said wheel, although they leave enough trinkets and tricks to keep things honest. On “Discordant Nation,” the machine gun drum work by Foley helps to create a chaotic and frenzied atmosphere, and on “The Fall of Us,” the band put forward one of the angriest and direct tracks that they have released in some time.
On the flipside of this, lead single “I Believe” evokes the likes of “My Last Serenade” with the melodic sensibility and radio friendliness, while “Broken Glass” sees the band implement a sludge metal sound to their music. And to be honest, it’s a welcome reprieve from how Samey the songs can turn out to be. In fact, if you listened to, “Aftermath,” “Collusion,” and “Requiem,” you would think you were hearing the same song. There is nothing wrong with that, mind you, but with just ten songs on the album, you might yearn for something more creative and different.
Jesse Leach sounds about as good as he can on his vocal delivery, though if I am being honest, he sounds better on tracks like “I Believe,” and “Broken Glass,” as they allow Leach to do more melodic vocals as opposed to the harsh/screams that once caused his vocal cords to blow out. That’s not to say that he doesn’t know how to manage his screams, but they still sound strained in some instances. The guitar work from both Dutkiewicz and Stroetzel is admirable, but it fails to stand out in the grand scheme of things. On songs like “I Believe,” “Aftermath,” and “Requiem,” it seems as if a solo or a breakdown will come, but it never does. The bass work from D’Antonio is serviceable without being standout itself.
With ten songs coming in remarkably close to 36 minutes, it would seem to me that the band would want to pack more into what they offer, what with some more variety and trying different things. Let’s face it, the band is at the point in their career where they can do whatever they want to do, so it is surprising that they decide to skip reinventing the wheel and do what has become expected of them over the years. I guess the best way to sum it all up is, if you like/love what Killswitch Engage have been putting out since Leach returned to the band in 2012, then you will like or love this album. But if you are looking for them to shake it up or change things, you won’t like the entire album, although there will still be tracks that will speak to you.
Recommended Tracks: “Discordant Nation,” “Forever Aligned,” and “The Fall of Us.”
