Killswitch Engage: Always – new video & Disarm The Descent – full album stream

The new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE video for ‘Always’ was directed by McFarland & Pecci; the tune itself comes from the group's sixth studio album ‘Disarm The Descent’, still streaming in full here, courtesy Roadrunner Records. ‘Disarm The Descent’, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's first album recorded with original singer Jesse Leach since 2002's genre-defining ‘Alive Or Just Breathing’, sold 48,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week (of April 2013), had debuted at number 7 on the Billboard Top 200, and had peaked at position number 15 in the UK, at position number 17 in New Zealand, at position number 25 in Norway and at position number 48 in Sweden. The album was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and mixed by Andy Sneap. Its cover was designed by the band's bassist Mike D'Antonio, and McFarland & Pecci stand behind KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's first video released in promotion of their sixth effort, ‘In Due Time’. Get your own copy of ‘Disarm The Descent’ here (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE store), buy it on iTunes or from Amazon (or simply visit your local music store):

“Defining the exact shade of ‘Disarm The Descent’s melodic aggression might be splitting hairs, the most important thing for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans is that while the band might be adjusting after a shake-up like losing a singer, they’ve still managed to create another riff-fest that, while not a throwback to their older sound, has them continuing down their current path without much trouble,” [commented Gregory Heaney, AllMusic – more here:]

Formed in Westfield, Massachusetts in 1999 by bassist Mike D'Antonio and guitarist then-drummer Adam Dutkiewicz, along with guitarist Joel Stroetzel and singer Jesse Leach, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE released their self-titled debut album in 2000 through Ferret Music. Its “combination of brutality, sophistication, and breathtaking originality”, apparently captivated people at Roadrunner Records who quickly snapped up the band. Next came the defining moment in metalcore genre history, their 2002's ‘Alive Or Just Breathing’ album:

“Injected into these chaotic hardcore/death metal hybrid songs is an undeniable sense of melody that flawlessly enhances every track, and instead of turning KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's permanent heavy sound weaker, this melodic accompaniment only goes to make you realize how intense and exhilarating the band is when they explode in an inferno of enraged brutality,” [wrote Jason D. Taylor, AllMusic – more here:]

 

Following the release, Leach left the band citing health and personal issues, and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE engaged vocalist Howard Jones with whom they recorded ‘The End Of Heartache’, the first album to feature Dutkiewicz as the lead guitarist and a new drummer, Justin Foley. Issued in 2004, ‘The End Of Heartache’ jumped to position number 21 on the Billboard Top 200 with first week U.S. sales of 38,000 copies, and its title track earning a nomination for Best Metal Performance at 2005's Grammys. In 2007, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America: 

 

Next came KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's fourth album ‘As Daylight Dies’, which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Top 200, selling 60,000 copies within its first week, and which was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2009:

“The songs are dynamite: check the combination of texture, riffs and melody in ‘This Is Absolution’; by the time they get to the chorus, it’s all over; an anthem. The unbridled chaos of ‘Unbroken’ reveals that they haven’t traveled far from their roots; in fact, they’ve dug deeper, if that’s possible, despite becoming better musicians,” [commented Thom Jurek, AllMusic – more here:]

 

The band's highest charting album to date, 2009's (second) self-titled album, debuted at number 3 on Austrian Albums Chart, at number 7 on the Billboard Top 200, at number 12 in Australia and at number 15 in Finland; ‘Killswitch Engage’ had sold over 58,000 copies in its first week. In 2012, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE announced the departure of vocalist Howard Jones due to medical issues as well as due to a “loss of enthusiasm for writing and touring”. Shortly thereafter, Leach has returned as the band's singer, after a decade-long absence: thereafter: 

 

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE features: Adam Dutkiewicz – guitar, Joel Stroetzel – guitar, Mike D'Antonio – bass, Jesse Leach - vocals and Justin Foley – drums