Thursday, February 9, 2012

Killswitch Engage Announce New Singer....



Killswitch Engage’s new singer is their old singer.
The Mass metal monsters parted ways with singer Howard Jones around New Year’s. Rumors were the bands was in the studio recording a follow up to No. 7 2009 hit “Killswitch Engage,” but the rumors were wrong. But now the band is back on track with an old friend.
Original vocalist Jess Leach is back in the fold. Leach sang on the band’s self-titled debut in 2000 and on 2002’s “Alive or Just Breathing.” Leach left in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on “Alive or Just Breathing” has always been revered by
In a statement, the band said:
“After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard’s shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity. Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent.”
The “new” guy himself also commented on his return to the band after a decade-long absence:
“It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the ‘Howard-era songs,’ as well as some Alive or Just Breathing-era songs and we all felt the synergy.”


I'm sooo fucking excited about this. Alive Or Just Breathing is one of my "desert island" albums. When I heard Jesse Leach left the band, I briefly considered trying out for the vacant vocalist spot, before the reality set in that I Can't Fucking Sing.  Howard Jones was a great replacement. He made some killer music with those guys, but there was something missing. After hearing the Adam D./Leach collaboration Times Of Grace, it was clear what was missing. 
I'm psyched. 
Sign me up for this year's New England Metal And Hardcore Festival, where the band (with Leach) will be headlining.

No comments: