ALBUM REVIEW: Atonement – Killswitch Engage

Whilst KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are credited as being one of the founders of metalcore, the genre has developed and changed considerably since the band roared onto the scene with their self-titled effort back at the turn of the century. For better or worse, metalcore is in a very different state to what it was back in the early 2000s, but KILLSWITCH have remained ever consistent in their output. Now, with Atonement, their eighth effort and third since original vocalist Jesse Leach returned to the fold, the band look set to continue their trademark brand of metalcore which changed the world of metal all those years ago.

Regardless of what side of the fence you sit on with metalcore, one thing is certain with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE; you know what you’ll expect when you hear their records. Infectious riffing, tidy hooks and soloing and a emphatic balance between harsh and clean vocals. Atonement ticks all those boxes and sticks tight to the KILLSWITCH blueprint. Unleashed is the opening number on the record, and is appropriately titled and placed as the band roar into life through delightful riffing from guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, while vocalist Jesse Leach excels with his range of growled and clean vocal deliveries. It’s a solid start to the record and it only goes up from there.

Us Against The World features some tasty lead guitar work from Dutkiewicz and a strong chorus, As Sure The Sun Will Rise is a typical KILLSWITCH ENGAGE banger with thrashing riffs and harmonious twin guitar harmonies in the chorus, and Know Your Enemy‘s high-octane pummelling proves to whip up a frenzy in the album’s second half. Of course, this being a KILLSWITCH ENGAGE record there are a number of more ballad-leaning tracks thrown in for good measure, as per their custom and they do a fine job in showing the melodic edge to their sound. I Am Broken Too is a crooning number in which Leach excels with his passionate vocal deliveries against a backdrop of melodic guitar-play and although it may be more hard hitting than the former, the way I Can’t Be The Only One‘s gorgeous guitar licks play off Leach‘s clean vocals pull on your heartstrings so effectively, you’ll be in buckets.

Another string in their collective bow is the guests that make an appearance on the album. Chuck Billy of TESTAMENT fame lends his trademark growls on the thrashing The Crownless King but the jewel on their crown is The Signal Fire, which features former vocalist Howard Jones. Here, Jones and Leach interchange their vocal deliveries to wonderful effect whilst the rest of the band dispatch a high-octane yet melodic execution. It’s exhilarating to hear the two eras of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE collide and it is as heart-warming as it is spectacular.

At this point in their career, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE don’t need to worry or strive to reinvent their sound; they built their success on consistency. Of course, that comes with the worry that newer output may not live up to the lofty heights of their cherished back catalogue or that it falls short in comparison to the younger generation who are pushing the boundaries of metal to new and exciting places. That being said, that tried and tested formula has worked again with Atonement. This is yet another solid offering from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, one in which serves up a reminder why this band are considered one of the founders of metalcore.

Rating: 8/10

Atonement is out now via Music For Nations.

For more information on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE like their official page on Facebook.