LIVE REVIEW: Killswitch Engage @ O2 Academy Birmingham

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have made their return to the UK for a nostalgic trip down the glory days of early 2000’s metalcore that possibly shaped your teenage or young adult years, with support from TENSIDES and REVOCATION.

German natives TENSIDE kicked things off with an exciting off-the-wall performance to an already packed out Academy room. Rooted in their metalcore sound, TENSIDE felt like an obvious fit for the show but exceeded expectations by pouring every ounce of effort they could into their set and carrying a charming, humble personality with them on stage that made it hard to stray your eyes away. Their sound is a hybrid of early metalcore that leans into its melodic front with its guitars and vocals but doesn’t stray away from some gritty breakdowns, making it a more refreshing taste of the modern style for the older crowd who seemed pleased as they headbanged along to every song.

Rating: 7/10

REVOCATION carried through the night, trading metalcore-esque chugging breakdowns for their signature death metal sound that featured canorous guitar solos and some gritty death growls that reached into the pits of hell and spewed all kinds of chaos amongst the crowd. Their stage rapport was unprecedented, frontman David Davidson dominated the stage, calling for “the biggest circle pit ever” and unleashing chaos in the crowd in the most amusing and exciting way. Their gloriously fast pace rhythms and guitars set the pace for the night and left a surge of energy buzzing around the room. Definitely a lively awakening for anyone in the audience who hadn’t yet tuned in.

Rating: 8/10

As the atmosphere thickened into a musty sweat and exhaustion from all those moshpits, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE sliced through the room as frontman Jesse Leach emerged on to the stage, engulfed in a sea of chants and hollers from an overly excited crowd ready to wreak havoc. Starting out with Unleashed and dropping some beloved bangers like A Bid Farewell and Holy Diver, the American metalcore piece left no stone unturned with their efforts in a memorable performance. With frontman Leach being a natural charismatic, it was easy to appease fans who seemed to scream for every single sentence he said on stage. The band collectively worked together to make this performance their best, with an honorary nod to Guitarist Joel Stroetzel who gnawed at every last riff, burning guitar licks through the floorboard that gave callbacks to the beloved early 2000 metalcore stylings.

With a career spanning over 20 years, the trials and testimonies of life can sometimes burn out even the best of bands. It leaves room for hesitation “have they still got it? Will people still show up?” But along with their ability to change in modern times, what truly defines KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is the fan devotion that’s carried them through the past 20 years of success and arguably might carry them through another 20 years. Metalcore isn’t what it used to be but the band have stayed afloat from their devoted fanbase who were decked out in their merchandise, wrapping themselves around the venue twice over two hours before the show. 

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE have expanded into a nostalgic dream of what shaped the early 2000-2010 era, and their shows are an example of that. The band have managed to sustain a successful career based on their devotion and talents built into to their craft. Their astonishing live performances make it hard to stand still and their crowd devotion makes you feel like you’re a part of something bigger. It was a nostalgic roller-coaster of all emotions and something that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans old and new will find enjoyable.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Birmingham from Damian John Photo here: