Emma Talks Nerdy About: Killswitch Engage "Disarm The Descent"

Disarm The Descent album cover

Disarm The Descent is an album that should not exist, in the wake of the departure of lead vocalist Howard Jones whose soaring and powerful vocals propelled Killswitch Engage to metal mega stardom would cause many a band to simply implode, however KsE dusted themselves down, re-recruited old vocalist Jesse Leach and then have proceeded to make their strongest album for the best part of a decade.

Leach was with the band when they gave the US metal scene an almighty kick up the bum with 2002 release "Alive or Just Breathing" when just they were on the cup of breaking into the big time Leach departed the band to deal with a myriad of personal problems. The band then brought aboard former Blood Has Been Shed frontman Howard Jones who stepped in seemingly effortlessly, with Jones the band released their seminal 2004 effort "The End of Heartache" an album of wall to wall anthems. Many fans of the band instantly took to Jones, he is able to combine richness and power in clean vocals and somehow deliver equally stunning screams. However after the meteoric successes the subsequent album releases 2006s "As Daylight Dies" and 2009s "Killswitch Engage" showed a tiredness in the band, it felt like they were treading water and in particular Jones' lyrics became more depressive and lackluster.

Killswitch Engage circa 2013

Cut back to 2013 and Disarm The Descent sees Killswitch Engage returning to the highs to 2004, the track "The New Awakening" has gig anthem written all over it, "In Due Time" is the clear radio friendly single from this album, as off putting as some fans might find this concept it's a great example of the evolution of Jesse Leach's clean vocal skills. For a band mostly known for their melodic, hooky style they incorporate a surprising amount of heaviness in this record. "The Turning Point" is the stand out track here, a super crunchy opening followed by an excellent beat down, the clean Jesse vocals Vs Adam D's growls and clean backing vocals complement each other beautifully, something they rejuvenated in their collaboration in Times of Grace's "Hymn of a Broken Man" Leach brings and audible enthusiasm which Jones lacked after The End Of Heartache.

The band is back to lyrical core of positivity and love that separates Killswitch Engage from other bands, Jesse isn't as skilled a singer as Howard but as the record is an audible return to "Alive or Just Breathing" this addition of rawness and desperation just make the album more effective. Disarm The Descent won't be winning any album of the year awards and anyone picking up this album hoping for a whole new direction for the band is going to disappointed, what this album represents is a solid if not world shattering return to form after two flabby missteps.This albums true strength is that this albu
 m proves that in 2013 the European melo-death influenced US metal still has something relevant to say for itself.