KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — As Daylight Dies (review)

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — As Daylight Dies album cover Album · 2006 · Melodic Metalcore Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
topofsm
The 80s brought glam metal, a subgenre abhorred by many fans of metal for its relatively simple compositions and pop stylings. Then the 90s came with a simliarly embarrassing nu-metal, which dumbed down already tame groove metal riffs and put in mainstream rap. Then the 2000s came promisingly enough, but introduced metalcore, which put emo into a mixture of metallic hardcore and light thrash metal, becoming just as ridiculed as the previous two genres. Riding on the success of this wave of popularity is probably the definitive metalcore band Killswitch Engage.

Although they may have hit moments in previous albums such as the much-beloved Alive or Still Breathing, this album shows why many can dislike the subgenre metalcore. Riffs are rather generic, relying on roots of notes and simple chugs and breakdowns, and always going into a singsong chorus more reminiscent of alternative bands like My Chemical Romance and Three Days Grace than anything even related to metal.

There are salvageable parts of the album though. Although far from innovative, the drums are compelling, and the vocalist Howard Jones' singing voice is powerful. The popular single "My Curse" is great when in the melodic sections (which is pretty much all of it anyways). And the closing track is quite good. Both of these tracks are soft and tame compared to most metal, so basically the band is at their best when they're not trying to be metal, as evidenced by weak riffs, pseudo-thrashy feels, and completely conventional songwriting.

For metalcore fans, this may be an obvious pick, though perhaps Killswitch's other albums would be a better starting point. Most metal fans will find better material elsewhere if they wish to avoid the stuff that makes many listeners avoid this genre in the first place.
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