In the past twenty years, Killswitch Engage has delivered music that has made us headbang and made us cry at the same time. They have perfected the formula we all know and love as metalcore with classic albums such as Alive or just Breathing, The End of Heartache and more. It is not just their signature sound of pure heaviness and hypnotic melodies, but it is their ability to relate with people. Their sound combined with the lyrics of Jesse Leach is able to represent the constant battle of darkness and light within every human mind and heart. They are a band that can be there for you during your moments of triumph, or moments of despair. They are a band that can share your joy during the greatest times, and your pain during the hardest.

With their newest album Atonement, they took their signature formula and said anything that has not been said before. No emotions or abilities were held back and no punches were pulled.

The opening track for Atonement was the first single that many of us hear, Unleashed. It is a very mid tempo and mysterious track that is very melodic, has a nice tame start to slowly lead you into this album. Having the bridge of heavy elements with some screams and heavy riffs and double bass, and combining it with the melody and harmonies of Jesse’s voice, it is the perfect way to lead you into this album. Perfectly polished in its sound, but completely raw with emotion. It is a clear representation of what is in store without giving too much away.

Next we get a track that many fans were looking forward to. The Signal Fire which features their former vocalist, Howard Jones. Were we going to get a combination of the classic sounds of Alive or Just Breathing combined with The End of Heartache? NOPE! We go from one extreme to the other for the second track. It picks up full speed and aggression showing the extremes of both Howard and Jesse. Once the clean melodic vocals kick in, rather than one just simply taking the spotlight, they harmonize together. It is a clear representation of their friendship and how they work together. This super aggressive track with these melodies and harmonies give the song a sense of power and unity. This is further demonstrated with guitar soloing utilized in hear which basically the melodic nail in the coffin. This is a track that is so short but says so much.

Track three titled Us Against the World, is melodic and powerful. It shows an optimistic side of Killswitch with a full range in Jesse’s clean vocals that is able to uplift any spirit. It is catchy and has that great emotion that further signals unity and brotherhood. It has power, melody and the effect of any anthem that one can celebrate in their victories.

The Crownless King which features Chuck Billy of thrash legends Testament comes next and if you want to talk about combining two styles, here you go because what you see is what you get, a metalcore legend with a thrash legend. All the aggressive tendencies of Testament and Killswitch Engage are utilized in here. Any melody that is utilized in here is mainly in the instrumental section while that brutality in this track remains consistent. This is a track that pulls no punches.

I Am Broken Too, which was the second single that was released is the next track. Even though many fans heard it before, I cannot stress enough on the importance of this song. The lyrics and vocal melody that supports it along with the emotional and somber instrumentals is a clear representation on Killswitch’s ability to write so well, but write in a way that can relate to many fans. While this track is slower and all singing the entire way through, it still pulls no punches with the emotion and subject matter that it addresses. Jesse is really able to tell fans with his music that they are not alone and the music video for this track further instills this. You can experience this at their shows for sure, but even if you listen to this album alone in the dark, you will also obtain that feeling.

We go from one extreme to the other again with As Sure as the Sun Will Rise, and this is as classic of a throwback as you can get. The classic formula of a brutal verse combined with a powerful and melodic chorus. It is super fast and brutal and powerful all at the same time.

The next track Know your Enemy continues the momentum from the last track but multiplies it over and over. The savage brutality does not hold back. Once this track starts, don’t even blink because you will definitely miss something.

Take Control is the next track that has a nice tame and tender start to it, and once it kicks in, Jesse’s clean voice combined with the riffs of Adam D and Joel, there is a lot of groove that makes it very catchy and a fun listen. Just when you thought you had a clear idea of what is in store with this record, they utilize a ton of groove and soul with their sound to blow any expectations away.

Ravenous later follows and hits you square in the face by unleashing an intense scream right in your face. With that being said, it is fair to say that while it utilizes the signature sound and formula we all know and love, it is definitely the most experimental track on the record. In just three minutes you get many different structures, effects and emotions, almost bridging everything we have seen thus far on the album.

The next track is one of the longer songs on the record, I Can’t be the Only One. We have a very slow and atmospheric and practically melancholy buildup to it before anthem guitar soloing and riffing leads you into the first taste of clean singing. While it picks up in tempo and even has its heavier tendencies, like I am Broken Too, this can be considered an anthem or a ballad. It is powerful, emotional and unifying.

We conclude this album with the final track. Bite the Hand That Feeds. The final track on the album is the longest, and also arguably the heaviest. It is Killswitch basically saying anything that was left unsaid in the album! Heavy riffs, blast-beats and screaming from start to finish. It has a great hardcore and teeters on the lines of being melodic death metal. The final minute of this track ends it with simply fading away into the distance as a sonic farewell to this emotional masterpiece.

In conclusion, Killswitch Engage is able to use many different sounds to capture many different emotions, create many different atmospheres and relate to many different people. While they do have a formula that works for them, there is so much they can do and every album they have put out has always left listeners wanting more. Jesse’s vocal abilities combined with his lyrics are able to hit the listener in their heart and mind and tell listeners that it is not about how we fall, it is about how we rise again. Adam D’s songwriting abilities and his style of production is a beating heart in the Killswitch Engage catalogue that showcases his ability to evolve and maintain a structure at the same time. Joel’s melodic guitar riffs and solos have just as many sides as the vocals do and even if he were to do an instrumental album, it would not lack in emotion in anyway shape or form. No Killswitch album would be complete without the hand of Mike D with both his rhythmic and melodic style of bass as well has his hand creating the artwork that we all know and love. Justin’s ability to maintain rhythm on the drums and create many different tempos that leave a listener in constant suspense is something truly remarkable.

In the end, all you need to say is, Killswitch Engage and while you may have an idea of what you are getting into, you will still always be pleasantly surprised.

Atonement is out 8/16 via Metalblade Records