Album Review: Killswitch Enagage - This Consequence
Reviewed by Tim Finch
An opening barrage of drums greets the listener as ‘Abandon Us’ starts playing. The opening track on ‘This Consequence’ the new album from Killswitch Engage swiftly sets out the bands stall. The new record is the outfits ninth full length opus and demonstrates a maturing, but no less aggressive sound.
The three time Grammy nominated outfit return five and a half years after ‘Atonement’ was released with an album that they have poured their hearts and souls into. Jesse Leech comments “'This Consequence', to me, is the combination of everything the past five years has thrown at us as a band, as humans, and society as a whole”. A sentiment you can feel dripping from every note, every lyric.
As the album opens up ‘Aftermath’ kicks in, the point where you can hear the maturity of the bands song writing flowing forth. All the key elements of Killswitch Engage remain yet the way the song is constructed, its sequences, its tempo changes all highlight a band, much like a fine wine, getting better with age.
‘Forever Aligned’ is an abrasive number, the gatling gun drum into feeds into an aggressive song with technical guitar segues, scorching vocals dispatched into the listeners ears perfectly. ‘Where It Dies’ has an anthemic, fist pumping quality to it. The dirty, catchy riff repeats over and over, pulling you in as your neck grows sore from banging your head in unison to the beat.
‘Collusion’ keeps us on a dark heavy path, yet in contrast ‘The Fall of Us’ is outright nasty with a wicked death metal styled riff and Leech’s vocals becoming bestial at points.
As Killswitch Engage albums go, this one is right up there. Yes they have developed their sound, but there is enough for the old school fans to fully buy into whilst the expansion of their sing writing opens ‘This Consequence’ up to bring in a swathe of new fans.
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