Jesse Leach recently spoke to Loudwire in regards to the direction of the new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE record, which will be their first release with him since his departure in 2002.
He states:
The recording process was great. I came off tour I was filled with energy, ready to go, we knocked out a bunch of stuff. I had joined the band, the record was there, we’re on tour so I really didn’t have time to write. I took the past two months not only recording but writing so I’m there with an idea, being in the other room writing and going to Adam saying, ‘Here’s my idea I just wrote, what do you think?’ So there’s real spontaneity some of the songs that we just finished up. I had maybe five or six solid ideas when I came off tour and the rest had to be developed as we were recording it. It was exciting but at the same time tough because for me I’m digging deep down into my emotions and my psyche trying to come up with stuff that is honest and emotive and relevant, hopefully for the listener. It’s tiring but well worth, anything that’s worth achieving you got to suffer a little bit for it. I think mentally and spiritually and a little bit physically we were suffering but all of that made for an amazing record that I’m really proud of.”
The music is definitely the fastest Killswitch record ever. It’s very heavy but still maintains the signature Killswitch hooky, melodic stuff there, too. There’s definitely melody attached, but I pulled out some new styles vocally, yelling and screaming and growling and layers and it sounds massive.
He was also asked what the vibe has been working on the new record with the other members. He replied:
These guys have welcomed me back with open arms and just very encouraging and digging the stuff that I’m doing and these guys were just like, ‘Wow! We’re really excited. We feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve been this excited about music,’ and that just makes me feel amazing. It makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
