Killswitch Engage - Alive Or Just Breathing review
| Band: | Killswitch Engage |
| Album: | Alive Or Just Breathing |
| Style: | Melodic metalcore |
| Release date: | May 27, 2002 |
| A review by: | Deadsoulman |
Disc I
01. Numbered Days
02. Self Revolution
03. Fixation On The Darkness
04. My Last Serenade
05. Life To Lifeless
06. Just Barely Breathing
07. To The Sons Of Man
08. Temple From The Within [re-recorded version]
09. The Element Of One
10. Vide Infra [re-recorded version]
11. Without A Name
12. Rise Inside
13. In The Unblind [Japanese bonus]
Disc II [25th anniversary deluxe edition] [re-release bonus]
01. In The Unblind
02. When The Balance Is Broken
03. Untitled And Unloved
04. Numbered Days [demo]
05. Transfiguration (AKA Fixation On The Darkness) [demo]
06. Just Barely Breathing [demo]
07. Fixation On The Darkness [Howard version]
08. AOJB Studio Outtakes
09. My Last Serenade [video]
10. Fixation On The Darkness [video]
11. Life To Lifeless [Live video]
Killswitch Engage belongs to this wave of young bands that don't play in one definite style. You can call them nu-death, but it would not be fair enough. Maybe melodic nu-thrash would be closer to reality. This American band takes its inspiration everywhere, and succeeds in extracting the best essence of all metal styles. Mix grated hardcore vocals, headbanging nu-metal riffs (I can't help becoming crazy on "Numbered Days"), thrash tracks' structure and melodic death fury, shake it all and you get Killswitch Engage.
Even if violence is the main word here, what immediately comes out of this album is its melodic side. Most of the songs have melodic passages going on with a clear voice, as on the single "My last serenade". Listen to the end of "Just barely breathing" or to the instrumental "Without a name" and you will understand these guys are as easy in calm moments as in violent ones. This is confirmed by the vocals: when the singer screams, he REALLY screams (sometimes like Anders Friden from In Flames, sometimes like Max Cavalera), but he is also able to sing with a clear voice. He expresses the two sides of this album: on the one hand unleashed and hateful aggressivity, as if the whole world was against him and on the other hand the beauty of peace and quietness.The singer left the band after this album, so wait and see...
This raw power, this pure energy that give this album its identity are strengthend and emphasized by the very good work of the production. Every instrument has the perfect sound, and I'm not able to find the words to describe vocals. This band has everything to become cult. If you are able to stay still and calm when hearing "Numbered Days" (my favourite...), then you should go for Britney Spears, because you're not a metalhead... "The time approaches" they say... Right. Their time is coming.
Highlights: Numbered Days, My Last Serenade, Just Barely Breathing
Comments
| Mordack Account deleted |
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| Dangerboner Lactation Cnslt Posts: 7262  |
I liked them back in the day, but I recently listened to this album and I didn't get much from it. It's easily their best though. One of the songs on this cd is exceptionally brutal....track 6 I think.
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| AngelOfDisease Posts: 71 |
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| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
Written by AngelOfDisease on 10.03.2009 at 00:11 I'm with you guys. ''Just Barely Breathing'' is by far the best song in this album. Sefl Revolution is also good. But over all this album is just average.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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| Painkiller636 Account deleted |
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| Sery Account deleted |
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| Slayer666 Posts: 2466  |
It's an OK album, but I don't agree with such a high rating. A 8 is way more like it. Also, Numbered Days isn't nearly as good as Collin inflated it, Just Barely Breathing is better.
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| Builtforsin88 Posts: 31  |
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| Tank86 Posts: 1 |
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| Ace Frawley The Spaceman Posts: 1459  |
I think this is the best Killswitch Engage album thus far.
---- The sun shines over The Fool...
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