On Killswitch Engage's second full-length, Alive or Just Breathing, the band continue to develop the crunchy metalcore sound they established on their self-titled 2000 debut. It's a pure metal album that seems to have ignored any fashionable trends and instead relies solely on skill and experience to sculpt some of the most meaty heavy metal since the glory days of Metallica and Slayer. There's an undeniable sense of melody to these chaotic hybrid hardcore and death metal songs that flawlessly enhances each track, and rather than weakening the constant heavy sound of Killswitch Engage, this melodic accompaniment only helps to make you realise how intense and exciting the band is when they're exploding into an inferno of angry brutality. Killswitch Engage will refresh your memory by including two old favourites, ‘Temple from the Within’ and the must-listen ‘Vide Infra’. Despite the new arrangement, each song surpasses the original, sounding much clearer and deadlier; in this situation, the fluid production has definitely helped to enhance the old melodies. The lyrical content is exceptional, as Killswitch Engage do not travel the tired path of death, destruction and unrepentant negativity, but instead seek to bring the listener to a new level of awareness, delivering a message to treat each other with respect, keep hope alive and strive to make the world a more civilised place to live. This is not your typical metal band; with lyrics like ‘I believe love will win’ from the sensational song ‘Rise Inside’, it is clear that KSE is more than just piercing double bass and agonised screams. Although the band are now under a much more extravagant label, their DIY attitude shines through; in fact, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz took on all the production and engineering duties in addition to recording all the drum tracks on the album, while bassist Mike D'Antonio took the time to put some thought into the album's packaging and art direction. The result is an album that undoubtedly reflects the heart and soul of the band. This professionalism and skill is understandable, as D'Antonio was once the creative force behind Overcast's rise to prominence as one of the best metalcore bands in the underground, while vocalist Jesse Lichborough has been involved in several projects including Nothing Stays Gold and Dutkiewicz and guitarist Joel Strotzel have made a name for themselves in Massachusetts with Aftershock. Alive or Just Breathing shows the band expanding their metal horizons, and manages to put almost every other metal album of the last five years to shame. With this album, Killswitch Engage has transformed from a hungry independent band into a ravenous metal beast that is ready to start devouring everything in its path, and will certainly achieve this and much more in the coming years.
- Jason D. Taylor (allmusic.com)
