In the quarter-century since Killswitch Engage emerged from Massachusetts’ fertile metal scene, they’ve become something of an institution. Their ninth album, This Consequence, arrives with the weight of expectation that comes from being pioneers of metalcore – a genre they helped define through landmark releases like Alive or Just Breathing and The End of Heartache.
The band’s return to their original creative process, with all five members writing together in a rehearsal space, promised a return to form after 2019’s uneven Atonement. What emerges instead is an album that, while technically proficient, often feels like it’s running on muscle memory.
Lead single “Forever Aligned” represents the album at its most effective, delivering the kind of melodic artillery that made the band’s name. The interplay between Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel’s guitars remains razor-sharp, while Jesse Leach’s distinctive vocals navigate the terrain between guttural intensity and soaring clean choruses with practiced ease.
Yet as the album unfolds, a nagging sense of familiarity sets in. “Aftermath” and “I Believe” lean heavily on clean vocals but lack the lyrical depth that elevated their earlier work. The production, surprisingly raw for a band known for pristine sound, sometimes works against the material rather than enhancing it.
There are moments when the band breaks free from their self-imposed constraints. “Collusion” builds to one of the heaviest passages in the band’s catalogue, while “The Fall of Us” ventures into deathcore territory without abandoning their melodic sensibilities. “Broken Glass” showcases Leach pushing his vocal boundaries to compelling effect, suggesting what might have been possible if the band had taken more risks throughout.
The album’s broader themes of societal corruption and personal redemption feel particularly relevant in our current climate, but the execution often relies on well-worn metaphors rather than fresh insight. When Leach sings about finding light in darkness or healing from the past, the sentiments ring true but familiar.
Justin Foley’s drumming and Mike D’Antonio’s bass work provide a solid foundation throughout, but even their considerable talents can’t elevate the more pedestrian material. Tracks like “Where It Dies” and “Discordant Nation” hit their marks without leaving lasting impressions.
This Consequence isn’t a bad album by any measure – Killswitch Engage are too skilled for that. The problem is that it rarely transcends competence to achieve the excellence we know they’re capable of. The raw production and occasional ventures into heavier territory suggest a band trying to push themselves, but these experiments feel tentative rather than committed.
For a group that once helped redefine the boundaries of modern metal, This Consequence often feels like a holding pattern. The musicianship remains impressive, the vocals powerful, but the spark of innovation that marked their best work is largely absent. Long-time fans will find enough familiar pleasures to satisfy, but newcomers might wonder what all the fuss was about.
In the end, This Consequence stands as a testament to both Killswitch Engage’s enduring craft and their current creative limitations. It’s the sound of a band who know exactly what they’re doing, but seem unsure of where they’re going next.
This Consequence is released February 21 via Metal Blade Records
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