KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: Tribute To Ronnie James Dio At "Rock AM Ring" - Video Available!

On the weekend of April 20th, Heavy Music history was written at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts. What exactly took place? Well, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE performed their first show with original vocalist Jesse Leach.

Yesterday (June 1st), KSE performed in front of thousands of fans at "Rock AM Ring" in Nürburgring, Germany. At the end of their performance, the band rocked their own version of DIO's "Holy Diver" in tribute of Ronnie James Dio. Check it out!



Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut 'Alive Or Just Breathing'. Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on 'Alive Or Just Breathing' has always been revered by diehard, longtime KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans.

Here is some additional footage from the bands performance at "Rock AM Ring":









Upcoming Tour Dates:

- 6/8 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Pannonia Fields II (Nova Rock)
- 6/15 Copenhagen, Denmark (Copenhell)
- 6/16 Gothenburg, Sweden (Metaltown)
- 6/22 Milan, Italy @ Arena Fiera Milano (Gods Of Metal)
- 6/24 Dessel, Belgium @ Festival Park ‘Stenehel’ (Grasspop)

Related links:
Official Site of Killswitch Engage

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Comeback Show With JESSE LEACH At The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival - Video Available!

This past weekend, Heavy Music history was written at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival in Worcester, Massachusetts. What exactly took place? Well, KSE performed their first show with original vocalist Jesse Leach. This is what KSE's guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz  had to say about bringing Jesse back into the band.

"Honestly, we didn't want to jump into anything too quickly," Adam told AOL's Noisecreep in a recent interview. "We were in a position where we could take our time and try out as many singers as we wanted. There are a lot of talented singers out there, and we didn't want to rush everything. We ended up mulling it over a bit, and we tried out a few different people.

"When we got back in the rehearsal room with Jesse, it just felt right. He's one of my good friends, and the awkwardness of meeting someone for the first time, and all of that stuff, was gone when he jammed with us again. We also knew what Jesse is capable of, so it just took all of us getting in a room together again to remember how cool it once was. He blew us away."

The band's setlist:

01. Numbered Days
02. Self-Revolution
03. Fixation On The Darkness
04. Rose Of Sharyn (dedicated to ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Howard Jones)
05. This Is Absolution
06. Take This Oath
07. Prelude
08. Vide Infra
09. Temple From The Within
10. The Arms Of Sorrow
11. My Curse
12. The End Of Heartache
13. A Bid Farewell
14. Life To Lifeless

Encore:

15. My Last Serenade
16. Holy Diver (DIO cover)





Upcoming Tour Dates:

- 6/1-6/3 Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park
- 6/8 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Pannonia Fields II (Nova Rock)
- 6/15 Copenhagen, Denmark (Copenhell)
- 6/16 Gothenburg, Sweden (Metaltown)
- 6/22 Milan, Italy @ Arena Fiera Milano (Gods Of Metal)
- 6/24 Dessel, Belgium @ Festival Park ‘Stenehel’ (Grasspop)

Related links:
Official Site of Killswitch Engage

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Welcome Jesse Leach Back & Announce A Series Of Tourdates!

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are pleased to announce that they have filled the singer vacancy in the band and they have done so with a familiar face: original vocalist Jesse Leach.

Leach sang on the band's first self-titled album, which came out in 2000, and on their landmark 2002 Roadrunner debut 'Alive or Just Breathing'. Leach left the band in 2002 and was replaced by Howard Jones, but his work on 'Alive or Just Breathing' has always been revered by diehard, longtime KsE fans. Things have come full circle a decade later, and Leach and the band couldn't be more pleased about this reunion.

The band revealed that Leach auditioned for the job he once held and pretty much blew everyone away and then some. The band stated, "After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage. Our job was to find the best person to fill Howard's shoes: a decision based on talent and not familiarity."

The band further said, "Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions. The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both NEW and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."

The band also is psyched to share the news with fans, saying, "This change is very exciting. We know you're going to love it. This is truly a NEW era in KsE history and it is ready to shred your face off. So, please help us in welcoming Jesse back into the KsE family; he is a rare and great talent, a fact that older KsE fans have known for years. Here is to a killer NEW record and a bright future. The five of us cannot wait to write this record and play shows together and bring that feeling to our fans. It's been far too long."

The "NEW" guy himself also commented on his return to the band after a decade-long absence, saying, "It is a great honor to rejoin my brothers after all of these years. After some discussion and much reflection, it was obvious to me this was the path I was meant to take. We got together and jammed on the 'Howard-era songs,' as well as some 'Alive or Just Breathing'-era songs and we all felt the synergy."

He continued, "I look forward to writing the NEW record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing NEW life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written. It is a NEW chapter of my life filled with NEW and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KsE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."

KsE remain hard at work on their latest album, which follows 2009's second self-titled album.

The band will perform at the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest on April 22, 2012. Leach last performed with KsE in March 2010 in New York City, Clifford Park, NY, and Wallingford CT.

Tour dates are as follows:

- 4/22 Worcester, MA @ Palladium (New England Metal and Hardcore Festival)
- 6/1-6/3 Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park
- 6/8 Nickelsdorf, Austria @ Pannonia Fields II (Nova Rock)
- 6/15 Copenhagen, Denmark (Copenhell)
- 6/16 Gothenburg, Sweden (Metaltown)
- 6/22 Milan, Italy @ Arena Fiera Milano (Gods Of Metal)
- 6/24 Dessel, Belgium @ Festival Park ‘Stenehel’ (Grasspop)

More tour dates will be announced shortly.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is:

- Jesse Leach
- Mike D'Antonio
- Adam Dutkiewicz
- Justin Foley
- Joel Stroetzel



Here is an interview we conducted with Leach earlier this year, as you will see his face kind of confirmed that he would be returning to KSE. Check it out!



Related links:
Official Site of Killswitch Engage

Jesse Leach Returns To His Musical Roots & Rejoins Killswitch Engage!

As previously announced, late last year vocalist Howard Jones decided to resign from his duties as the singer of Massachusetts Metallers Killswitch Engage. Today, KSE posted a NEW group shot of the band and who is on that picture? None other than KSE's original vocalist Jesse Leach who auditioned for the band late last year.

As previously stated, we truly believe that Jesse Leach is the perfect candidate for fronting KSE. Not only does he have the chops, but he is also sounding better than ever. Plus, he knows exactly how things are ran in the KSE camp.

As we all know, in 2010 Leach replaced Jones for a show in New York City, after Jones left the band in the middle of their tour with All That Remains, The Devil Wears Prada, and Dark Tranquility. Leach joined his homeboys and performed with them: 'My Last Serenade,' 'Numbered Days,' 'Self Revolution,' 'Vide Infra' and 'Temple From The Within.' Before the show was over, Leach returned during the night's encore with the band's original lineup, with Adam Dutkiewicz on drums, Joel Stroetzel on guitar, and Mike D'Antonio on bass for three cuts, 'Prelude,' 'Life To Lifeless,' and 'Fixation On The Darkness.' Needless to say the fans went wild and immediately demanded for Leach to return to Killswitch Engage!



Here is an interview we conducted with Leach earlier this year, as you will see his face kind of confirmed that he would be returning to KSE. Check it out!



Related links:
Official Site of Killswitch Engage