KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Teases New Music and Global Plans After Aftershock
As the dust settles on the electrifying Aftershock festival in Sacramento, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's frontman Jesse Leach has dropped some tantalizing tidbits about the band's future plans. Speaking with Baby Huey from radio station 107.7 The Bone, Leach revealed that the Aftershock performance marks their final American show for the foreseeable future. The metal titans are gearing up for a tour down under, hitting New Zealand and Australia next, with whispers of European festival appearances in the coming year. However, there's no blueprint set in stone yet, as Leach candidly stated, 'So the talk has begun of, like, 'Should we start writing again?' So, we'll see.'
On the musical front, Jesse is itching to push the boundaries of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’s sound. He’s advocating for a brutal return with faster, heavier tracks for their next album, following up on 2025's 'This Consequence'. 'I can have my opinion on what I’d like, but there’s a natural magic that happens when those guys start writing music,' he explained. It’s clear that while he has a vision, the chemistry within the band ultimately shapes their sonic evolution, and he’s ready to embrace whatever that may bring.
Leach also shared that during the recording sessions for 'This Consequence', which produced 14 tracks, four songs were left on the cutting room floor. One of these tracks, 'Blood Upon The Ashes', has already surfaced on the benefit album 'The Dogs Of Hope', raising funds for the Randolph County Animal Shelter. Reflecting on the lost track, bassist Mike D'Antonio lamented, 'Although I was fighting hard for it, this track didn't get the votes to be included in the final, 10-song 'This Consequence' record. So close.'
With the current trend of bands releasing bite-sized EPs rather than full-length albums, Leach is not opposed to exploring this route. 'I think it's actually a really good idea to just knock some stuff out. We've never done it, but we're talking about maybe just doing EPs for fun,' he shared. This could pave the way for quicker releases and keep the creative juices flowing without the pressure of a full album.
As the band reflects on their creative processes, Jesse noted how the songwriting dynamic unfolds within KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Each member contributes their own demos, leading to an organic collaboration that results in a truly collective sound. 'I love watching somebody come with a few riffs and then somebody else has a riff. I like watching that happen,' he said, capturing the essence of their creative synergy. And as the metal world waits with bated breath for what’s next, fans can rest assured that the heart of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE beats on with ferocity.