Killswitch Engage consists of Adam Dutkiewicz (guitar), Howard Jones (vocals), Joel Stroeltzel (guitar), Mike D'antonio (bass), Tom Gomes (drums).
Killswitch Engage is a metalcore band with melodic death metal influences, from Westfield, Massachusetts, USA.
Killswitch Engage's sound mixes crushing riffs, double bass drum patterns, and furious screaming-growling vocals with melodic elements. Their music is heavily influenced by the Gothenburg music scene. A key feature of the band's sound is the use of complex single-note and power chord riffs featuring dual-guitar harmonies, often punctuated with pinch harmonic squeals.
Following the demise of his band Overcast in 1998, bassist Mike D'Antonio trawled the underground Massachusetts hardcore and heavy metal scene in search of a line-up for a new band. In 1999, D'Antonio met Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, Aftershock's guitarists. Dutkiewicz became the drummer, while Stroetzel remained on guitar. The trio searched for a vocalist and eventually hired Jesse Leach, formerly of Corrin and Nothing Stays Gold. The now four member band took the name of "Killswitch Engage", a name proposed by D'Antonio after watching an episode of the FOX television programme The X-Files entitled "Kill Switch" by writer William Gibson after meeting Seattle industrial band Kill Switch...Klick.
While on tour with In Flames, the record label Ferret took notice to Killswitch Engage's aggressive live show. The band then signed with the record label and began recording their debut album.
This and their debut self-titled album was sufficient to earn the band a record deal with Roadrunner Records. Soon after their signing to Roadrunner records, the band decided to become a five piece by bringing in former Aftershock drummer, Tom Gomes. In 2002 they released Alive or Just Breathing, a successful record which greatly increased the band's exposure and placed them on the Billboard Magazine Heatseeker chart. The CMJ New Music Report described the record as "more addictive than crack cocaine that's been smothered in nicotine AND drenched with chocolate."
