Howard Jones-VOCALS

Howard is the band's new vocalist, replacing Jesse Leach in July 2002, shortly after the release of Alive Or Just Breathing. Only a week after joining the band, Howard played his first Killswitch show at Hellfest in Syracuse, NY, immediately convincing thousands of fans that he was the right man for the job. Howard originally made a name for himself as lead singer for Connecticut's brutal metalcore act Blood Has Been Shed. Despite Howard's full-time role in Killswitch, Howard continues to front BHBS whenever there is downtime from his repeated viewings of Simpsons reruns. In fact, Howard secretly wishes he was Homer Simpson.

Adam Dutkiewitz-GUITAR

Adam is the band's secret weapon. Prior to playing guitar, Adam was the original drummer for Killswitch Engage. In fact he played drums on both the Ferret album and on Alive Or Just Breathing. Adam is also an accomplished producer who has produced every Killswitch album to date. Some of his production credits include >From Autumn To Ashes - "Too Bad You're Beautiful", Every Time I Die - "Last Night in Town", and The Agony Scene - s/t. Prior to Killswitch, Adam played guitar in Aftershock. But the real reason Adam is in Killswitch is that he lost a bet to a voodoo bitch; if he quits, his head will shrink. Adam's real passions are for game shows, beer, and hot wings.

Joel Stroetzel-GUITAR

Joel is a founding member of Killswitch Engage and the band's stellar lead guitar player. Both he and Adam attended Boston's highly acclaimed Berklee School of Music. Joel resides in Westfield, MA, the band's home base, and provides a practice space in his basement when the band is not on tour. Prior to Killswitch, Joel played guitar in the Massachusetts metal act Aftershock along with Adam and former Killswitch drummer Tom Gomes. But like every Superman has its kryptonite, Joel's biggest vice is food, and when not on stage, he can usually be found in the dressing room devouring snacks, munchies and assorted treats.

Mike D'antonio-BASS

Mike came up with the name Killswitch Engage and is one of the founding members of the band. Prior to Killswitch, Mike played bass and was the principal songwriter for the highly influential Massachusetts metalcore act Overcast. Mike is also an accomplished graphic artist and designs all of Killswitch's album artwork and merchandise. His company DarkicoN design boasts clients such as Shadows Fall, Unearth, Ferret Music, Lifeforce Records and The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.

Justin Foley-DRUMS

Justin is the newest member of Killswitch Engage, joining the band upon Tom Gomes departure in October 2003, just in time for the MTV2 Headbangers Ball Tour. Along with Howard, Justin remains a member of Blood Has Been Shed in his downtime, where he gained a reputation as a powerful, dynamic and technically proficient drummer. Prior to BHBS Justin played in Connecticut's jazz metal act Red Tide. Justin earned his masters degree in percussion at the highly acclaimed Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT after earning his undergraduate degree in percussion from the University of Connecticut, and continues to perform with various Connecticut symphonies when not on the road. If Justin wasn't playing drums, he would be trying out for the New York Yankees.

Killswitch Engage have not merely become standard-bearers for GENERATION HEAVY. With The End of Heartache, the standard has been pushed aside. Trampled. Heavy music is, once again, re-ignited by a band unafraid to rewrite the rules of the game.

It's all happening just as they've become reenergized themselves, with new blood in the band, critical raves that soar above mere hackneyed "acclaim" and a hard-earned reputation as one of the genres best live acts (stemming from awe-inspiring showings on last summer's Ozzfest second stage and the fall of 2003s MTV2 Headbangers Ball tour). "(Ozzfest) was definitely an experience," wisecracking guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz says with typical understatement. "I got a wicked farmer's tan and was drunk by noon most days. The response was so good, it was stupid!" "You never get used to the fans chanting, it's amazing and embarrassing at the same time," new vocalist Howard Jones relays with genuine humility. "You just want to call your Mom and be like, 'Listen!'"

Alive or Just Breathing, the band's Roadrunner debut was called, "more addictive than crack cocaine thats been smothered in nicotine AND drenched with chocolate by CMJ New Music Report and was a signpost on the bands musical journey toward their third release, The End of Heartache. The high-flying guitar histrionics and unbridled rage on Alives track, My Last Serenade was balanced by soaring choruses and a clear handle on melody that the band takes steps further on the new album.

The title track is an unabashed monster of a song, different than anything the band has ever written. Its epic drive nearly crosses the border into power-ballad territory. "Rose of Sharyn" is an anthem that's heavy in the most non-traditional of senses, building with dynamic energy into a crescendo with a chorus that is perhaps The End of Heartache's biggest reward. "When Darkness Falls," heard during the closing credits of Freddy Vs. Jason, was the first song Jones ever wrote with the band and falls right into place on The End Of Heartache. With "Breathe Life" he delivers a heartfelt optimism that really makes the track pop with, "breathe life/ for you are not alone/ breathe life/ inside your heart of stone."

The current version of Killswitch is rounded out by original members Mike D (bass) and Joel Stroetzel (guitar) and new drummer Justin Foley. Foley comes to the band via Jones and his other current project (Blood Has Been Shed). All the members of this band bring to it a respectability and integrity that collectively has made a mark on bands throughout the heavy music scene. Bands like THRICE cite Killswitch as an influence in their liner notes, guitarist Teppei Teranishi saying I remember I wrote both those riffs on days I drove to practice listening to Killswitch Engage it shows I guess, referring to his bands track Under A Killing Moon.

Mike D designed the albums cover, which proved to be the guiding force for the bands songwriting. "The covers of all the albums are just reflections of my everyday life," he says. "I had this idea when my personal life was at its lowest point. I worked and reworked many times over, but it was mostly finished last April."

On The End of Heartache, Howard Jones makes it abundantly clear that he was the best choice to take the frontman slot, thereby enhancing the band. Howard shines as a frontman and that in turn gives the rest of us in the band a bit more confidence," Adam declares. "Now there can be more antics and stupidity on stage!" Their newly brewed chemistry was put to the test during the album's grueling recording sessions, during which Adam did double duty - already a well-established producer, in addition to his axe-wielding duties he took on the reigns behind the board. "It's the hardest thing to do because I'm playing too, it's a real roller coaster," Adam says.

"Writing this record was much more stressful than the last," Stroetzel adds. "Trying to write and tour at the same time was a