If it was your first time at a Killswitch Engage show you might think that guitarist Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz was well, a bit “touched”. He is a one man force to be reckoned with, but not what one would typically expect at a metal show, a guy who is often described as ‘liking to take the piss out of things’, a man with a sense of humor. This is a guy who is prone to taking his guitar off to do mid song sprints back and forth the stage for? I’m not sure, but it was great (see pix below). In other words, your eyes lock onto him all the time. From the moment that the Rocky theme song “Survivor” began the set and Dutkiewicz ran out onto the stage screaming and yelling like a teenage girl at a One Direction show, a Killswitch virgin knew this was going to be different than anything they had ever experienced before and…hilarious.
Back with original vocalist Jesse Leach and sounding incredibly powerful and clean at the same time, Killswitch Engage blitzed right into A Bid Farewell from The End of Heartache. This of course is not the first time Pittsburgh has been treated to KE back with Jesse, many of the same fans witnessed the comeback at Metal Hammer‘s “Trespass America Festival” at Stage AE as well a few summers back. But this was an entirely different vibe, and an inside show that was beyond packed and completely sold out. The extreme metalcore/hardcore continued with highlights such as “The New Awakening” and “Turning Point” from new effort Disarm the Descent, “Rose of Sharyn” and “The End of Heartache” from The End of Heartache, and “My Last Serenade” and “In The Unblind” from Alive or Just Breathing.
What makes Killswitch special an so endearing to fans seems to be the versatility within their songs and between their material. But with that, their live show is proof positive that their career has lasted and expanded the way that it has for good reason. Besides the enigmatic performances of Jesse and Adam, Mike D’Antonio (bass), Joel Stoetzel (guitar), and Justin Foley (drums) never stop moving and playing to the crowd making them feel one with the band and part of the performance. This was a true double act with Lamb of God and full set to appease the wall to wall packed in audience who was at a fever pitch during the entire bit from start to finish. Some left scarred, some left shocked, and some left sapped of all energy, but all left bigger fans of Killswitch Engage.
All photos ©2013 AWelding and Pittsburgh Music Magazine
Setlist from setlist.fm