By James Wright

Not since the label's early inception has Roadrunner Records put out records of pure balls out metal. Killswitch Engage are a return to the heavy days of Sepultura, Obituary, and Carnivore with a sound that's fresh yet as deadly as any the label has ever released. Their debut, "Alive Or Just Breathing", combines elements of metal, hardcore, and death metal to breath life back into a scene dominated by nu-metal imitators. On tour with Hypocrisy and Soilworks is where we found the band to talk about the record, their sound, Roadrunner Records, and living life to it's fullest.

Shoutweb: Killswitch Engage were born from the ashes of the hardcore band Overcast, right?

Mike: Actually Overcast and a band called Aftershock. I was the only member of Overcast but after Overcast called it quits I just tried out for a few bands and everyone was trying to get as technical as possible and I wanted to stay away from that. I wanted to go in the same kind of direction as Hatebreed where it's kind of moshy with shorter songs. I got in touch with Adam who was playing drums for Aftershock at the time and we hung out and we just clicked. We ended up picking up Joel and starting writing a lot more songs as we were doing endless tryouts for singers and nothing was working. It was getting to the point where we thought we might not find anybody then Jesse kind of popped up out of nowhere. After the first song with him we were like, "This is what we wanna do! You're great." That's really how the band started.

Shoutweb: So, it was an instant click with Jesse?

Mike: Absolutely.

Shoutweb: Killswitch is probably the heaviest band that Roadrunner Records has signed since the days of Obituary and Deceide.

Mike: Well, we were really walking on eggshells when signing with them and we'd heard all the stories about what they did to other hardcore bands and all that. We just really made sure the contracts were not going to screw us out of everything we had and ruin us. We got that out of the way and then did the demos for the record and sent them to our A&R guy who was digging it. Basically, we just did a record that they really dig and, fingers crossed, hopefully everything will work out. They say they're going to push as hard as possible and so far everything has gone really well.

Joel: Definitely. They haven't tried to make us go in any direction other than our own. They're not trying to make us a commercial rock band at all and so far they've been really supportive. So far, so good. Jesse and I just went to Germany to do a press tour and that was just amazing.

Shoutweb: What was that like for you? Was it your first time to Europe?

Joel: Excellent time with awesome people. The interview schedule was crazy with about ten interviews a day! We'd do six interviews and then have to hop on a train doing interviews on the train while on way to our next interviews. I haven't been to Germany in about fifteen years, since I was little and on vacation with family so it was kind of like my first real trip over there.

Shoutweb: You mentioned the people at Roadrunner digging your record. Is that what it takes when signing with any label these days? Making them fans first?

Mike: I would say most definitely cause then you get the support you really need. They knew signing us that we weren't going to be this big hit band but they knew that we'd put out a record kids would enjoy. Back in the day, heavy bands were kind of like Roadrunner's bread and butter and that gave them the money to try and get bands like Nickelback on their label. We weren't trying to get tons of money for a budget and I think they say that as a good opportunity to put even more into promotions and getting us tours; things like that.

Shoutweb: Well, back in the day all those bands like Obituary, Sepultura, and Carnivore were the bands that made the Roadrunner label what it is today.

Mike: Well, they've been telling us that they want to go back our way but then again they sign more bands that sound like Nickelback every day so... We're totally prepared to be the only band on Roadrunner who plays crazy metal! There's nothing wrong with that.

Shoutweb: Adam self-produced this record for the band but there had to be pressure from the label to use a big name producer.

Joel: I think they gave Adam a lot of grief over a lot of things as they were constantly calling him, asking questions and just getting on his nerves. I know he was extremely stressed out while making this record and I'm sure he's happy to finally have the record out there. When it came to mixing the record, they weren't ready to committed to having Adam do it himself so they gave us a list of people they would like to work with us and I think Andy Sneap was just the best man for the job. We're all familiar with his work too.

Mike: I think they did that just in case the record wasn't turning out the way everyone wanted. They could take an outside ear and push it in the right direction. In the end, once we got all the raw tracks done, we're were all just so stoked about it and then we took it to Andy and he did a killer job with what we gave him.

Joel: He did wonders for the drums tones. He definitely brought it all together.

Shoutweb: Did you all work directly with Andy Sneap?

Joel: Actually, only Adam went over there and worked with him. We were all just kind of holding our breath waiting to hear the results. (Laughs) It turned out for the best though.

Shoutweb: What has the tour with Hypocrisy and Soilworks been like for you guys?

Mike: I feel like we kind of fit in with the direction the guys in Soilworks are going in with their music. We're metal but we're a bit more hardcore than anyone else on this tour. I think a lot of tours are kind of like this one where they're becoming a lot more diverse in the acts on the bill. There are definitely kids out there who don't wanna hear us play but then there are kids who hear us for the first time and get psyched and those are the ones we're playing for.

Shoutweb: Have you guys had trouble fitting into any one scene in the past? Your music has a lot of different elements in it.

Mike: Well, it has happened before. We played with Cradle of Filth and that was a little bit weird but in every crowd there is gonna be someone who might like your band so you just have to play as hard as possible and throw everything out there.

Joel: With this new record, there are a lot of different things and if people don't like it then they don't like it and there's nothing we can do to change that. We just have to play hard and see what happens.

Shoutweb: Where does the title of the record originate? I know it comes from a line in the song, "Just Barely Breathing".

Mike: Jesse wrote the song, "Just Barely Breathing" and that line just stood out to us as something we all were trying to achieve with the record. It definitely brings together the album as a whole.

Joel: I know from talking to Jesse that he views it as you have people out there who go to their jobs and do the 9 to 5 thing but they're not really paying attention to the world that's going on around them. From what he's told me, he just really wants people to live their lives making the best of every day and try and make a difference in the world. It kind of boils down to are your really living life or are you just breathing in order to get by?

Shoutweb: There are too many people who just live life to work Monday to Friday and have their weekend free.

Mike: They come home from work. They sit in their chair and watch T.V. and then get up and do it all over again. If you're doing that than more power to you but there are a lot of people who do it because they think that's the way life works and they don't know any better.

Shoutweb: This is what you guys have chosen as your outlet but would you have it any other way?

Mike: We made our choices and we all quit our jobs so we can do this. We're ready to rock and roll!

Joel: I think everybody in the band is just ready to do that and we're all adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. We're adjusting to it all with the tour schedule and just going for it.

Shoutweb: What do you hope people listening to the record will get from your music?

Joel: I think there would be a little bit of something for everyone who is a fan of heavy music with this record. There is some metal stuff, some hardcore stuff and a little bit of rock and roll. I think some of the arrangements are quite catchy almost like pop tunes and I would like to open people's minds for those kids who just listen to metal or just listen to hardcore to branch out and listen to other stuff. I would like to be some kind of stepping stone, ya know? (Chuckles)

Shoutweb: I don't know if you can help me with this one or not but just how the hell does Jesse keep his voice from blowing out while on tour?

Mike: (Laughs) Well, that's the scary part because tours so far he's been preventing it but other tours in the past haven't gone so well. He's taken a lot of vocal lessons so that he can do all the screams and growls without blowing out his voice and so far it's been working. We give him a lot of attention and try and make sure that his voice is where he needs it to be. We give him a lot of time and space.

Shoutweb: Well, you guys are in a cramped van like this one while on tour! What's it been like getting a good night's sleep?

Mike: There has been some strenuous drives that are like nine or ten hours but you gotta work hard at anything you do if you want to succeed. I feel like we're laying down the groundwork right now and we've never been on a bus so far so we don't know what we're missing really. Just having things like a T.V. and a Playstation in our van are comforts to us!

Joel: We're quite happy right now!

Shoutweb: A lot of what is out now is geared toward nu-metal bands and your band is very different than any of them. What do you think Killswitch Engage has to offer the nu-metal audience?

Mike: Well, sometimes with the nu-metal kids are kind of force-fed that, with the Korn imitators and things. We feel that we give them something heavier, thicker and more rocking maybe? (Laughs)

Joel: I think we give them an opportunity to hear the underground influences that they may not get a chance to be exposed to. If they don't get a chance to get out to local metal or hardcore shows and be exposed to it then I hope we could give them an outlet for it.

Shoutweb: Does it help when a band like Hatebreed is out there breaking down barriers for you guys?

Mike: Yes! 100%! We're hoping to ride in on that wave as well! (Laughs)

Shoutweb: Finall,y for any hockey fan out there, who's going to win the Stanley Cup this year?

Mike: (Laughs)

Joel: I couldn't tell ya, man! (Laughs)

Mike: Well, what two teams are in it?

Shoutweb: There are four left. Since you're in Toronto you probably want to say the Toronto Maple Leafs!

Mike: Yes, we do.

Joel: They're going to win it! (Laughs)

Shoutweb: Well, thanks a million guys and best of luck to you in the future.

Joel: Thanks man.

Mike: Thanks.