Long-running Massachusetts metalcore act Killswitch Engage suffered a blow last month when it was announced that they had parted ways with singer Howard Jones, but it looks as if the group have already rebounded from the shake-up by rehiring their former frontman, Jesse Leach.
A press release from the band confirms that they've once again hooked up with the screamer, who helped form the band in 1999. The reunion marks the first time Leach has performed with the group since exiting in 2002.
"After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage," the band said in a statement.
While Leach's presence will be familiar to the troupe and makes for a relatively easy transition, they claim that their decision was on "talent and not familiarity."
"Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions," they continue, adding that he performed material from the Jones era, as well as tunes from his old days in the band (he exited after the release of 2002's Alive or Just Breathing). "The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."
Leach's realignment with his bandmates isn't exactly unexpected -- he and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz recently teamed up as Times of Grace -- but the singer seems genuinely excited to start anew.
"I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written," he said. "It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KsE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."
Killswitch Engage are still prepping the follow-up to their self-titled record from 2009.
A press release from the band confirms that they've once again hooked up with the screamer, who helped form the band in 1999. The reunion marks the first time Leach has performed with the group since exiting in 2002.
"After much deliberation and careful consideration, we are pleased to announce that Jesse Leach has rejoined Killswitch Engage," the band said in a statement.
While Leach's presence will be familiar to the troupe and makes for a relatively easy transition, they claim that their decision was on "talent and not familiarity."
"Truth be told, Jesse blew us away in auditions," they continue, adding that he performed material from the Jones era, as well as tunes from his old days in the band (he exited after the release of 2002's Alive or Just Breathing). "The room seemed charged with electricity. He commanded both new and old material, and proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted to do this. The choice became very clear and apparent."
Leach's realignment with his bandmates isn't exactly unexpected -- he and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz recently teamed up as Times of Grace -- but the singer seems genuinely excited to start anew.
"I look forward to writing the new record, since the demos sound absolutely amazing, as well as breathing new life and getting comfortable with the soulful songs Howard has written," he said. "It is a new chapter of my life filled with new and exciting challenges. I will give all that I can to honor the position I have been given and take nothing for granted. I will sing every note with all of my soul. I am very blessed and very thankful to be back in the KsE family! All things happen in their due time and now is the time for this reunion and new direction."
Killswitch Engage are still prepping the follow-up to their self-titled record from 2009.