Atonement
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| Studio album from Killswitch Engage | ||||
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Publication |
16th August 2019 |
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| Label (s) | Columbia Records | |||
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Title (number) |
11 |
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running time |
39 min 1 s |
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Atonement ( . English : Atonement ) is the eighth studio album of American metalcore - band Killswitch Engage . The album was released on August 16, 2019 via Metal Blade . The song Unleashed was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best Metal Performance .
Emergence
In August 2017, the band began work on a new album. There were demos created before further in October 2017 jam sessions followed. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz incorporated more elements of Thrash Metal into the new material to prevent the band from repeating itself. In April 2018, work on Atonement had to be interrupted after singer Jesse Leach had to undergo an operation on his vocal cords . Rehabilitation and lessons with a singing teacher followed. Leach says he can now "sing better and scream better" than ever before.
There was another delay in the summer of 2018 after the band received an offer to tour with Iron Maiden . According to Adam Dutkiewicz, his band "just couldn't turn down" this offer. Meanwhile, singer Jesse Leach suffered from writer's block , which led to further delays. The album was produced by guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. The band recorded 17 and 18 songs for the album, as never before. Of these titles, eleven were ultimately used for the album. Jesse Leach did not rule out a publication of the remaining songs, especially since some of his favorites are among the titles not considered.
Two guest singers can be heard on the album. On the one hand, Howard Jones , who was the singer of Killswitch Engage from 2002 to 2012, can be heard on the song The Signal Fire . Chuck Billy of the band Testament appears on the song The Crownless King . Dutkiewicz called Chuck Billy's contribution a great honor, as all members of Killswitch Engage are big will fans. The album cover was designed by Richey Beckett. In June 2018 the band signed a new record deal with Metal Blade Records in North America and Columbia Records in the rest of the world.
background
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The title of the album is intended to express that everyone should "be honest with themselves and tackle the things that concern them". Jesse Leach added that people "should stand up for what they do". Adam Dutkiewicz added that Atonement is not a classic concept album , but the subject of atonement or the reparation of mistakes would "run like a red thread through the lyrics of the album".
The song The Signal Fire deals with topics such as cohesion and solidarity. For Jesse Leach, the song is a call to all of humanity for more compassion and understanding. One should hold up hope in dark times and help the people who urgently need help. Leach got the inspiration for the lyrics when he heard the music of the band Light the Torch , the band of guest singer Howard Jones. Both musicians have become close friends in recent years and both suffered from mental illness.
The song I Am Broken Too also deals with the subject of mental illness. Jesse Leach wants to achieve with the text that the listener can feel the urgency of the topic. Those affected by the topic should realize that they are not alone. The band donates part of the proceeds from this song to the Hope for the Day organization from Chicago , which is active in the field of suicide prevention.
reception
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Chart positions Explanation of the data |
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The German magazine Metal Hammer named Atonement album of the month. Lothar Gerber spoke of a surprise, since the last albums "hardly caused a stir". Singer Jesse Leach has rediscovered his voice through his vocal cord surgery, while guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz “hasn't been so liberated and delivered at such a high level for what feels like ages”. Gerber rated Atonement 5.5 out of seven points. Ronny Bittner from the German magazine Rock Hard described Atonement as "not only the most balanced, but also the most thrilling KSE album of the recent past" and rated the album with 8.5 out of ten points. Yan Vogel from the online magazine laut.de was more critical . The band would have “lost the danger”. The quintet “just stops, recapitulates the best memories and cultivates contacts. Quasi the Instagram of metalcore ”. With the song Ravenous , the band would have achieved a genre highlight.
Atonement rose to number eleven in the German album charts, number nine in the Swiss and number 16 in the Austrian album charts. In the United States and the United Kingdom, the album was # 13 each. In addition, the single I Am Broken Too was # 36 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs . The song Unleashed was nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance , but the award went to the band Tool .
Atonement II B Sides for Charity
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On May 1st, 2020 the band released the EP Atonement II B Sides for Charity . This EP contains six songs that were written and recorded for the album but didn't make it onto the album. The entire proceeds of this EP will be donated by the band to the COVID-19 Relief Fund of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy .
Initially, the EP will be available exclusively through the Killswitch Engage Bandcamp site. A week later, the release takes place on their record label Metal Blade Records.
Individual evidence
- ↑ TOOL, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, DEATH ANGEL Among GRAMMY AWARDS Nominees. Blabbermouth.net , accessed November 21, 2019 .
- ↑ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Is 'Cranking Out' Demos For Next Album. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 30, 2019 .
- ↑ a b c d Matthias Weckmann: Magical Assholes . In: Metal Hammer , September 2019, page 70
- ↑ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's JESSE LEACH Is 'Singing' And 'Screaming' Better After Vocal Cord Surgery. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 30, 2019 .
- ↑ a b Buffo: Iron Maiden are to blame . In: Rock Hard , September 2019, page 46
- ↑ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Bassist Says Group Completed 17 Songs For Forthcoming Album. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 31, 2019 .
- ↑ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Signs With METAL BLADE RECORDS And COLUMBIA / SONY MUSIC. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 30, 2019 .
- ↑ Watch JESSE LEACH And HOWARD JONES Face Off In KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'The Signal Fire' Video. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 31, 2019 .
- ↑ Video premiere: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'I Am Broken Too'. Blabbermouth.net, accessed August 31, 2019 .
- ↑ Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US
- ^ Lothar Gerber: Killswitch Engage - Atonement. Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 31, 2019 .
- ^ Ronny Bittner: Killswitch Engage - Atonement. Rock Hard, accessed August 31, 2019 .
- ↑ Yan Vogel: Killswitch Engage - Atonement. laut.de , accessed on August 31, 2019 .
- ↑ KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Releases 'Atonement II B-Sides For Charity'. Blabbermouth.net, accessed May 1, 2020 .