Killswitch Engage – Atonement

Review

"Atonement" kicks open the door with a blast of fury—just listen to "The Crownless King" if you want the textbook on how to marry punishing thrash energy with Jesse Leach’s vicious growls and cleans that’ll slice straight to the bone. Killswitch Engage waste zero time faking subtlety; they smash melody and aggression together until it bleeds. The guitar wizardry from Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel isn’t just background noise—they’re running circles around the genre’s so-called heavyweights, weaving razor-edged harmonies that never feel watered-down. Then, when you think you’ve caught your breath, "Bite the Hand That Feeds" brings crushing breakdowns that stomp the anthem right into your skull.

Sure, "Take Control" drags its heels like a half-asleep pit goer, but the missteps are rare. Leach sounds untouchable here—and you can hear the grit of his comeback pulsing through every chorus. There’s some truth to accusations of predictability; Killswitch Engage doesn’t exactly torch the rulebook this time, but what they deliver is executed with a tightness and fire most bands would kill for. "Atonement" proves these veterans aren’t here to reinvent the wheel—they’re here to flip the damn thing over and remind you who still owns the road. - Blaze