And that greatness would be Killswitch Engage's new album, "Killswitch Engage." I pre-ordered the special edition which is due on June 30, but thanks to their listening party Friday it was leaked and I have heard it all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killswitch_Engage_(2009_album)

So basically to start things off if you don't know Killswitch their a kick *** metalcore (basically just have singing half screaming) band that has released 4 albums. The first two "Killswitch Engage" and "Alive or Just Breathing" had vocalist Jesse Leach, but he left and Howard Jones replace him (the black dude on my banner) for the next two albums "The End of Hearache" and "As Daylight Dies" along with their new 2nd titled album "Killswitch Engage"

Not a secret that while I enjoyed Leach, I deffiently prefer Howard as vocalist. This album makes no exception with his great screaming and even more improved singing.

This album they hired a producer instead of producing it themselves, which at first worried me because face it, producers sometimes suck and want the album to be a certain way. And this producer never really worked with screaming.

So while the album is greatly awesome, I did notice less screaming and more singing, which isn't a bad thing but I'd prefer more screaming. While some songs such as "Never Again" feature almost all screamed, "The Return" (which is one of my favorites) and "Take Me Away" feature little to none, rare for a KSE song. So here's a quick track by track breakdown.

1. Never Again - Hardcore loud beginning song, which almost all screamed. 4/5

2. Starting Over - Pretty much my favorite from the album, just basically hard to describe but its just a normal Killswitch song with a good chorus. 5/5

3. The Forgotten - Nothing special, but like most of their songs I like the chorus. 4/5

4. Reckoning - First one I heard of the album, starts out pretty loud with the screaming, still breaks down into singing, but rough singing. 5/5

5. The Return - Basically if your a KSE fan, its like The Arms of Sorrow, a nice slow song up until the end that I really enjoy. 5/5

6. A Light In a Darkened World - Another great, the only one they have played live from the album, but its good and has a great meaning, like most of their songs. 5/5

7. Take Me Away - Another one with basically no screaming, but its still heavier than just soft singing. Still makes a good song. 5/5

8. I Would Do Anything - Hard to explain, I guess I'll say its a normal song of theirs but I like it more than 4 stars. 5/5

9. Save Me - Not really special here, I guess it just doesn't appeal as much as others. 4/5

10. Lost - Along with The Return and Starting Over, my favorite from the album. Not super heavy and not super soft, literally does the singing/screaming at the same time thing. 5/5

11. This is Goodbye - Good song to end the album with, pretty heavy compaired to some songs from the album. 5/5

Haven't heard the bonus track "In a Dead World" but I can wait until June 30. But overall the albums a solid 9/10 which is good, its just a little different from the vocal and drum wise.

The End of Heartache ranks a great 9.5/10

As Daylight Dies has a 8.5/10 (has some of their best songs but overall not as good as the others)

Then for their first two albums I dont want to judge because I rarely listen to them.

5 Favorite Albums of 2009 so far:

1. Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage

2. Wrath - Lamb of God

3. Carver City - CKY

4. DevilDriver - Pray for Villains (also leaked, comes out July 14, I pre-ordered also)

5. Chimaira - The Infection

Also good is Mastodon's Crack the Skye, God Forbid's Earthsblood, and Hatebreed's cover album For the Lions.

And Im still waiting for Bullet for My Valentines new album, Slayer's new album, Godsmack's new album (mabye 2010), Five Finger Death Punch "War is the Answer", and 3 Inches of Blood "Here Waits thy Doom"