Single Review: Killswitch Engage - Strength Of The Mind - 2015

Genre: Metalcore

Country; USA

Year: 2005

A few weeks ago, Killswitch Engage released their new single titled “Strength Of The Mind”. KSE is one of the most important bands in the Metalcore scene, so we wanted to give a brief look to this new song.

After the return of Jesse Leach James as vocalist in 2012, we were very excited about a new album release. However, “Disarm the Descent” was a big disappointment. The composition was dull and predictable because of the lack of any innovative idea. The audio was also unimpressive, as well as the lyrics. However, we weren’t too worried at that time because we knew that Jesse was participating principally as vocalist and not as composer, due to its late inclusion in the producing process. Then, we had just to wait for the true next KSE album, finally the sequel of one of the best albums of all times, “Alive Or Just Breathing”.

Too bad for us, this new single isn’t what we were expecting. It closely trails the style shown in the last album and it doesn’t bring anything original or brilliant. It follows the classic pop song structure, it has the usual melodic metalcore vocals dynamic, the audio lacks deepness and strength, the chorus isn’t catchy and the riffs aren’t powerful enough. The result is boring up to the point that’s very hard to remember this song. Really, we just finished listening to it a fifth time and yet we can’t retain any melody of it.

Overall, this new single feels generic and unimpressive. It’s like the band has been recycling melodies and lyrics over and over again, since their album “The End of Heartache”, until only this undistinctive conjunction of sounds remains. How much more juice can KSE squeeze from this Metalcolre formula of theirs? Not too much, it seems. 

And about the lyrics... again that self-aid crap? 

It’s very frustrating to see that KSE won’t deliver again what its fans have been waiting for so much time. It seems that there is no turning back for the band in this path towards mediocrity. 

By the way, if you didn’t know, Jesse’s side project “The Empire Shall Fall” is far better than this shit. Their two released works may be the only spiritual successors of Alive Or Just Breathing.

Rating: 5/10

Single Review: Lindemann - Praise Abort - 2015

Genre: Industrial Metal

Country: Germany
Year: 2015

Tracklist:

1. Praise Abort

2. Praise Abort (Clemens Wijers Remix)
3. Praise Abort (Ostblockschlampen Remix)
4. Praise Abort (Hedberg & Larsson Remix)
5. Fat (Jonas Kjellgren Remix)
6. Fat (Oliver Huntemann Electronica Mix)

Till Lindemann and Peter Tägtgren (ex Hypocrisy singer), released the first single from their new Industrial Metal band “Lindemann”, titled “Praise Abort”. As a former Rammstein fan I can’t help to say a few words about this song.

To begin with, I want to point some similarities with Rammstein. First, and as you may have already noticed, the cover reminds to one of Rammstein’s albums, “Mutter”. Second, it sounds like a Rammstein’s song. Third, it replicates the same formula used in the single “Pussy”, in lyrics, composition and instruments. So, if you haven’t listened to Rammstein, this may be a good chance.

The song itself isn’t bad, but it’s unremarkable despite of being catchy. The composition is the one of any pop song, and the instruments are the same ones of any mediocre industrial band. The participation of Tägtgren doesn’t bring anything new or good and the video sucks like the song does.

The Single comes with 5 more awful songs that happen to be remixes from “Praise Abort and Fat”, another piece (of crap surely) coming in the band’s next album.

Rammstein has lost its shine since their third album “Mutter” and it seems that this is NOT a comeback.

Rating: 4/10