The End of Heartache

The End of Heartache is the third album from Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage. Released on May 2004, the album has reached the number 21 spot in the US Billboard 200. It later on sold enough copies to reach a Gold record award in December 2007. The band received a nomination for Best Metal Performance during the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005 for this album.

Metalcore fans are drawn to Killswitch Engage's focus on making songs with substance and not just relying on a hard rockers image to characterize their band. Excellent song quality assured the success of their 2002 album Alive or Just Breathing. The follow-up effort, The End of Heartache inherits the same qualities with some substantial twists; most notable of which is this is the first album to showcase the talents of new vocalist Howard Jones who replaced previous front man Jesse Leach. Jones toured with the band before the recording of the album thus any doubt as to how his voice will complement the rest of the band is dispelled. Jones is equally talented in both classic singing and roaring hardcore screams, complementing his bandmates' destructive guitar riffs and crushing drumbeats. Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel on guitars, Mike D'Antonio on bass, and Justin Foler on drums complete the band line up of Killswitch Engage.

Overall, the album is an engaging loud mixture of heavy music and screams blended by good melody and intelligent lyrics. The track list of The End Of Heartache is as follows:

"A Bid Farewell" - 3:55

The album gets right on a rocking start with this song. It opens with a deep bass riff and heavy drums immediately followed by a soul-wrenching scream from Jones. Drums and guitars continue to blast through your ears punctuated by more screams in the chorus. A Bid Farewell sets the pace of the album.

"Take This Oath" - 3:46

Songwriting skills delivered in a balanced mixture of instrumental and vocal melody and abrasive vocals continue to the second song of the album. Angry delivery alternates with softer plain singing makes this song easy to follow and sing to. This song also showcases how Jones can easily switch from screaming to singing and back. Former vocalist Jesse Leach can also be heard in this track as he pitched in with the additional vocals.

"When Darkness Falls" - 4:02

When Darkness Falls opens right up with healthy screaming. Heavy guitar riffs accompany the verses but a softer approach is applied during the chorus. This song also strategically uses a moment of silence for added impact. Just into this third song, you will realize as you listen that you're hooked and ride the whole way through the album.

When Darkness Falls was used on the official soundtrack of the Freddy Vs Jason movie.

"Rose of Sharyn" - 3:36

Emotional and sweet, Rose of Sharyn is probably the song that will make that will make the band more accessible to listeners who usually don't listen to heavy metal. Despite this, fans of the band's harder compositions will still like this track. The ballad-like lyrics are still served in the same raw vocals and galloping guitar sound.

"Inhale" - 1:15

Appropriately entitled Inhale, this is a light instrumental break in the middle of the album. Or it could also be a warning for the next track, sort of like a calm before the storm interlude.

"Breathe Life" - 3:18

Heavy, angrily dark, yet having a bit of hopeful feeling at the end, Breathe Life brings the album right back to full force. The dark lyrics are delivered at first in screaming word for word outbursts. Halfway through, a guitar solo is heard, followed by normal singing with some screams until the end.

"The End of Heartache" - 4:58

The title track of this album is both an emotional appeal and a brutal query. It's emotional as a song can be which is no surprise as it is indeed about heartache. The vocals, lyrics and instruments all bring out a perfect expression of misery and regret. Most listeners consider this the best song on the album. This fact could once and for all cement replacement vocalist Jones' status, as he was the one who wrote the lyrics for this song. A slightly different version was released for the official soundtrack of the film Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

"Declaration" - 3:01

The song Declaration starts with a heavy rhythm and later on gets to a faster pace. In this song, the drums stress the earnestness of the lyrics, which some would see as some kind of New Year's resolution anthem.

"World Ablaze" - 4:59

This sermon of a song starts with some slow screams that emphasize the heavy message contained in it. There are fast bass drumming and leaden guitar riffs by the middle before slowing down towards the end.

"And Embers Rise" - 1:11

Another break from raw vocals is given with this light instrumental number.

"Wasted Sacrifice" - 4:18

The song "Wasted Sacrifice" features more fast guitar playing and heavy drumming. This is one of those songs with a message begging to be screamed instead of just sung. Which Jones did in spades.

"Hope Is..." - 4:21

The album ends with a bang with this song. Another exhortation manifested in hearty screams, this is another one of the band's masterpieces where the vigorous guitars and drums blend well with the vocals.

With the album the End of Heartache, Killswitch Engage proves to all that they are at the top of their creativity and skill. All the tracks throughout the album contain their trademark mix of vocal rage, lyrical eloquence, and instrumental harmony.

In 2005, the band released a special edition set of the album containing additional tracks. The tracks featured in the special edition disc are Irreversal, My Life for Yours, The End of Heartache (Resident Evil: Apocalypse version), Life to Lifeless, Fixation On The Darkness (Live version), and My Last Serenade. Rose of Sharyn and a live rendition of A Bid Farewell is included in the MTV2 Headbangers Ball: The Revenge compilation.