Killswitch Engage are riding a high right now. They just performed their first show back with Jesse Leach, and have announced some killer summer touring plans. It must be a relief for the band now that things are finally progressing, after having to deal with vocalist Howard Jones deciding to leave the band. According to Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D'Antonio, the band knew things weren't working right with former singer Howard Jones right after the release of their self-titled album in 2009. Mike talked with Metal Insider before the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival where he commented on Jones' departure, the search for a new singer, and the return of Jesse Leach. Here is what Mike had to say about Jones leaving the band:
“…I have to ask: at what point did it become apparent that Killswitch Engage was no longer going to move forward with Howard Jones?
When we started writing the new record, there was just no creative juices flowing on his end. And after the last record, we kind of got a sense that things weren’t going right. Then the interim, in between the two years that we had off and writing the new record, it was just not going into the proper direction. We could tell that it was stifled, a very stifled situation. So that’s all I can really say. It was easy to tell.
But the band is still on good terms with Howard.
Yes.”
Speaking of the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest, make sure to check out our massive photo gallery from the festival.
