For those of you who have not yet familiarized themselves, Killswitch Engage surfaced with their self-titled album through Ferret Records. Following the highly acclaimed success of their debut, the band signed with Roadrunner Records and released Alive Or Just Breathing. With the devastating departure of vocalist Jesse Leach followed newcomer Howard Jones vocalist of Blood Has Been Shed. The bands first album which featured Jones as vocalist was The End Of Heartache.

Killswitch Engage has definitely raised the bar with their release of As Daylight Dies. After being addicted to The End Of Heartache I was a little skeptical whether or not they could pull off another masterpiece. Howard Jones does a remarkable job by not only filling in the shoes of Leach, but delivering yet another mesmerizing vocal performance with unforgettable lyrics. With a lineup so versatile there is never a dull moment. For instance, the cover artwork was designed by bassist Mike D'Antonio and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz was at the helm of producing. With the band's secret weapon Dutkiewicz, Killswitch has the upper hand amongst their rivals. As Daylight Dies picks up where The End Of Heartache left off, both albums not only share a lot of similarities, they compliment one another.

My favorite track is the album's first single entitled "My Curse”, which is comparable to their Grammy nominated song “The End Of Heartache”. I actually prefer the music video rendition of "My Curse” better, although many would disagree with that. With memorable tracks like Unbroken, My Curse, The Arms Of Sorrow, and Eye Of The Storm it’s no wonder As Daylight Dies sold nearly 60,000 copies in the US during its first week of being released. Pieced together by the foundation that Killswitch Engage has built throughout the years, As Daylight Dies is simply remarkable, one for the record books to say the least.

Without a doubt, KSE has proven their ability to stand out amongst the competition. Some may wonder without recruiting Jones to replace Leach, would the band still be where they are today. It goes without saying if you found The End Of Heartache irresistible you will find As Daylight Dies astonishing.