''This Consequence'' is the ninth studio album by American

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, and drummer Justin ...

, released through

Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records (often shortened to Metal Blade) is an American independent record label founded by Brian Slagel in 1982 based in the U.S. state of California. The label primarily focuses on heavy metal. History Metal Blade Records was ...

on February 21, 2025. Its release followed nearly six years after their previous album, ''

Atonement Atonement, atoning, or making amends is the concept of a person taking action to correct previous wrongdoing on their part, either through direct action to undo the consequences of that act, equivalent action to do good for others, or some othe ...

—''the longest gap between studio albums in the band's career.

Background

In March 2024, the band's rhythm guitarist Joel Stroetzel stated, "We just finished all the final bits of tracking over the last couple of weeks. So the guitars are done, all the vocals are now done. Everything's there." On November 5, the band revealed the artwork for the album and shared "11/20/24. New music coming. Mark your calendars" on social media. The first single from the album, "Forever Aligned", was released on November 20. Vocalist

Jesse Leach Jesse David Leach (born July 3, 1978) is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the metalcore band Killswitch Engage. He is also a vocalist for Times of Grace and The Weapon. Leach co-founded Killswitch Engage in 1999, but lef ...

commented on the song, stating that it is "one of those songs that is not just about us as humans, our love, and connection, but that connection to the unknown, the greater power, the universe, or God". "I Believe", the second single from the album, was released on January 23, 2025. The band is planning a North American tour in May 2025 to support the album, which will be their first North American tour since 2022. The tour will feature supporting bands

Shadows Fall Shadows Fall is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1996. Although Shadows Fall has experienced several line-up changes, for most of its recording career, Shadows Fall has been composed of guitarists Jon Donais and ...

Fit for a King ''Fit for a King'' is a 1937 American comedy film starring Joe E. Brown and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Plot Newspaper reporter "Scoop (term), Scoops" is sent out on assignment, to investigate the failed assassination attempts on Archduke Jul ...

, Boundaries, Kublai Khan TX, and

Frozen Soul Frozen Soul is an American death metal band from Fort Worth, Texas founded in 2018. History Founded in 2018, they released their debut EP, ''Encased in Ice'' the following year, and their debut studio album ''Crypt of Ice'' in 2021. In May 2023, ...

. In an interview with ''

Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...

'', the band revealed that this was their first album since ''

Alive or Just Breathing ''Alive or Just Breathing'' is the second studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 21, 2002, through Roadrunner Records. ''Alive or Just Breathing'' was Killswitch Engage's first album on Roadrunner and ...

'' in which they all worked together in the same room. Lead guitarist

Adam Dutkiewicz Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz (born April 4, 1977) is an American musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist of the metalcore bands Killswitch Engage, Aftershock (band), Aftershock and Times of Grace (band), Times of Grace, as well as the ...

stated, "While there are still songs written by one band member, we all got to play them together, so if something didn’t feel right for anyone, they could rewrite bits themselves."

Reception

''This Consequence'' was generally well received by critics upon release. Max Heilman of ''

MetalSucks MetalSucks is an American heavy metal music Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a Music genre, genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock ...

'' gave it a score of 4/5 and wrote, "While it’s not about to reinvent the wheel, and might stand in the shadow of yesteryear’s Headbangers Ball staples, this is a fantastic encapsulation of what made this wave of metalcore so special." Writing for ''

'', James Hickie stated, "U.S. metal heroes Killswitch Engage are impressively angry and anthemic – but inconsistent – on ninth album This Consequence." He awarded the album a score of 3/5. ''Angry Metal Guy'' gave it a score of 3.0/5, writing that "the writing is a little too safe at times, and a rather bland production and crushed mastering do no favors" but that "flaws aside, ''This Consequence'' marks a solid, if unremarkable addition to the Killswitch Engage catalog". ''Blabbermouth'' writer Dom Lawson gave it a score of 9/10 and stated, "The greatest bands stay great. ''This Consequence'' is a triumph."

Track listing

Personnel

Killswitch Engage *

– lead vocals *

– lead guitar, backing vocals * Joel Stroetzel – rhythm guitar, backing vocals *

Mike D'Antonio Michael D'Antonio (born May 19, 1973) is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist and founder of the metalcore band Killswitch Engage. He is also the founder and bassist of the bands Overcast and Death Ray Vision. Career D'An ...

– bass *

Justin Foley Justin Foley is an American musician best known as the drummer of the metalcore band Killswitch Engage. He is also a former member of the band Blood Has Been Shed along with Killswitch Engage's former lead singer, Howard Jones. Early life F ...

– drums

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2025 albums Albums produced by Adam Dutkiewicz Killswitch Engage albums Metal Blade Records albums