Alive or Just Breathing

Artist: Killswitch Engage
Label: Roadrunner Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Special Edition
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 2

UPC: 016861809720
EAN: 0016861809720
ASIN: B000BEZPJQ

Release Date: 2005-11-01

Alive or Just Breathing

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General

| Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Hardcore

| Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post Hardcore

| Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Progressive Metal

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Tracks:

Numbered Days
Self Revolution
Fixation on the Darkness
My Last Serenade
Life to Lifeless
Just Barely Breathing
To the Sons of Man
Temple from the Within
Element of One
Vide Infra
Without a Name
Rise Inside

Tracks:

In the Unblind [*]
When the Balance Is Broken [*]
Numbered Days [*][Demo Version]
Transfiguration [aka Fixation on the Darkness][*][Demo Version]
Just Barely Breathing [*][Demo Version]
Fixation on the Darkness [*] - Howard Jones, Killswitch Engage
Aojb Studio Out Takes [*][Outtake]
My Last Serenade [*][Multimedia Track]
Fixation on the Darkness [*][Multimedia Track]
Life to Lifeless [Metalfest 2002][Live][*][Multimedia Track]

Similar Items:

The End of Heartache
Killswitch Engage: Set This World Ablaze
As Daylight Dies
Killswitch Engage
The End of Heartache

Customer Reviews:

Pulverizing Masterpiece.......2007-05-19

Despite criticism from many, Killswitch Engage are undeniably an amazingly talented band with something many bands don't portray these days, HEART. The band as a whole pours all their soul, energy, love, emotion, tears, heart, and ambition into the music they produce. What you get in return is perhaps the best music you'll find in the current state of metal. An extremely original band, Killswitch gives the listener a lot to think about and a lot of hope and inspiration amongst "negativity" that many bands spill out. This band plays aggressive, sounds agressive, but yet they are such a positive figure to look upon. The album as a whole is probably one of the heaviest thing sout there as far as sound goes. Speaking of sound, the production values are thick, clean, clear and downright explosive. Adam D. knows exactly what he wants when he produces an album, and his careful tending shows beautifully. Every track is an astouding testament to the talent that each individual unit brings to the table. There are no ego's here, this is a band that simply loves the music, loves the fans, and loves one another. I cannot say enough good things about this band, I cannot say enough good things about this album. I have 2 copies of this album, the standard and the re-released. If you do not already own this, for the love of all that is metal, go out and pick up this masterpiece. This is not only KSE's best album by far, but one of the best albums ever released in my opinion, and from what I've seen, many people's opinion.

One of the Greatest Albums I've Ever Owned.......2006-01-23

Killswitch Engage is one of the greatest metal bands out there, highly influential with their style. They can take any sort of song and make it sound amazing. Their stage presence is unlike anything I've ever seen either, whether it's the comedic theatrics of Adam D., Mike D. throwing his bass every which where, Justin "rocking" his beard on drums, Joel windmilling, or Howard just being...Howard. I love these guys.

The only thing, for all you new Killswitch Engage fans who don't own an album of theirs yet, buy this one first. The End of Heartache is an absolute masterpiece, don't get me wrong...But I'm sorry, Howard on vocals just doesn't match Jesse's. (Jesse is on vocals on the album Alive or Just Breathing, whereas Howard is the vocalist on The End of Heartache, watch their documentary you'll understand). Jesse is so much better in my opinion, and his lyrics are a lot catchier than Howard's. Check this album out first for sure, although both are beyond amazing.

You Need To Own This Album.......2005-11-13

As most people know, Roadrunner Records has been reissuing influential records from their catalogue for the celebration of its 25th Anniversary. It's only fitting that Killswitch Engage's "Alive Or Just Breathing" should be one of those influential re-released albums. Largely responsible for bringing the metal/hardcore hybrid to the mainstream, "Alive Or Just Breathing" is simply one of the best albums I've ever had to pleasure of listening to, and it's one thing to have missed out on listening to it the first time around, but now that most people are getting a second chance (and an extremely good deal at that), there's no real excuse not to hear this revolutionary cd. The re-issue contains a bonus disc with unreleased b-sides and demos from the album, as well as out-takes, and makes the purchase of this album a must for any fan of the band who somehow seemed to have skipped this album in the past.

Killswitch Engage was one of the first bands in the music world to start playing what has come to be known as "metalcore", starting with their humble debut on Ferret records. However when the time came for a second effort, following their move to Roadrunner Records, Killswitch Engage unleashed the monster known as "Alive Or Just Breathing" on us. It's safe to say that anything the band attempted on the first record (Gothenburg influenced metal riffs, heavy breakdowns, trade off screaming/singing) has been absolutely perfected on this release. With Adam moving from drums back to guitar, and original Aftershock (Mike, Joel and Adam's band before KSE) drummer Tom taking his place behind the kit, the band has a much fuller sound. Adam and Joel are free to trade off licks on tracks like "Self Revolution" and "Fixation On The Darkness", while playing deeper tones together on others like "Life To Lifeless". Mike D's bass, and Tom's drumming are also flawless, giving the band the much needed driving backbone that propels "Numbered Days" or "Temple From The Within." Jesse Leach though shines above all others on this release. Like many others I still prefer Jesse to Howard, and really miss the presence he brought to the band. His trademark vocals create beautiful moments on "My Last Serenade" or "The Element of One", where Jesse goes from high pitched shrieks, to deep growls and then instantly into beautifully dynamic choruses. His vocals were often an overlooked aspect of the band, and now that he has departed, you can see the obvious difference it has made in KSE's sound. You may not think that a vocalist who can sing and scream is anything special anymore, but when this album came out, only a hand full of bands were doing it, and it was especially absent in metal. Now it's commonplace in almost all genres. The biggest standout on the album has got to be the semi-title track "Just Barely Breathing" (which seems to be the answer to the question purposed by the album's title "Alive, or Just Breathing?"), which is a hauntingly heavy tune, one minute going from a gloomy driving rhythm, right into blazing guitar riffs and screaming, only to be taken to further heights during the gigantic chorus where Jesse questions "Are we alive, or just breathing?" Jesse's lyrics always added a positive message to the band's music, as can be seen on "To The Sons of Man" or "Rise Inside", whereas most of the band's newer material seems to focus on love or emotional aspects ("Rose Of Sharyn", "The End Of Heartache"). Jesse could write about emotional struggle ("Vide Infra", "In The Unblind") and not make it come off too emo or whiny, but instead about finding true strength in one's self and overcoming your demons. There is not one second on the album that is dull or uninspiring, and this cd easily captures rotation after rotation on my stereo. Everything this cd presented was far ahead of its time, and many aspects are now common trademarks in both the metal and hardcore world. Simply put, this was KSE's shining moment.

The bonus disc is a great addition to any fans collection, but may not necessarily warrant the purchase of the album if you already own the original. You get "In The Unblind" and "Where the Balance Is Broken", two excellent B-Sides from the AOJB recording sessions, and an interlude that would have fit perfectly on the album, entitled "Untitled and Unloved." The other tracks are demos of "Fixation On The Darkness", "Just Barely Breathing" and "Numbered Days", which ultimately got the band its deal with Roadrunner. There's also the verison of "Fixation On The Darkness" re-recorded with Howard's vocals, which is a welcomed addition, as well as some out-takes from the studio which are pretty comical, and shows the band doesn't take themselves too seriously. The bonuses are a great touch if you never owned the original (and indeed this would be the version to purchase if that were the case), but if you already have the previous, you're probably better off just downloading the extra tracks off the internet or something.

Metalcore is a pretty stagnant genre right now, and there's millions of bands doing the exact same thing, and sounding exactly the same. When Killswitch Engage's "Alive Or Just Breathing" was released, it was revolutionary, because the idea of fusing swedish metal riffs, breakdowns, and dynamic vocals had not been done by any other bands. With this release KSE single handedly gave metalcore some respect, and paved the ways for the countless numbers of imitators that have come afterwards. If you've never heard this album before now, I would encourage you to pick this up as fast as possible, because you are really missing out on some truly amazing music, and an album that was truly revolutionary in both the hardcore and metal worlds. So pick this one up and figure out whether we are "Alive or Just Breathing".....

Better than ever, and easily one of the best of the 25th anniversay series.......2005-11-02

In the spirit of the label's anniversary and the upcoming dvd that'll be out this month, it's very appropriate to redo and reissue this album giving it the same awesome treatment as the other reissues they've put out this year. You get of course the entire album remastered, new linar notes and artwork, a bonus cd of b-sides and rarities and all the music videos released for this record. Expect nothing less than great if you're a fan of Killswitch Engage.

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