At the recent Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, a pivotal moment for the enduring metalcore titans Killswitch Engage, frontman Jesse Leach sat down with Baby Huey of San Francisco’s iconic rock station 107.7 The Bone. The conversation delved into the band’s immediate future, offering a clear roadmap of their touring schedule and a tantalizing glimpse into their creative aspirations. Leach confirmed that Aftershock marked the final U.S. performance for the band for an extended period, signaling a significant shift in their operational rhythm.
"Aftershock is the very last show for us for a long time in the States," Leach stated during the interview, as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET. This declaration sets the stage for a period of international focus for the Massachusetts-based quintet. Their immediate itinerary includes a highly anticipated tour through New Zealand and Australia, a region that has consistently shown strong support for the band’s powerful and emotionally resonant brand of metal. Following this extensive overseas engagement, Leach indicated that their sights are set on European festivals for the upcoming year.
However, beyond these confirmed dates, Leach remained characteristically candid about the absence of concrete long-term plans, a situation that appears to be sparking renewed creative discussions within the band. "And then the only thing we’re looking at now is doing some festivals next year in Europe. But other than that, there’s no solid plan. So the talk has begun of, like, ‘Should we start writing again?’ So, we’ll see. We’ll see what happens. I don’t know." This openness to re-engaging with the songwriting process, without a pre-defined structure or deadline, suggests a natural evolution and a desire to explore new sonic territories organically.
A Desire for Heavier, Faster Territory
When pressed about the potential musical direction for the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2025 album, "This Consequence," Leach expressed a personal inclination towards a more aggressive sound. "I’m pushing for faster and heavier and harder, for fun," he admitted. However, he was quick to qualify this by emphasizing the inherent collaborative and often unpredictable nature of Killswitch Engage’s creative output.
"But you can’t really force that with this band," Leach elaborated. "I can have my opinion what I’d like, but there’s a natural magic that happens when those guys start writing music. So I can have an idea in mind, but when I hear sonically what they’re giving me, I’m usually so inspired by that sound that I’ll write according to what it makes me feel, regardless of my mindset walking into a writing process. So that natural stuff just happens. But in the back of my mind, I’m, like, ‘Let’s go hard and heavy.’" This statement underscores the democratic and often serendipitous process that fuels Killswitch Engage’s music, where individual inspirations coalesce into a cohesive, albeit sometimes surprising, final product. The mention of "This Consequence" as their most recent album provides a benchmark against which future creative endeavors will inevitably be measured.
Unearthing Dormant Tracks: B-Sides and EPs on the Horizon
Adding another layer to the band’s future outlook, Leach revisited a previous discussion from June of 2025, during an interview with Scott Davidson of Chicago’s Rebel Radio. At that time, Leach had hinted at the existence of unreleased material from the "This Consequence" recording sessions. He confirmed that a total of fourteen tracks were recorded, with four ultimately being left off the final album.
"We recorded a total of 14 [tracks], and four [were] left off," Leach reiterated. He provided an update on the fate of these orphaned songs, detailing a strategic release plan. "One got re-released kind of quietly on a compilation to raise money for an animal shelter. It’s on CD now." This refers to "Blood Upon The Ashes," which was featured on "The Dogs Of Hope" benefit album, released in August 2025 via Iodine Records. The compilation aimed to support the Randolph County Animal Shelter in Wedowee, Alabama, and also included contributions from other notable artists such as Snapcase, Orange 9mm, Deadguy, Walter Scheifels, and Testament’s Alex Skolnick.
Leach further elaborated on the plans for the remaining tracks. "And then I think we’re working with the same company again to put one more song out with that. And then the other two we hope to see out in the as a B-side seven-inch." This indicates a methodical approach to distributing these extra songs, offering fans a chance to acquire them through various formats.
The conversation with Rebel Radio also touched upon the evolving landscape of music consumption, with Davidson noting the trend of bands releasing music in smaller, more frequent batches. Leach expressed an openness to this model, suggesting that Killswitch Engage might explore releasing EPs. "I’m also not opposed to doing EPs. I think it’s actually a really good idea to just knock some stuff out," he stated. "We’ve never done it, but we’re talking about maybe just doing EPs for fun. And it makes that whole process of putting a record out quicker."
This approach offers several advantages, not least of which is a more streamlined release cycle. "And we also will write all these songs, and some of them don’t even make it on the record, so why not just focus on five or six of the really good ones and put out an EP or a seven-inch or a 10-inch with exclusive vinyl and fun stuff like that, collectible stuff," Leach explained, highlighting the potential for exclusive physical releases and fan engagement. "So we’re talking about all that fun stuff for the future." This suggests a willingness to experiment with different release strategies, catering to both the band’s creative output and the diverse ways fans consume music.
The Intricate Alchemy of Killswitch Engage’s Songwriting
Delving deeper into the band’s creative mechanics, Leach provided an insightful overview of the Killswitch Engage songwriting process. He described a highly collaborative approach where individual members lay the groundwork before collective refinement. "Everybody does their own demos, between those [other] four guys [in the band]," he explained. "They all submit demos of either just riffs that make sense together or full complete songs with drums and everything. And then everybody sort of picks it apart and works on it together."
This initial stage of individual creation is crucial, allowing each member to bring their unique perspectives and musical ideas to the table. The subsequent collective effort transforms these individual contributions into fully realized songs. Leach expressed a particular appreciation for the spontaneous interplay that often arises during this phase. "I love watching somebody come with a few riffs and then somebody else has a riff. I like watching that happen."
He further elaborated on the tangible benefits of in-person collaboration, recalling a recent experience during the "This Consequence" recording cycle. "In this last recording cycle, we were in a room together jamming. It was, like, four or five sessions of that, where somebody would come with a cool riff, and then you see somebody else’s lightbulb go off on their head, and they’re, like, ‘Oh, I got an idea,’ and seeing it take shape in real time. I love when that happens." This vivid description highlights the energizing effect of musicians feeding off each other’s creativity, a dynamic that has undoubtedly contributed to the band’s consistent quality and evolution.
"Blood Upon The Ashes": A Track’s Journey from Album Cut to Benefit Single
The track "Blood Upon The Ashes," a previously unreleased song from the "This Consequence" sessions, has found a significant platform through its inclusion on the "The Dogs Of Hope" benefit album. Released in August 2025 via Iodine Records, the LP served a dual purpose: raising crucial funds for the Randolph County Animal Shelter and offering fans a glimpse into the band’s creative vault. This charitable endeavor highlights the band’s commitment to social causes, a characteristic that resonates with their dedicated fanbase.
The significance of "Blood Upon The Ashes" was further underscored by Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D’Antonio in an interview with Revolver magazine. D’Antonio described the track as "the one that got away" during the "This Consequence" recording sessions. His sentiment reveals the internal debate and passion surrounding the song’s inclusion on the final album.
"Although I was fighting hard for it, this track didn’t get the votes to be included in the final, 10-song ‘This Consequence’ record. So close," D’Antonio lamented. "I’m really excited for people to hear it ’cause every time I do, there’s regret for not including it on the album. Enjoy." This personal reflection from D’Antonio adds a layer of emotional depth to the song’s release, emphasizing its quality and the band’s internal commitment to it, even if it didn’t make the final album cut.
A Year of High-Profile Tours and Chart Success
The recent past has been exceptionally active for Killswitch Engage, marked by extensive touring and significant commercial success. The band recently concluded a U.S. tour that featured robust support from fellow heavyweights Machine Head, Iron Reagan, and Havok, solidifying their position as a formidable live act capable of drawing large crowds.
The release of "This Consequence" in February 2025 marked their ninth full-length album overall and their sixth with Leach, who rejoined the band in 2012, continuing a successful chapter in their discography. The album’s release was accompanied by a highly successful winter/spring 2025 tour, which saw the single "I Believe" ascend to the Top 10, a testament to the album’s widespread appeal. The band’s prominence was further amplified by their appearance on the covers of prominent music publications such as Revolver and Outburn.
In the summer of 2025, Killswitch Engage embarked on the massive "Summer Of Loud" tour, a co-headlining venture alongside Beartooth, I Prevail, and Parkway Drive. This tour further cemented their status as a major force in the modern metal scene, playing to vast audiences across North America.
Fans were first introduced to the sonic landscape of "This Consequence" with the impactful track "Forever Aligned," swiftly followed by the aforementioned hit single "I Believe." More recently, the band released compelling visualizers for the tracks "Collusion" and "Aftermath," offering fans further engagement with the album’s diverse offerings. This consistent release of new music and accompanying visual content, coupled with their extensive touring schedule, demonstrates a band at the height of their powers, actively engaging with their audience and shaping the future of metalcore. The upcoming international dates and the potential for new material suggest that Killswitch Engage’s journey is far from over, promising more powerful music and captivating performances for years to come.
