Killswitch Engage – Spring 2025 Tour

Photography and writing by Thom Hooper

Celebrating 25 years of relentless energy and genre-defining metalcore, Killswitch Engage’s 2025 tour is a testament to the enduring legacy of the band. With a lineup featuring the crushing sounds of Kublai Khan TX, the melodic intensity of Fit For A King, and the brute force of Frozen Soul, the night was set to be a truly memorable experience.

Frozen Soul opened the evening with their signature death metal onslaught, setting a formidable and devastating tone. Their icy riffs and guttural vocals resonated with the crowd, proving why they’re a rising force in the metal scene.

Fit For A King followed, delivering a set that blended melodic hooks with heavy breakdowns. Their performance was both emotionally charged and sonically powerful, captivating the audience in attendance from start to finish, causing onslaughts of crowd surfers throughout their set.

Kublai Khan TX took the stage next, unleashing a truly ferocious hardcore assault that the band has become known for. Their raw energy and unrelenting aggression ignited the pit, causing a continuous circle pit for a large duration of their set, leaving no doubt about their prowess.

As the lights dimmed, anticipation built for the main event.

Killswitch Engage emerged to a thunderous roar, launching into a set that spanned their illustrious career. Frontman Jesse Leach’s vocals were a masterclass in versatility, seamlessly transitioning between melodic passages and visceral screams. The setlist, a meticulously curated journey through their discography, featured timeless classics alongside captivating new songs from their latest album, “This Consequence.”

Killswitch Engage exuded an undeniable chemistry, with guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel delivering intricate riffs and harmonies, while bassist Mike D’Antonio and drummer Justin Foley provided a thunderous foundation. The band’s consistency over the decades, despite lineup changes, including lead vocalists, has been a remarkable feat.

Leach’s return to the band has been nothing short of triumphant. His unwavering passion and authenticity breathed new life into their performances, reaffirming their status as pioneers of metalcore. The seamless integration of material from both the Leach and Howard Jones eras underscored the band’s commitment to their legacy and evolution. Notably, this event transcended age demographics, appealing to parents introducing their children to music they cherished, to younger adults experiencing songs for the first time, and to older attendees reliving songs that uplifted everyone present.

This tour transcends mere celebration of Killswitch Engage’s past; it boldly proclaims their present and future. Their unwavering dedication to their craft and fans solidifies their legacy as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

Frozen Soul