When Killswitch Engage release a song like “Aftermath,” it’s not just another track. It’s a seismic reckoning — the sound of earth cracking under the weight of history, grief, and rage. It’s Jesse Leach standing in the fire of collapse and shouting “Rebuild.” Not as a plea. As a command.
From the moment that guttural first verse drops — “Will we die alone?” — the song digs in. This isn’t the metalcore that chugs and screams for spectacle. This is poetry with blood in its teeth. The riffs from Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel don’t just hit hard — they claw through rubble. The drums aren’t playing a beat; Justin Foley is pounding out a call to arms from a warzone.
But “Aftermath” isn’t just about destruction — it’s about aftermath as process. Killswitch aren’t painting post-apocalyptic wastelands. They’re standing in the middle of one and saying: “You still have a voice. Use it.”
Jesse Leach’s performance is feral yet composed. It’s the sound of someone who has seen what despair can do and decided to fight anyway. His lyrics? They’re not metaphors for heartbreak. They are manifestos for resilience. When he screams “I’d give my life to save you,” it doesn’t feel like performance — it feels like vow.
The video, produced by Good Eye: Music Visuals, could’ve easily drifted into cliché. Instead, it amplifies the devastation and the defiance. The imagery of environmental collapse doesn’t feel like a PSA. It feels personal. Urgent. Real. This is not an artist telling you what to think — it’s a band showing you what’s dying and daring you to do something about it.
And fans? They’re not just watching. They’re feeling it in their bones. The crowd reaction has been immediate and explosive. This isn’t just another heavy song to add to a playlist. This is that track fans will be screaming at the top of their lungs on tour — not because it’s catchy, but because it means something.
On This Consequence, Killswitch Engage aren’t here to relive past glories. They’re doing what legendary bands do: evolving without compromising, confronting the world without flinching, and writing music that isn’t safe — it’s necessary.
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
