Screaming Out

Two years on from returning, and 12 months since unleashing acclaimed Disarm The Descent, existing within the Killswitch Engage fold remains fresh for rejuvenated vocalist Jesse Leach. He also grapples to fully fathom the enormity of it. “I never thought I'd be back,” he humbly gushes. “Then to actually enjoy it as much as I have, it's not lost on me. It's still something that shocks me, the amount of love I have for it; I'll arrive in places across the world and have to pinch myself.”

As documented during the (Set This) World Ablaze DVD, Leach departed the then-rising Massachusetts metalcore outfit following 2002's game-changing Alive Or Just Breathing, citing burnout and the desire to spend time with his new bride. In the meantime, they attained Gold sales, Grammy nominations and undertook numerous world tours. Prior to being re-admitted into the ranks after Howard Jones moved on, Leach managed to get the work-life balance far better in check.

Achieving greater mastery over his instrument has helped establish a mindset that's a far cry from his initial tenure. “Thankfully I regained control of that before rejoining. It's just a matter of knowing your technique and knowing how to take care of yourself. [It's about] knowing to cut back on the partying, staying up late and all those things that can really kill your voice.”

Despite having adapted, the soulful performer isn't taking his other half on tour anytime soon. “No, the road is kinda tough to bring the wife out. Between soundcheck and doing press every day, there's not a lot of free time, and it's a pretty cramped space with a bunch of smelly guys who are farting and burping all the time. So I'd rather just save my money and my time just for when we have breaks. We can do like romantic stuff,” he laughs. “When you're a newlywed, you're madly in love; it's very different from being 12 years on in a marriage,” he adds, laughing again. “And it's a good thing; it's not a negative thing. We've grown up a lot.”

Taking greater care of himself also facilitates the frontman's aspirations of being a multi-faceted artist. He's insistent that Killswitch Engage's parameters don't solely define – or confine – him. “I write a lot on the road, but it's not necessarily lyrics. [It's] just writing in general; whether it's poetry, or my thoughts or anything that sort of strikes me. Just being a writer, I think it's important to capture that stuff. Whether or not you use it for lyrics; I can always go back to notebooks and look at stuff, just exercising my craft. It's important to do that.

“I consider myself more of a poet than I do a metal/hardcore singer. I think I'm first and foremost a poet; I've been writing since I was like 14 years old. But it's not stuff that I would necessarily want to put out in the public. I'd say maybe one-eighth of it is decent enough where I could potentially put out a book. I think I'm a writer first and foremost, and then sort of metal/hardcore lyricist comes after that,” Leach laughs. “I think [publishing a book is] eventually something I'd be interested in. I have an online column as well, and [I'm] getting ready to launch my own website, which will have a lot of my writing on it, blogs and stuff like that. I love writing, it's great. It's a different way to express myself that isn't inhibited by, you know, three- to four-minute songs.”

These aren't the only endeavours in the pipeline. Times Of Grace – a partnership with KSE axeman Adam Dutkiewicz – will continue. “It's just a matter of finding time to do that, but we're not letting it die. The stuff we've already talked about is going to be sort of half-acoustic, and then another half very epic, open, post-metal stuff.” The Empire Shall Fall will also issue new music. “I'm about halfway done [on] an EP with those guys. That's definitely more mathy, really technical stuff. That has got a lot of poetry in it, really strange stories. And I have solo stuff I'm starting to work on as well, so I'm keeping pretty busy,” he laughs.

Maintaining a feverish schedule is as vital as oxygen. “I need it that way. I can't sit still; it's just not in my nature. I have absolute gratitude to anyone who has supported what I do, and supported Killswitch. I'm very blessed to do what I do, and it's all because of the fans and people who support us.”