We had the opportunity to catch up with one of the pioneers of metalcore music, Killswitch Engage, ahead of their mainstage set at this year’s Download Festival. We chatted to Joel Stroetzel about their new album ‘Disarm the Descent‘, what Jessie Leach being back in the band means, and how they alter set lists depending on who is listening.
Check our the interview below:
HTF: Good afternoon, how are you?
Joel: I’m very good
HTF: Enjoying your Download experience so far?
Joel: So far so good haha, so far we’re a couple of hours in.
HTF: Haha, and has it all been press so far?
Joel: A little bit yer. Talking to some folks and seeing some old friends. Gets the day going.
HTF: So you’re playing on Mainstage later, what sort of set are we going to expect?
Joel: We’re trying to do a decent set for you guys. Do a little bit of everything, more so than usual. We have a little bit more time today than we’ve had in the past.
HTF: So are you going to try and put in a fair few songs from the new album?
Joel: I think so, yer.
HTF: How have people reacted to the new album? Have they been reacted as you’ve expected?
Joel: We were just really excited to do it at the time, and we weren’t really sure how people were going to be reacting to it. So it’s been kind of exciting to see, everyone’s been really supportive and the songs tend to go over pretty well live, so for us we’re happy you know, we have newer songs to play and that’s always fun.
HTF: It’s been two years now since Jessie came back into the band, has he bought anything back with him? Much different from before? Or has everything just come together pretty seamlessly?
Joel: It’s definitely been an easy transition, but it’s cool, because Jessie for a long time has just been working in bars, working odd jobs in New York and stuff like that, so he’s obviously really excited to be back on the road, so it’s nice to have somewhat fresh blood in the band. He has a really positive attitude so he’s uplifted everyone so it’s been really cool. Our crusty old men, you know.
HTF: You’ve been called the godfathers of metalcore now, the guys who have pioneered the genre to what it is today. Do you like that tag?
Joel: Well it’s certainly flattering, I don’t know if its necessarily true. There was a lot of stuff like that happening in the North East in the States for years before we started.
HTF: Although people argue that Killswitch is the band that brought it into popularity.
Joel: I guess we were just lucky enough to get noticed you know.
HTF: So it’s not necessarily something you thrive on as such?
Joel: Nah, not really, we just like doing our thing.
HTF: Well you do seem quite laid back about it.
Joel: Hahah that’s flattering.
HTF: Yesterday (13 June 2014), you played Portsmouth with Bury Tomorrow, who just played Main stage, in a tiny venue. A, why so small and B, how sweaty was it?
Joel: Extremely sweaty. We just wanted to do something really small scale, as a warm up show, just went through the set and just one of those meltdown shows really.
HTF: Haha, so how many broken bones in the end?
Joel: Haha no broken bones for us, but for the crowd hopefully none.
HTF: So how many people were packed in there?
Joel: I think it’s only a few hundred people, I mean it’s a small room, but it was fun, a lot of fun.
HTF: Going back a little bit further, you came over here and played a kick ass tour with Trivium. They’re actually playing tomorrow, are you able to stick around, and catch up?
Joel: Can’t stick around tomorrow, myself and Jessie are actually going to London tomorrow, with our manager to go to the Metal Hammer awards, get down some drinks, haha.
HTF: Yer, have a bit of fun.
Joel: Yer should be lots of fun.
HTF: You’re playing This Is Hardcore, in Philidelphia, and you’ve sort of explaned that you were going to try and play a heavier set for the crowd. Do you try and tailor your sets around who you’re playing to?
Joel: Yer, I mean, definitely. At a festival like this, a lot of people want to hear the popular stuff, but I think for the Philly show we’re going to try and bust out some from like the very first record. Some we haven’t played in a few years. So we’ll see.
HTF: So are you going to try and catch anyone else today?
Joel: Yer we’re gonna try and capture some Behemoth if possible, those guys are awesome.
HTF: Well have a fantastic day, and hopefully we can catch up soon.
Joel: Cheers man, appreciate talking to you.
