The Hymn Of A Broken Man

Billed by Dutkiewicz as pushing musical boundaries, Hymn of a Broken Man sadly cannot live up to its creator's hyperbole. If you are familiar with Killswitch Engage then you will be familiar with Times of Grace. Nevertheless, despite its lack of musical depth, it is a very strong effort that smacks of introspection and melancholy but in an uplifting way. And it's great to hear Jesse Leach again, making me hark back to the days of a pre-Howard Jones KSE when they were musically edgier and pioneers of their sub-genre. Dutkiewicz's trademark heavy chops and note-perfect harmonics are still a thing of beauty; the man can write a serious tune, belieing his comical on-stage presence at live shows. Hymn of A Broken Man is almost a KSE album in sound, bar a few tracks, and it is fair to say that it is actually markedly better than their most recent, self-titled release (as of 2011).

The single, 'Strength in Numbers' does remind of the opener from Alive or Just Breathing. It is not as good but still rouses sufficiently and has a great, chant-worthy chorus. 'Fight for Life' is good but not as good as the opener. Another decent chorus but nothing with any great staying power. 'Willing' is another single-like track, formulaic and safe but ultimately hits all the right buttons. It sounds like a sub KSE track but it is still very good. One of the best tracks here is yet another contender for next single, 'Where The Spirit Leads Me'. It is no different in method from the opening track or 'Willing' but has a far stronger chorus and a more purposeful atmosphere. 'Until the End of Days' plods a bit. The verses are quite lovely, utilising a softer, acoustic feel but the screaming chorus grates in comparison. It's been done better before. 'Live in Love' is very KSE-feeling. And as with the good tracks mentioned before it does the job it's been set. Great chorus, rousing guitars and vocals and great melody. The album is then given an intermission with the superb and beautiful 'In the Arms of Mercy'. It's an acoustic instrumental and is indicative of a lot of the segue material from most KSE albums (shock-horror) but it's a lovely tune.

The title track is another winner, again not pushing the boundaries that the writer wants us to believe it does but, nevertheless a great song. It's with 'The Forgotten' when we truly begin to see some of this variety we were promised. It's a folk/blues/indie ballad. It's acoustic. And it's by far the best thing on the album. A proper 5 star effort. 'Hope Remains' then brings it all back to mediocrity. It's good, just not great. 'The End of Eternity' is an instrospective track, the 'shoe-gazer' that Dutkiewicz mentioned. It is a shoe-gazer, as in it is slow and has waves of sound, but it still sounds metalcore and it's still pretty safe. Again, it is ok just no better. 'World's Apart'is another almost-single. It sounds very similar to a lot of the material here and probably could have been shaved. 'Fall from Grace' is a very good closer. It is another slower track but works far better because it has a strong melody.

Very good when you take into account the amount of tracks that are extremely well written and performed. Also extra marks for 'The Forgotten One'. However, it is a shame as it could have been a classic if about 4 tracks had been removed.

If you already like KSE then you'll probably own this. If you are new to the band or indeed the genre then here is as good a place to start as any.

As the drums fade in like the march of a vast army approaching, Jesse Leach provides a stirring short speech reminiscent of such found on `Alive or just Breathing's' `Numbered Days` with a pulsating guitar solo. This time though it is `Strength in Numbers' the first track and single from the album, that he proclaims "we must unite mankind" telling you that the writing material is still the same and so is the fire with which he delivers the message. `The Hymn of a Broken man' sees Jesse, ex-Killswitch Engage front man provide vocals and lyrics for what is essentially Adam Dutkiewicz' baby in Times of Grace. "Uplift my spirit, so I carry on." is beautifully bellowed out in the chorus of a rough, chugging ,riff driven `Fight for life`. Track three is when elements of Killswitch engage creep in, along with the first sounds of sadness and less ferocious vocals amongst a rapid guitar riff in `Willing'. Predictably though the next two tracks fade into a backlog best left for the next Killswitch album. There is no doubting Adam D's writing ability but there is always going to be the same essence in his work that can be likened to past work, with similar chugging riffs accompanied by double bass drums and brief vocals before a chorus, slapped with autotune. The fifth track has to be the least enjoyable, a slow paced, downtrodden verse rings out before a forceful screaming chorus moves in.

Despite the similarities, `Live in Love' is a welcome track after some dismal songs and although it just reinforces the Killswitch stereotype, it's a well made song that will have fans nodding in a agreement, no doubt mimicking the heartfelt "through all your pain, believe in love" later following the same chord/drum progression and tempo found on of `My Last Serenade' or `Element of One', still managing to be a key, almost signature sound and one of the strongest tracks on the album. Again its typical of Dutkiewicz' to include a soulful instrumental, fraught with layered acoustic guitars and a small orchestra, still proving he can come up with a decent track without finger bruising solos or bottom of the stomach growls.

"Why do we live so blind? Like a fallen angels eyes, torn inside. This is the hymn of a broken man." yet more reason to keep track of Jesse Leach and his fantastic lyrics, so well delivered, one minute screaming a demonic proclamation, the next singing a delicate, pure note. Certainly a reason why it takes the honour of being the title of the album. What happens next however is totally unexpected, and is most likely the reason why the album was said to be "An epic mix of Metal/Rock/Pop/Shoe gaze & Punk." A rustic, western acoustic number you'd imagine on a Seamless record, with both artists providing harmonies and without question Adam Dutkiewicz' best vocal performance, along with a really well constructed melody and guitar tab. `Hope Remains' consequently is a track best suited to `As Daylight Dies' as its almost too easy to imagine Howard Jones singing instead, although this is not necessarily a bad song. Unfortunately for the two, they just have to revert back to the beginning of the album with another so-so track in `The End of Eternity'.

Yet again, they save it with two more songs to make you feel good about the last 50 minutes, One with haunting lyrics, a sharp guitar solo and an in tune Leach and Dutkiewicz harmonizing once again - "It's just a moment.. Be reborn" the other spectacular number saved for Adam and the finale to the album. A slight disappointment is that Adam D seems to rely on autotune far too much, producing note changes that just aren't possible for the average voice to produce, which makes it even more noticeable. However, that is a very picky subject by today's standards. Killswitch fans will take to this with relish, as will fans of The Empire Shall Fall, because its got the two ingredients, a fantastic guitarist with one ear for a delightful melody, another for endless arthritic riffs, and a genuinely gifted vocalist and lyricist. They don't break away from the mould very often, but why should they? When they can produce music that you've needed to hear because 1. You wanted another dose after `Alive or just breathing' like a withering crack addict or 2. Your mind has been polluted by the endless drivel played over and over again by British radio stations. Either way, `The Hymn of a Broken Man' should be considered as a well put together effort.

The DVD isn't spectacular but its a nice touch for a decent price. It features all tracks on the album with clips of nature like forests, skylines, fields etc as well as simple scenes with actors. It some of it feels a bit 'art studentish' and its not something you'd sit down and watch, more something you'd put on when you have some friends round, for decent music and some light and crisp imagery. Another plus to the DVD edition is that the CD comes with a bonus acoustic track of "Willing", definitely an interesting take on a roaring song.

First off, I'd like to rant on how this was delivered to me TWO DAYS LATE despite the fact I pre-ordered this time a month and a half before release...seriously I thought Amazon were fast but still =/

Anyway, rant over, down the the meat of things; Times of Grace is the duo of Adam D and Jesse Leach. Now where have you heard those names before? Killswitch Engage, mainly with Jesse Leach being the original vocalist before passing the position on to Howard Jones in 2004, and currently vocalist for The Empire Shall Fall; and Adam D being Killswitch's current guitarist.

Now you're thinking...Killswitch without Adam D!? It's the apocalypse!

Don't worry Killswitch fans, Adam D hasn't left! Beginning this project a few years back, it was something that he wanted to do, along with Jesse, who he contacted and asked to do the vocals. Remember Alive or Just Breathing? The album that launched Killswitch into the big game? Well if you loved that album, then this is the companion album that most diehard fans have been wanting. Don't get me wrong, End of Heartache and Daylight Dies have been two fantastic albums!!!

But are you getting another AOJB? The answer is no; what you're getting here is a mix of Rock, Metal, Punk, Indie and even 'shoegaze'. With soaring guitars, powerful melodies and a nice welcome back to Jesse whose screams dominate the album in places, The Hymm of a Broken Man really shows us how far the boundaries of Metal as a genre can be pushed, and hopefully gives new and inspiring artists a taste of what the future of metal should look like. From the opening "Strength in Numbers" to the darkness of "End of Days", the power ballad that is "Worlds Apart" and the country-esque influenced "The Forgotten One", it's an album thats not afraid to show itself. The bonus DVD is an enjoyment to watch over and over, the beautiful photography is well done and presented.

Without a doubt, if you love Killswitch Engage or any other metal, this is an essential purchase. If you don't like the genre at all however, this album might even change your mind.