I assume if you actually clicked on this review, you are either a Killswitch Engage/metalcore fan, so will forgo the usual metalcore is saturated and KSE is the darlings of MTV 2 spiel and get too it.Despite plying basically the same sound as the previous record and an overall sense of metalcore cliche overload, As Daylight Dies is a stronger record than The End Of Heartache and is an expectedly safe yet solid record from a band that knows their fanbase. The predictable mix of galloping dual melodies, sturdy breakdowns and Howard Jones’ pained rasp and soulful croons in predictable verse/chorus form is all here in all it’s Hot Topic Glory, but nonetheless delivered well and with the confidence of a band that simply understands what metalcore fans want.

Adam D’s production is tangibly stouter than on The End Of Heartache as some of the grooves (noticeably “Daylight Dies”, “Eye of the Storm”, ) are heavier than anything than band has done in part to the afore mentioned production, but the band seems to have made a point to juice up the material a bit. Of course, there’s plenty of cantering, pseudo Gothenburg dual harmonies, cliched soaring vocals (”In The Arms of Sorrow”, “Break the Silence”, “Desperate Times”, “Reject Yourself”), that lyrically are a bit wishy washy, and flocked with orchestration, a few more up-tempo numbers (”Unbroken”, “Still Beats Your Name”, “Reject Yourself”) but also a marked level of classic thrash (”This Absolution”, “My Curse”, “For You”), but as a whole, the album is still very enjoyable for what it is; commercial bubble gum core.

The band at times, seems on the verge of a fully mainstream rock transformation, but are able to deliver the heft at opportune times. However, I would not be surprised to hear a completely clean Howard Jones on the next album.

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