Track Listing

1. Numbered days
2. Self revolution
3. Fixation on the darkness
4. My last serenade
5. Life to lifeless
6. Just bareley breathing
7. To the sons of men
8. Temple from the within
9. Element of one
10. Vide intra
11. Without a name
12. Rise inside

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34079 in Music
• Released on: 2002-05-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
'Alive Or Just Breathing' is the second album from Americanband Killswitch Engage, and follows on from their debut self-titled album which was released in 2000. Their subtle use of melody is combined with the intense sound of metal, and hardcore, with influences of roots reggae.

Customer Reviews

Pretty Essential Metal...That Is Far From Pretty
The world of Thrash and Metal have been waiting for something like this for a long time...

Killswitch Engage are, for once, a band that are everything they're cracked up to be. They display signs of the legendary, Slayer, Metallica, and incorporate it into their own black-metal sound, that strangely, your Sevendust loving little brother could enjoy...

The songs at first seem odd...quite a few are surging slabs of metal, which are not only neck breaking, but have a vocalist that, as I read it, ''spits lava'' and he does. It's that vicious. But what makes them more interesting, is that unlike their contemporaries, they do show signs of hope lyrically, such as ''fulfilling your destiny'' as such like. And it actually sounds refreshingly...fresh. Sure, it has that old school metal way about it, but there's a lot new to hear here. It's also interesting how when you think they couldn't get any more brutal, the chorus kicks in, and on many songs that means a melodic break, which enthralls you all the more. Big hit, ''My Last Serenade'' is the finest example of big, big riffs with a melody filled chorus.

So for old school metal there is still life in the old dog, and Killswitch Engage are it. They might not be convincing to look at, but they have Pantera's intensity, Slayer's huge riffs, and Metallica's sheer blood pumping exhileration. It's an essential purchase for any metal enthusiast, or for anyone who has a hole in their hard rock collection under 'H'. 'H' for Heavy as Hell.

5 Stars.

Killswitch At Their Best
"Alive or Just Breathing", the 2nd album from KSE was sadly the last recorded with their singer Jesse Leach before he left the band because of depression. The vocals on their latest record "The End of Heartache" (by Jesse's replacement Howard Jones) are no match for those on "Alive or Just Breathing". I'm not saying Howard is a bad singer, it's just that Jesse's voice is more suited to this type of singing. Also, Howard's lyrics are somewhat 'softer' than those written by Jesse as Howard tends to write about love and heartache whilst Jesse doesn't.

Kilswitch are metalcore, there is no question about that and can sometimes sound similar to other metalcore bands such as "As I Lay Dying" and "Caliban" at times. However, Jesse's original sounding voice and their crushing guitar riffs help them keep one step ahead of the competition. Unlike Killswitch's previous self-titled album, they now have added melodic choruses to the mix but still manage to keep the songs heavy enough for fans of this genre.

The CD has 12 tracks (track 11 being a 1:45 long filler) and each one will blow you away. Track 8 "Temple From Within" and Track 10 "Vide Infra" are remastered versions from their debut self-titled album, although these versions are good they don't seem to have captured the magic of the old songs and I think it would have better if they had not remastered them. The first track "Numbered Days" bears a distinct resemblance to Caliban's "The Beloved & The Hatred" in musical terms although not lyrically, nevertheless it is still a great opener to the album. It's very difficult to choose the best songs as they are all amazing but here goes...

Best Tracks:
Track 1: Numbered Days
Track 3: Fixation on The Darkness
Track 4: My Last Serenade
Track 8: Temple From Within

The artwork for this album, as with all the KSE albums is of a very high standard so album collecters will be pleased. I highly reccomend you buy this if you are a fan of metalcore.

Aliver or just amazed?
All I have to say about this album is....well no words can describe it. This is one of the finest albums RoadRunner Records have released in a long while. The vocals range from angry screams and growls to amazing singing. Jesse (vocals) has got the voice to take this band far...but its a shame that he couldn't. the new singer Howard...yea hes good .... but hes no Jesse.

The guitars on this album are very good, thrashing out all sorts of riffs and squeels. The drumming goes so well with the whole sound, offbeat sumtimes and pure speed at other times. A real great blend.

Stand out tracks are, well....all of them, i realy can't say what my favourites are, all the songs are amazing in their own way. You must buy this album to agree with me, if u already have it then you must know what Im goin on about. I cant give 6 stars tho so im havin to give 5. BUY IT !!!