Disarm the Descent

Vocalist Jesse Leach stated about the album that "It is with a grateful spirit that we prepare for this record's release". "From the music, to the lyrics, to the artwork, we are all proud of what we have accomplished. To me, this is by far my best vocal performance, much thanks to Adam's guidance and faith in my abilities. I am very grateful to be where I am in life, back in an amazing band with a record we are all excited for the world to hear. Thanks to all the fans for their warm welcome back and their undying love for Killswitch Engage."{{cite web|title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE: 'In Due Time' Lyric Video Released|date=February 6, 2013|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185871|publisher=BlabberMouth|access-date=February 16, 2013|archive-date=April 13, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413162909/http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185871|url-status=dead}}

The album was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and mixed by Andy Sneap.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=184500|title=Killswitch Engage: New Album Details Revealed|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 7, 2013|accessdate=January 7, 2013}} The album's artwork was created by bassist Mike D'Antonio and his graphic design company DarkicoN.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185557|title=Killswitch Engage: New Single 'In Due Time' Available For Streaming|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 30, 2013|accessdate=January 30, 2013}}

Jesse Leach stated in an interview with Loudwire that "the music is definitely the fastest Killswitch record ever, it’s very heavy but still maintains the signature Killswitch hooky, melodic stuff there too. There’s definitely melody attached but I pulled out some new styles vocally, yelling and screaming and growling and layers and it sounds massive".{{Cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/killswitch-engage-singer-jesse-leach-discusses-upcoming-album-tour-with-shadows-fall-more/|title = Killswitch Engage Singer Jesse Leach Discusses Upcoming Album, Tour with Shadows Fall + More|website = Loudwire| date=November 21, 2012 }}

Drummer Justin Foley stated in a documentary, detailing the making of the album, that his drumming parts features more blast beats than the other previous albums.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

The album's first single, "In Due Time", was digitally released on February 5, 2013, and was made available for streaming on the band's YouTube channel on January 30, 2013. On February 27, 2013, the music video for "In Due Time" premiered on Rolling Stone{{'}}s website.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/killswitch-engage-strike-a-balance-in-due-time-premiere-20130227|title=Killswitch Engage Strike a Balance 'In Due Time' - Premiere|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|date=February 27, 2013|accessdate=February 27, 2013|archive-date=February 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228015550/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/killswitch-engage-strike-a-balance-in-due-time-premiere-20130227|url-status=dead}} On March 18, 2013, Killswitch Engage unveiled a second song from the album, titled "The New Awakening", on their YouTube channel.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/lzRGcNPqTeg| archive-date = December 11, 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzRGcNPqTeg| title = Killswitch Engage - The New Awakening | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} On March 26, 2013, Killswitch Engage allowed the completed album to be streamed online for 48 hours.{{Cite web |url=http://www.frontarmy.com/music/uk-ireland-exclusive-stream-the-new-killswitch-engage-album/ |title=UK & IRELAND EXCLUSIVE: STREAM THE NEW KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ALBUM - FRONT – the funniest, sexiest magazine on Earth | FRONT – the funniest, sexiest magazine on Earth |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329093508/http://www.frontarmy.com/music/uk-ireland-exclusive-stream-the-new-killswitch-engage-album/ |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/exclusive_stream_killswitch_engage_new_album_disarm_the_descent|title = Exclusive: Stream Killswitch Engage new album, 'Disarm the Descent'|website = Alternative Press|date = March 26, 2013}} A Special Edition version of the album, with alternate cover art, is also available digitally and on physical CD/DVD.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/disarm-descent-special-edition/596457047|title=Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent (Special Edition)|work=iTunes|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=February 6, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/killswitch-engage-disarm-the-descent-cd-dvd.html|title=Killswitch Engage - Disarm the Descent (Special Edition CD/DVD)|work=Roadrunner Records|publisher=Warner Music Group|accessdate=February 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411133833/http://store.roadrunnerrecords.com/killswitch-engage-disarm-the-descent-cd-dvd.html|archive-date=April 11, 2013|url-status=dead}} The DVD contains a thirty-minute documentary detailing the making of the album.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/disarm-the-descent/killswitch-engage/critic-reviews|title=Disarm the Descent - Killswitch Engage|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=June 17, 2013}}

| rev1 = About.com

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/killswitchengage/fr/Killswitch-Engage-Disarm-The-Descent-Review.htm|title=Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent Review|publisher=About.com|first=Chad|last=Bowar|accessdate=June 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425014818/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/killswitchengage/fr/Killswitch-Engage-Disarm-The-Descent-Review.htm|archive-date=April 25, 2013|url-status=dead}}

| rev2 = Allmusic

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/disarm-the-descent-mw0002485227|title=Disarm the Descent - Killswitch Engage|website=Allmusic|first=Gregory|last=Heaney|accessdate=June 17, 2013}}

| rev3 = Altsounds

| rev3Score = {{rating|9|10}}

| rev4 = Blabbermouth

| rev4Score = {{rating|8.5|10}}

| rev5 = Decibel

| rev5Score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite journal|last=Dick|first=Chris|title=Killswitch Engage, Disarm the Descent|journal=Decibel Magazine|date=May 2013|issue=103|page=94}}

| rev6 = Exclaim!

| rev6Score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite magazine|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Metal/killswitch_engage-disarm_descent|title=Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent|magazine=Exclaim!|first=Bradley|last=Zorgdrager|date=March 29, 2013|accessdate=June 17, 2013}}

| rev7 = Kerrang!

| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal | url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/disarm-the-descent/killswitch-engage/critic-reviews | title = Metacritic Kerrang page | date = April 6, 2013 | accessdate = February 26, 2014}}

| rev8 = Metal Storm

| rev8Score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite web |last1=Train |first1=Dane |title=Killswitch Engage - Disarm The Descent review |url=https://metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=11722 |website=Metal Storm |access-date=February 9, 2025}}

| rev9 = PopMatters

| rev9Score = {{rating|8|10}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/169971-killswitch-engage-disarm-the-descent/|title=Killswitch Engage: Disarm the Descent|magazine=PopMatters|first=Dean|last=Brown|date=April 2, 2013|accessdate=June 17, 2013}}

| rev10 = Sputnikmusic

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | url = https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55979/Killswitch-Engage-Disarm-the-Descent/ | title = Review Killswitch Engage Disarm the Descent Sputnikmusic | last = Gerhart | first = Thompson | date = March 26, 2013 | accessdate = February 26, 2014}}

}}

Critical reception for the album was highly positive; aggregate review website Metacritic assigned an overall score of 79 out of 100, based on reviews from six professional critics.

Gregory Heaney from Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars saying "In the time since Leach left the fold, Killswitch Engage have matured into a tighter, more refined band than they were for Alive or Just Breathing, and while Leach has certainly grown as a singer in the intervening years, the album doesn't quite recapture that sense of catharsis the band possessed back then." Dean Brown from PopMatters gave the album a solid eight out of ten stars saying "Disarm the Descent is the bountiful fruit of the Killswitch’s rejuvenation, and proof that, in life and metal, there are second chances."

The album sold 48,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week,{{cite web|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=188566|title=KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's 'Disarm The Descent' Cracks U.S. Top 10; Headlining Tour Announced|date=April 10, 2013|publisher=BlabberMouth|access-date=April 20, 2013|archive-date=April 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415081343/http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=188566|url-status=dead}} debuting at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 in both the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and the Top Rock Albums Chart.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-04-20/billboard-200|title = We're No. 1! 'Billboard #1 Gospel Hits' Debuts Atop Gospel Albums Chart|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-04-20/hard-rock-albums|title = Top Hard Rock Albums|magazine = Billboard}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2013-04-20/rock-albums|title=Top Rock Albums|magazine=Billboard}} The album has sold 158,000 copies in the US as of February 2016.{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229094809/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate= February 29, 2016 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}

The album debuted at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/killswitch%20engage/|title=Killswitch Engage UK album chart|website=OfficialCharts.com|accessdate=April 23, 2013}} and number 6 on the ARIA Chart. Its current UK sales stand at over 83,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-adele-s-25-holds-on-to-top-spot-despite-sales-dip/064355|title=Official Charts Analysis: Adele's 25 holds on to top spot despite sales dip|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=March 18, 2016|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|accessdate=March 18, 2016|url-access=subscription }}

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Killswitch Engage

| total_length = 40:40

| title1 = The Hell in Me

| length1 = 2:57

| title2 = Beyond the Flames

| length2 = 2:53

| title3 = The New Awakening

| length3 = 3:30

| title4 = In Due Time

| length4 = 3:18

| title5 = A Tribute to the Fallen

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = Turning Point

| length6 = 3:12

| title7 = All We Have

| length7 = 3:20

| title8 = You Don't Bleed for Me

| length8 = 3:20

| title9 = The Call

| length9 = 2:50

| title10 = No End in Sight

| length10 = 3:29

| title11 = Always

| length11 = 4:33

| title12 = Time Will Not Remain

| length12 = 3:13

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title13 = Blood Stains

| length13 = 3:21

| title14 = Slave to the Machine

| length14 = 3:07

| title15 = Numbered Days

| note15 = Live 2012

| length15 = 3:45

| title16 = My Curse

| note16 = Live 2012

| length16 = 3:53

| title17 = The End of Heartache

| note17 = Live 2012, Japanese edition bonus track{{Cite web|url=http://a-files.jp/killswitchengage-disarmthedescent.html|title = KILLSWITCH ENGAGE New Album 『DISARM THE DESCENT』 RELEASE | A-FILES オルタナティヴ・ストリートカルチャー・ウェブマガジン|date = March 13, 2013}}

| length17 = 4:54

| title18 = Vide Infra

| note18 = Live 2012, Japanese edition bonus track

| length18 = 3:49

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Vinyl bonus track

| title13 = Always (Acoustic Version)

| length13 = 3:46

}}

;Killswitch Engage

• Jesse Leach – lead vocals
• Adam Dutkiewicz – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Joel Stroetzel – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Mike D'Antonio – bass
• Justin Foley – drums

;Technical personnel

• Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz
• Engineered by Adam Dutkiewicz & Jim Fogarty
• Mixed & mastered by Andy Sneap
• Inspiration by Alysha «Girouard» McCooe
• A&R by Dave Rath
• Art direction, Layout & design by DarkicoN Design
• Photo by Jeremy Saffer & DarkicoN Design
• Band photo by Travis Shinn
• Cover model: Brenna Daugherty
• Make-Up, Model: Christine McCarron
• Stylist, Wardrobe: by Lena Utin

{{Reflist }}

{{KillswitchEngage}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2013 albums

Category:Albums produced by Adam Dutkiewicz

Category:Killswitch Engage albums

Category:Roadrunner Records albums