Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage) has taken to social media to offer another update on the new Times Of Grace album. According to the frontman, the record “may be [their] best work as musicians.”
Leach said the following:
“This passion project that is the brain child of Adam D has taken a lot of time to be reanimated. The most recent recordings took years to complete. I am honored to be a part of this. It allows me to push in different directions stylistically as well as have a truly collaborative body of work with a brilliant mind like Adam.
We worked on music in between the chaos of our touring lives for this next one. New music has been completed we are just awaiting some last minute tweaking from Adams painstakingly precise audio obsessions then some mastering to finalize the songs.
We made enough music for an album and then some. We are in the works on deciding how to release it as it is a precious and important milestone for us both. I have listened to the new music many times over on various occasions and I sincerely think it may be our best work as musicians. That and it further pushes us in a separate and distinct place away from associations sonically with @killswitchengage.
It will still be some time until we iron out the details during this strange time for music and art. I know some of you have been ever so patient and we are truly grateful for all the love and support! 🙏🏼
In the meantime here’s a throwback to a quarantine version we did.
I supposed the hype train continues on… soon friends…I truly hope we get our music out soon… thanks for giving a damn!
During an appearance on the “Metal Blade Live Series,” Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage) discussed the new Times Of Grace album. According to him, the record is “definitely one of the darkest things [he’s] ever written.”
Dutkiewicz said the following:
“I am really excited about that project, just because it’s such a different creative outlet for me. There’s some pretty mellow vibes on that record, for sure. It’s definitely one of the darkest things I’ve ever written topically.
We finished it up a little while ago, and we are now talking to labels about putting it out. I’ve got a little gameplan, and hopefully we get enough tour support from a label so we can get out and do some tours with it.
It’s just really slow going right now with all of the talking to music industry folks and stuff like that, just because nothing is really moving right now. There’s no real hurry, I guess. We’d love to get the music to people, obviously. But I guess when it’s deemed the right time, we’ll get it out as soon as possible.
During a recent appearance on the “BREWtally Speaking Podcast,” Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage) discussed the new Times Of Grace album once again. According to him, the record is “leaps and bounds better” than their 2011 release “The Hymn Of A Broken Man.”
Leach said the following:
“It’s just leaps and bounds, better. It’s more creative, it’s more genuine I feel. I feel like there was definitely a bleed in of Killswitch influence on that first record and how could it not be, with me and Adam [Dutkiewicz] working together? And I feel like this new record sort of pulls away from that and really sort of defines us and our sound as Times Of Grace.
Where I listen back to you know like ‘Live In Love‘ and certain songs like that you can hear the Killswitch influence, and that’s cool. But it’s also fans I’m sure I appreciated that, but I’m very happy to pull away from that and do something different for this new record.”
He also added:
“It’s a mixed bag. There’s definitely some of that,sort of bluesy stuff—definitely a lot of blues, I should say. But it comes in different forms, I’d say there’s a mixture of a touch of some stoner vibes going on there, there’s definitely a touch of like, I guess the term would be post metal atmospheric metal, you know? Guitars with like a lot of delay and like space with, you know, big, heavy bass and slow moving stuff. There’s more rock and roll. More indie rock, it’s kind of a real mixed bag of styles. And there’s still traces of the metal that we’re known for here and there.
I think with the direction we’re heading in, and why there’s going to be two releases, this first release we wanted to make sure it sort of didn’t really have any of that heavy Killswitchy vibe to it.
So the first record is going to be what I feel is our signature sound that we’ve sort of embraced and it just kind of happened through Adam‘s writing. And then the EP will be a little bit more of the metal that you have come to know and reflect on the first record. So it’s a real mixed bag, and I’m glad to say I don’t think you could really put a genre on us, because of that, so we’ll see.
I’m sure people are gonna still call it metalcore you know I don’t even know what the fuck that term means anymore, but I’m happy to say that I think that we are no longer going to be called that style of music because I think we’re more of a heavy metal rock band, if you will.”
Leach went on to say that him and Dutkiewicz hope to do a tour with Times Of Grace at some point in the future.
On another note, the frontman also discussed The Empire Shall Fall‘s unfinished EP trilogy and whether or not it will ever surface:
“It’s hard to say man, stuff got really difficult to write too. You’re talking about musicians who were like—in my opinion—over my head with their talent. I remember listening to the demos, over and over again for the next two EPs that were supposed to happen and just being baffled. And like trying to find the one, trying to find like the downbeat, and be like, I don’t know what to do with this. And being inundated with writing for other projects, touring again. I just didn’t have the energy or the wherewithal to to even do it.
Those guys are absolutely brilliant musicians, and maybe someday I’ll revisit it when I get time, I mean, but, you know, very abstract stuff.
I love what we did, I think the Solar Plexus Volume I is some of the most creative, adventurous stuff I’ve done. And it started to tell a story it was gonna be this whole concept. I just got burnt down with it, man. And it just felt like it felt like I was out of my league. If I can be real about it right now you know. Like I was a it was appealing to me to write for the new Killswitch record because it was Killswitch, verse chorus verse bridge, done.
I’m a punk rock dude I get that. with The Empire Shall Fall it took me a long time to figure out some of those songs. How I was going to put my voice there, how it made sense. I mean literally taking my GarageBand laptop and zooming in and apart and just like how do I make this bounce, it’s so odd.
So yeah, maybe someday, but I can’t foresee that happening anytime soon my plate is so freakin full that I have absolute profound respect for them as musicians and as humans great people, great band. But, but at the moment yeah it’s it’s out of my reach, it’s out of my range right now.”
He continued when asked how far along they were with the EP series:
“We were just jamming on stuff, there was nothing. I mean those guys had their parts down, we had demos, but no vocals were ever recorded. We started and I just fell short… like I just lost my steam on it, and timing is everything and it just came and went, and then I got swooped away into the touring world and nothing was the same after that.”
He added:
“Yeah, there were two EPs, pretty much mapped out. I want to say four or five songs on each one. Those guys had pretty much demoed and ready to go and I just never sang on them.”
During a recent interview with Revolver, Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage) talked a bit about the new Times Of Grace album. According to him, the record will be “a little more rock-orientated.”
Leach said the following:
“The album is done. We have two quarantine versions of a song [being released soon]. One is an old-school one reworked. The other one is a new cover that you won’t see on this next record. ‘Cause it’s not just not one record — it’s gonna be a record and another release. And we hope to have it out this year.”
He also added the following about the musical direction of the new material:
“It’s definitely different from the last record. We decided to really sort of set ourselves apart from the KILLSWITCH sound. I think the last record had a lot of KILLSWITCH in it, and we made a conscious departure to write more artistically indulgent songs, a little more rock-orientated, some post-metal, I guess, if you will — effects-driven guitars, very big, atmospheric-sounding stuff and acousticy, more blues, rock-driven stuff as well. So there’s less of the quote-unquote metalcorish genre and more of a genuine heavy metal, rock and roll experimental record. And I’m super stoked on it — I’m very proud of it. And I will say this too — Adam [Dutkiewicz] takes center stage a lot more on this record. It’s very much a 50/50 album when it comes to vocals. You’re gonna hear a lot more of Adam’s voice, and he has come such a long way with his voice and his lyrics. I’m so proud of him. I think it’s the best work that we have done as musicians in this particular genre ever, I would say.”
During a recent interview with Knotfest.com‘s “Mosh Talks With Beez,” Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage) confirmed that Times Of Grace have officially finished their new album. On top of that, the frontman also revealed that they actually recorded enough new material for a bonus EP as well.
Leach said the following:
“The Times Of Grace record is done. We have enough songs for a full-length record and then enough songs for an EP afterwards, if we choose to… We’ve decided to separate the two batches of songs. It’s done and done, and I’m extremely proud of it, and I think it’s probably the best record that Adam [Dutkiewicz, Killswitch Engage/Times Of Grace guitarist] and I have ever done in our careers.
Not only because it’s something we’re proud of lyrically and what it stands for, and it’s much different from the first record — I just think because it’s diverse. It shows a little bit more of a rock side, a little bit more of a stoner, post-metal side, it shows more blues. It gave us freedom to just do whatever we wanted to do.
That, and Adam took the reins on… I wanna say half the record is him leading and half is me, and then we come together on songs. So you’re gonna hear a lot more of Adam’s creativity in his voice. And I wrote a couple of songs that he sang, and he brought a whole different light to it. So I’m extremely proud of that.”
He also added the following when asked if fans can expect to hear it this year:
“I hope so. We’re pacing ourselves. We’re trying to be smart with how we’re gonna put it out, how we’re gonna present it. The last record, there was a lot of visuals to accompany the record.
I wanna make sure we roll it out in a very sort of artistic way. I want nothing more than people to get the chills on their arm and the back of their neck when they get that first taste of what we’re going for.
So we’re working diligently behind the scenes. We’re gonna find a home on a record label. We’re gonna do it independently, but it must be to a certain standard. Hell, we’ve waited this long to put this thing out, so we’re gonna make sure when we roll it out, it’s exactly how we want it to be rolled out, with the artwork and the feel and the vibe.
I just want it to be something so different and hopefully refreshing to the music community, something that people don’t see coming. We’ll see what happens.”
It looks like Times Of Grace, the band featuring Killswitch Engage‘s Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach, are planning to release new music in the near future. The band posted the below teaser:
Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach has offered an update on his and Adam Dutkiewicz’s Times Of Grace project. According to him, the music for the band’s next release “has been complete for a while” and he just needs to finish vocals.
Leach said the following:
“Looking at this photo it feels like a lifetime ago since the last time @times_of_grace_music played. I even look so much different now than back in those days all bloated and perpetually drunk…The new music has been complete for a while now just waiting for me to finish vocals. Adam D has been beyond patient for me to get through what seems like many obstacles, major life changes and more time than I’d like to admit it has taken me to face my demons long enough to write.
The lyrics on this current album we are slowly working on are the deep, painful and soul searching type that can not be forced or faked. In fact even some of my most cherished ones thus far have not been up to par and I must dig deeper and deeper to find the proper words to convey what needs to be said. I want to thank my brother and musical soul mate Adam for his undying patience and sheer belief in my abilities.
Even in times when I’ve doubted if I have enough snuff to keep up with the incredible drive and talent he has graciously reminded me I am worthy. I would also like to thank the 3rd official member of this project @holycrapzombies [Dan Gluszak] for his seriously amazing skills as a drummer and musician. He has been a close friend of ours since we toured with him as our drummer.
He sounds absolutely phenomenal on this album! He had completed his drum parts over a year ago now and has been patiently waiting for the completion of vocals. Packing my bags to head to California for what I hope to be the last of two sessions to get this record done. I hope and pray I am able to produce and perform what is needed to make this album everything I feel it can be.
No teasers here just a little note from me to let you know the wheels are still in fact in motion and I am beyond honored to be a part of this project and band despite my mental and musical shortcomings and countless disbelief in myself. This one will be for the broken and wounded, this is your album…”
During a recent interview with Metal Wani, Killswitch Engage’s Adam Dutkiewicz offered an update on Times Of Grace. He said the following:
“We’ve got about five songs completed. And we don’t know if we want to release an EP or try to finish up all the songs together and release a full-length record. But my plan for the rest of the year, when I’m not touring, is to be working exclusively on the TIMES OF GRACE stuff now that the KILLSWITCH one’s done. So, yeah, I’m personally really excited to get that record out. It’s very different. And it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
This news comes after Jesse Leach recently said he is hoping to finish the group’s next release before the end of the year.
With Killswitch Engage‘s new album “Atonement” set to be released on August 16, Jesse Leach is shifting focus to his other projects. The frontman recently confirmed that he is getting ready to record vocals for new albums from The Weapon and Times Of Grace.
Leach said the following about The Weapon:
“Last show of the @killswitchengage tour tonight then home to knock out an album with these maniacs @theweaponnyc! It’s been a long time coming but our punk rock anarchist hardcore jams will finally get some vocals on them! Great guys and killer players!!! 🏴☠️🏴
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#TheWeaponNYC #PunkRock #Hardcore #RebelMusic #AnarcoPunk #PMA #HardcorePride”
He also added the following about Times Of Grace:
“Also on the to do list! Continuing to track vocals for the long anticipated follow up to this emotive beast of an album. @times_of_grace_music has been slowly making progress and will continue to track vocals in hope to finish our album before the end of 2019! Adam is quite anxious to wrap it up and I feel in my soul it must be done soon! It will be quite different than the last album and we are all very excited with the direction it has taken! .
Thank you for your patience it will be worth it! 🙏🏼 #TimesOfGrace”
Drummer Dan Gluszak has been named an official member Times Of Grace, the band featuring Killswitch Engage‘s Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach. With this news, it has also been confirmed that Gluszak is already laying down the drums for the group’s upcoming album.
