Metalrage:
You have played drums on the first two records. Now there are two new members and they have got their own opinion. How did the band deal with this?

Adam:
That's the deal man, I think a drummer with an opinion is a cool thing. I like to work with someone who has got a creative input and has a thought process behind what they do. Someone who you don't need to tell what to play. I like to listen to what he has to say.

Metalrage:
So Howard and Justin really participated in the song writing process?

Adam:
As much as they wanted to. Because when I do a demo, I write the drums and so. But if they have a great idea, it is like cool, or not. We are not twisting anybody's arm or something! We say, try this, try that. And Justin will put his own flavour into it. Then we will find it awesome.

Metalrage:
Who in the band is the main writer, who creates the riffs and so on?

Adam:
I think Joel (Guitar) and I. We kind of bounce off each other. On this record it was really a time issue. I ended up locking myself in my room for a week and a half. I'm not kidding! I just wrote as many songs as possible. One after another. Because it was at the end of the wire. We were just finished with Ozzfest and said. We have to record a record in like a month and we have got, ehm 4 songs! Holy Shit. So we just sat and wrote and played until I couldn't play anymore.

Metalrage:
Andy Sneap mixed the cd, what makes him so special you have chosen him again? He is really the metal god for mixing, right?

Adam:
(smile) METAL GOD!

Metalrage:
It is with every CD he mixes, you can hear it is from the Andy Sneap factory.

Adam:
I like Andy because I like hanging out with him. And because he is a professional. I know exactly what to expect from him. And he knows what to expect out of me. We just work well together. We both are heading for the same direction. It is a cool thing man. It just feels right.

Metalrage:
you went to Berklee (School of Music) if I'm right?

Adam:
Yeah! How did that came out? How DID you find that out?!

Metalrage:
I found it in a interview but what did you do there?

Adam
My first thing was Bass Major, I studied for that. Basically I ate sandwiches all the time, that's it! Study music and eat sandwiched! That is all I do!

Metalrage:
But did you really pick stuff up that you wouldn't have if you didn't go there?

Adam:
Honestly? No. It was a big waste of money. It was cool because it kind of fine-tuned my brain musically. The main difference is that before I went to school, I didn't know what things were. I didn't know how to explain myself in musical terms. It definitely fine-tuned me. But I dont think that its necessary to study and learn to be able to play music.

Metalrage:
Your music has been defined as metalcore with Swedish metal influences etc. Will that style continue or will it change in the future? Do you really want to keep making this kind of music?

Adam:
Yeah, we are thinking of doing a Hip Hop record and it is going to be heavy! Or prog rock...all we do is listening to Dream Theater! But I don't think we will really do that. Stylistically I don't think we would like that at all. Those bands are really like artists. I'm sorry but I can't listen to any prog rock, it drives me insane. It is like, listen to this (guiter sounds, quickly) and now listen to my part! And then high screaming voice (AHHHHH). And then I'm like, Dudes! But I don't know, we will see where it will lead. We are just hanging around. Driving the train. Its not a big deal, I am not here to change the world. I'm just hanging around and playing my guitars and drinking beer! That is what I do best!

Metalrage:
And ofcourse, getting paid for it!

Adam:
Yeah right, getting paid to play and get pissed every night. It is cool!

Metalrage:
So you guys are going to tour with Chimaira, Shadows Fall and God Forbid. The last day is on the Graspop Metal Meeting festival. Do you usually have time to watch any of the bands if you play on a festival?

Adam:
Usually we do, but I have no clue who is playing..

Metalrage:
Bands like Anthrax, Morbid Angel and Children of Bodom..

Adam:
Then what are we doing there?

Metalrage:
Well, they have different stages, one is like a hardcore/metalcore stage. And there is a main stage with for example Life of Agony and other big bands like that.

Adam:
Ah, that's cool.

Metalrage:
Back to the touring part, you are also playing on Rock am Ring, where the crowd can go up to 100.000 people. And the day after that, you guys might hit a small venue for 1000 people. Isnt it a bit weird to see a totally different crowd every day?

Adam:
Well, The bookingagent books our shows. We just play what we can play!
But we prefer venues, I hate festivals. I just think, if playing for that many people makes the thing very impersonal. You are not connecting with the people, It is hard to get the reactions. For example on Ozzfest, I hate the high stages, barricades and the distance with the fans. I love the kids in venues piling up in front of the stage, and I love grabbing people's heads and scream at them! But in the end, I love to go on stage. If there are people excited to see our show then it is going to be a great show. Than it doesn't matter, 50 or 5000 people. Just having a good time man, that is all that matters!

Metalrage
While recording an album, how does it affect the band itself? Don't you get fed up with each other?

Adam
I think I pissed of everybody in the band! There is a point where everybody was ready to kill me. They were planning a mutiny, just to stab me! But really, I think I drove almost everybody insane. I think Howard hated me the most.. he was cursing my name. He was so pissed off, because I think that I kept pushing him! This is his debut record with us and there was a lot of pressure. He was probably under more stress than I was! I just really wanted to make sure he did a great job! Everybody always wants to compare him with Jesse. He is just as musical as Jesse.

Metalrage:
Indeed, he's just different.

Adam:
Exactly. Now you tell me, does a big black dude sound different than a scrawny white guy? There is no way around it!

Metalrage:
How did you guys made Howard adapt to the Killswitch Engage Live performance, he had to sing somebody elses lyrics, and express them as well.

Adam:
To be honest he kind of adapted himself to the performance! We didn't made him adapt anything, we more adapted to him! I think he is one of our strongest assets. When he goes on stage, Howard just is a man of confidence. But I can't imagine singing somebody else his stuff. He always says, it is just like singing along with a CD!

Metalrage:
According to some interviews, Howard has different "believes" then Jesse. Jesse was about mental revolution, the spirit of man, etc. Howard probably has a different take on this. Aren't you afraid people are going to say that the music doesn't connect with them anymore!

Adam:
I think it could suck� But the thing is that if people want to connect, they can. If not, that's cool. Howard just writes differently than Jesse and does people have to expect him to write like Jesse. There are a lot of songs on this record that Jesse would never have written! Maybe this songs will attract other people.

A day before we had the interview, the new Killswitch Engage album leeked out on the internet

Metalrage:
Have you guys heard about the internet leak? What do you think about the fact that people can basically get the music for free?

Adam
Wow yeah, it was leaked when like while I was working on it! I was like "What the fuck, I'm not even done with it!". But it only thing is that it upsets me is when the song isn't done. Like when I send rough mixes to a friend and that song leaks out. That is not the way the song should be. That makes me mad, because I rather present the song when it is finished. Besides that, the internet is a great tool. It gets music out to people who are not able to get it or who heard about the band. And because of that, I think it's fucking great.

Metalrage:
In the end, a real fan will buy the album.

Adam:
Exactly. To be honest I download stuff myself as well and if I like the song, I will go out and buy the record! And if I don't that is cool to. You give people the chance to listen to the songs before buying the record.

Metalrage:
I heard some songs and I don't know it is has to be but it sounded like tuning of the guitar is a little bit lower or did you guys use some different effects?

Adam:
No, everything is the same! Exactly the same!

Metalrage:
Then I definitly got a rough version!

Metalrage:
In the bio you say producing and playing is like a rollercoaster. Then why do you do it?

Adam:
Because I'm fucking stupid! Haha, I am an idiot! That is all there is to it! But seriously, it is that I enjoy my job! It is so funny that I have the two best jobs in the world.

Metalrage:
Do you see it as a challenge, or is it a form of control?

Adam:
It is a tremendous challenge! But I love making music. But I wouldn't say control. I don't want to control the sound. I just love the challenge of making a good record. And creating music. But does it give my band more control? Probably yes. Because with somebody inside the band, I'm going to be the one to keep everybody happy in the band. If there is an outside producer producing the album he might end up fucking with our sound or change some bits.
Sometimes you need that, but the problem is that everybody in our band has a good set of ears. They know what they want. And I am working harder than the rest, because I'm the dude that has to live with these songs for the next couple of years! If somebody in the band isn't happy, I have to hear that for the next couple of years! I take the precautions to make people happy!

Taking turns with interviewing, it was Howard time to have a chat with us