The last Killswitch Engage record ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ was in most eyes a diamond of a metal record. Was this the future band of metal? With several members that went to a music school the sound of that album just was good in every ones opinion. Now two years later the band brings out their third album and second one on Roadrunner Records. With the new vocalist Howard who replaced Jesse, a Metal god in most eyes. Next to that drummer Justin replaced Tom. I was looking forward to this record and expected a lot of it, will it be?

The album is a great follow-up to ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ but it doesn’t have that edge that made that record so good. Musically the band is still the same, although I prefer some of the guitar work on ‘Alive or Just Breathing’. Maybe it is due to the fact that this album was written within a year, while the band had years for their debut. Everything is well-executed, and I have to say, Howard Jones is a great front man. In my views he is a better vocalist then Jesse, and props to him for pulling this off. In the end I would like to say that ‘The End of Heartache’ is a great metal CD, with some great songs, and it will definitely be in my top list for this year. Its just that it doesn’t have that "wow" edge that ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ had when it came out. But that could be personal.

The songs on the album again are written in the ‘pop style’ that we know from the previous albums. The first single ‘Rose of Sharyn’ has to impress the metal world because of its extreme power. I definitely cannot choose a best song of this album. The songs are , to be simple, great.

Overall the album again is a must for every Metalcore fan and definitely for the real Killswitch Engage fan. Just remember that Howard is different than Jesse but do not compare these two personalities, that was not the intention of Killswitch Engage.  
 
Line-Up:
Adam Dutkiewicz - guitar
Joel Stroetzel - guitar
Mike D'Antonio - bass
Howard Jones - vocals
Justin Foley - drums

Track listing:
1. A Bid Farewell
2. Take This Oath
3. When Darkness Falls
4. Rose Of Sharyn
5. Inhale
6. Breathe Life
7. The End Of Heartache
8. Declaration
9. World Ablaze
10. And Embers Rise
11. Wasted Sacrifice
12. Hope Is...