 
Is Times of grace a chance to reignite some past
metalcore passion between original Killswitch
Engage singer Jesse Leach and current guitarist
Adam D? Or a chance to try something brand new?
The answer lies at middle ground between the 2
with their debut release "The Hymn of a Broken
Man". At least that’s what appears
to have been produced from the ashes of “Alive
or Just Breathing”; definite links to the
old school Killswitch Engage but with something
else. It’s almost a spiritual theme that
runs throughout the album even during the heavier
songs.
It is refreshing to hear Jesse and Adam collaborating
again as there is something in Jesse’s voice
that is just very unique and distinctive, and
the sheer range from the deepest of metal growls
to the sweetest of vocal melodies. Also a big
pat on the back to Adam D for writing all the
music, playing every instrument on the album and
providing backing vocals; even after doing all
of this work Mr Leach still manages to stand out
with his tremendous vocals.
The heavier songs on the album are: “Strength
in Numbers” which has one of the catchiest
choruses on the entire album and shows off the
range this vocalist has; “Hope Remains”
which has the most amazing double bass speed on
it behind some melodic guitar solos and fills
and “Where The Spirit Leads Me” not
as heavy as the previous songs but is the winner
of best guitar work on the album as well as mixing
Jesse and Adams vocals to create the perfect harmonies.
Everyone views a different song as being the most
relatable to Killswitch Engage but in my personal
opinion the song “Live in love” reminds
me the most of Killswitch’s style but that
is not to say it may as well be a Killswitch song
they defiantly have their own definition I’d
know it was Times of Grace; the spiritual feel
on this song is all in Leach’s vocals and
the areas of melody in the guitar work between
each face breaking metal sections and amazingly
catchy vocal lines and choruses.
There are some beautiful melodic soft songs as
well that just show off just exactly what Leach
is capable of. “The Forgotten One”
one of the most fantastic acoustic songs I have
ever heard, a very southern guitar riff with Leach
just glazing the music with his extremely versatile
voice really showing off what he can do with it.
“Fall From Grace” is heavier in parts
musically but the main body and vocals are all
very gentle and clean, at parts almost reminiscent
of a lullaby as I could easily listen to this
to ease me to sleep.
The remaining songs fall between the heavy and
light labels, such as the title track “The
Hymn of a Broken Man” which has many changes
in tempo and sound throughout from the heartfelt
emotional choruses and heavily distorted and scream
parts that follow. In “The End of Eternity”
for every melodic touch in the song there is a
completely opposite end of the spectrum waiting
to brutally break it down straight after and finally
“World Apart”; now this song is amazing,
it’s the song that I feel the most raw emotion
and the music matches the exact feel that the
lyrics give out.
This debut album from Times of Grace has got me
wrapped around its little finger I’ve instantly
fell in love with it. The feelings and emotion
put across, you can really feel it, and it affects
my mood it makes me feel loving and peaceful.
I hope they get out and do some live shows because
I could imagine the atmosphere to be euphoric.
It makes me ask the question where they go from
here and wonder how the next Killswitch Engage
album will turn out. I can only eagerly wait and
see.
5/5
Review by James Webb
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