Patreon.com/RobTV I told my friends/co-workers that "I Write Sins, Not Tragedies" by Panic At the Disco is one of the best white boy songs I've ever heard. Now they're sending me song suggestions and I'm doing live reactions here.
You should check out the bands Living Colour, Sepultura, Sevendust and Fire From The Gods. All excellent bands across the rock genre spectrum and fronted by African-American singers.😉
Rose of Sharyn is probably *the* song that I found which opened me up to this genre of music. It made me consider screaming as more emotional expression than cursed belting. The lead singer (Howard's) grandma died before making that song and the entire thing is about the pain of loss and seeing each other again. You should give it a listen!
I absolutely love that “first listen” reaction to things I grew up with. It brings me right back to that holy shit moment. And I LOVE your first take on things like this and RATM. I honestly can’t believe your channels not bigger because your joy is contagious
Mike put it well for the most part with screaming. The thing about rock/metal is that they are super passionate emotional driven genres. And screaming is another way to portray the emotions someone’s feeling. Whether it be pain, joy, sadness they just feel like screaming that certain emotion better represents how they feel, then just singing it. And it’s not easy man. Especially to sing as well as Howard (lead singer of this song) does and scream. It’s a massive talent
It took me finding the right vocalists to really appreciate screaming. I really liked Randy Blythe, Jon Mess, and Brendan Murphy. Once I developed the appreciation from those guys, it became such ear candy to hear it in another song, hearing a good scream gives me chills now.
Its just another instrument. Numeral screaming was all about anger and emotion. Metalcore it seems to be more like another instrument before an emotional thing while still having some emotional moments. And it's hard as hell to do. And anyone who thinks they could do it that's never tried it, I'd bet them my savings account they couldn't
Although Howard no longer does vocals for KSE, he does so for another band, Light The Torch and Sion. The original singer for KSE, Jesse Leach, is back. Their first album was amazing!
@@trashcan_papi and I stand by it. Obviously it's a personal opinion, and I mean to take nothing away from Howard, he is an amazing vocalist in his own right.
A must listen to from Killswitch Engage is "Signal Fire" and features both singers. Jesse Leach is the original and current vocalist, while Howard Jones was the vocalist after Jesse's leave. These guys will forever be my favorite metal band and shaped who I am today greatly.
Your friend Mike briefly touched on it, but Killswitch Engage started with Jesse Leach, the main singer for the first 2 albums, the first self titled and “Alive or Just Breathing”. After a musician shuffle, Howard Jones enters the band, and sings for the next 3 albums, “The End of Heartache”, “As Daylight Dies”, and the second self titled. Another musician shuffle follows, and Jesse Leach comes back to sing full time, from “Disarm the Descent” and onward.
@styleyriley I actually worked the marketing on that one, and I swear to you every time I played an advance copy of the record mouths just fell to the floor.
Metalcore. Killswitch is metalcore You can make up what ever dumb genre name that makes you fuzzy inside, but it doesn't change the FACT they are metal core
Harsh vocals can be jarring at first. But once you get past the initial shock value you learn to appreciate how they can elevate and make the cleans hit differently/feel more impactful. Kind of like a light at the end of the tunnel vibe. The official music video has the radio edit which cuts out the harsh vocals, so you can always check that one out and see if you like it better.
My gateway drug into heavy metal/metalcore. This band changed my freakin’ life. You all should check out their songs ‘My Curse’ and their cover of Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’ (specifically, the music video). Also, they have a new singer - their original singer, Jesse Leach. The band’s got a pretty cool story, regarding their lead singers.
I heard lamb of God and thought, "I'm never going to listen to this shit." Because of the vocals. Enter killswitch a couple years later. It changed everything. I, in fact, did listen to that shit and love it now. 😂
Love the full range of emotions here. Howard is one of my favorite vocalists of any genre. Wondering how you'd react to power metal like Blind Guardian, Van Canto, or Dragonforce
I think the best part of this video is when Rob's soul cracked open and he came to the realization that he's missed so much music like this xDDD Rob there are soooo many bands like Killswitch. Check out Dayseeker, Nothing More, Red, Skyharbor, Deceptic, Time The Valuator, Dreamshade, Novelists...i mean there is so much great metal out there thats not just stereotypical death metal.
Agree with Mike. Sometimes metalcore use clean vs screaming as different characters in their songs. It's just another layer of instruments. You may like Oh, Sleeper - Endseekers or Decimation & Burial. Hush, Yael is also a _powerful_ song (wikipedia 1979 Nahariya attack).
Deftones,Sevendust,Atreyu. Possible candidates From Autumn to Ashes-short stories with a tragic ending. Oh huge props to a sick band with no vocals. Great musicians. Animals as leaders-CAFO.
RobTv First Thank You So Much for reviewing this video I am new subscriber about two months ago, Got hooked after your Rage Against The Machine Reviews! Exactly how I felt you absolutely got it Dude 💯 This song is amazing it got me through so much in my life & Howard Jones Voice is F*cking INSANE that dude doesn’t get enough credit. Killswitch’s Song My Curse got way more plays thanks to Guitar Hero but this Song Man!!! Mind Blown 🤯 You got to see the live version! Howard’s voice is for Real 💯
This is some crazy timing! Shout-out Pro Wrestler Roderick Strong who used this song during his time on the Independent Circuit and used it for his debut Wednesday Night in All Elite Wrestling. Such a great fucking song!
I saw them last year in Boise ID. Howard’s band Light the Torch opened, August Burns Red was second, and then Killswitch was the headliner. Howard came out at the end and sang the last three songs and Jesse sang with him on the last song. Howard sang this song first. His voice was hurting him, but the crowd sang right along with him. It was freaking insane!
I really enjoyed you guys' reaction! I love that you made a point that all kinds of music is for everyone to explore and enjoy, and that stereotypes in music are not always true or fair. We can come together through music.
The vocalist of KE back then was Howard. He’s always had that voice. Even when he was playing in local bands in Columbus, OH back in the early 90’s. He and I would talk about our similar influences, from soul to rock. Too many folks try to categorize music…what you’re hearing is years of his soul (along with the rest of KE equally). If you had to categorize what they do, it’s their interpretation of rock/metal via all of their influences.
Few things to say. First back in 2010 when my best friend and I were deployed to Kandahar we considered this the "theme song" of the deployment because of the lyrics. Second. This song is on Rock Band. Super fun.
A FEW GREAT REACTION SONGS YOU MIGHT LIKE !🔥🔥🔥 alter bridge - metalingus simple plan - im just a kid killswitch engage - breathe life & this fire stone sour - bother pantera - walk three days grace - i am machine trapt - headstrong
Regarding the screaming, I think it really helps to get across the kind of pain and anguish some of these songs are trying to talk about. Like this song is clearly emotionally charged, so there's that intensity when you're talking about heartache, about sadness, about pain. I think one of the most impactful hard vocals I've heard in the past few years was in a song called My Grave is Mine to Dig by Wage War. Near the end of the song he has this bit where he yells out the line "If I could change myself I would, but I don't know where to begin." and the way he screams that out really portrays the pain of that feeling, from someone who has felt that way, wanting to change something about yourself but not knowing how to start. There's this helplessness and frustration with that and hearing him yell it out like that hit me so hard the first time I heard it. You can feel that pain. Shit cut me deep. You should check that one out if you have time. Idk if you'd love it or hate it, but I think it's good to check out.
OMG, you’ve basically been going through my High School memories with your white boy series. I remember seeing this band shortly after graduation in 2003. Howard and Adam…❤
Amazing glad you found this rock ballot its a classic, and a great reaction as always, love the reactions to the rock your getting into and your going down a great path of rock keep it up! Also the screaming like if they sing vs screaming these lyrics "Killing my time in the dark inside It's a race to death for me Try and unwind while I lose my mind I got no place to be"
I think we got him lads Oh and Killswitch Engage IS on Guitar Hero but its a different track, "The Arms of Sorrow" And the man almost nailed the idea around screaming. Look at it as another instrument hitting the beat rather than a melody. Thats why a lot of metal uses screams during verses and breakdowns to hit the energy and timing, but use clean vocals for the chorus to bring in melody and more relatable sound. Some use it as a duality. Like the world is both amazing and shitty, so our music reflects that. Harsh and beautiful. SOME metal vocalists can mix the two and do melodic screaming thats just out of this world but thats a very, very high level ability. Screaming will grow on you I promise. Not one metalhead on Earth was totally okay with screaming at first. Like beer. No one enjoys beer at first. You gotta... give it time. Appreciate it in a certain way.
Love this. New sub. I love the dynamic between y’all , and I love that we’re contrasting & building between cultural & racial differences. This has been amazing
Finally, a genuine reaction video 😅. From feeling the ups in the beginning to experiencing the depth of the song as it progresses; the man isn't faking. What an amazing track. Howard is such a talent and the instrumentalists are so tight. Love it
Out of all the songs that I love from them, break the silence is my favorite. It's such an uplifting song for me and I won't go into why but such an awesome song.
So stoked to see you getting into metalcore! So many sick bands you can branch out to from here such as Bring Me The Horizon, Beartooth, A Day to Remember, and many many more
I think that’s a far more ‘2010’s kerrang tv’ choice of metalcore artists, which gives a leading impression of the genre as kind of poppy and mainstream. I would suggest some early parkway drive, misery signals or poison the well if we’re really going to try and showcase the scene. I also think he’d fuck with the theme and sound of those bands a lot more. Each to their own though.
I love the fact you did the Original version of this song. There is a "radio version" of the song w/o I think most of the screaming and they skip parts of the bridge I believe. Great reaction though!!
There's a great live version of this where Howard legit picks a dude up by his belt, screams in his face, and then just drops him back into the crowd. Dude is a monster of a vocalist and showman.
Let him hear The Signal fire . The back story of both singers that have front manned this band getting together for the first time to make a song together is fucking amazing.. The music video is dope. It was a huge deal for Kill Switch fans to see and hear them sing together for the first time.
So I clicked this and IMMEDIATELY paused it just to check the comments. As a band I grew up with, I love this. Comment section is top tier and you guys rule!
I've never seen you before but damn I love your energy, and how freaking hype you got! also to put the screaming into context. yes it can be thought of as going along with thr song instrumentaly sometimes but really I think you should read, and learn the lyrics sometimes so you know what they are screaming. usually screaming is done on lines that are very raw, real, or where someone is opening up, being vulnerable or conveying pain/sorrow/regret. as well as anger, or passion. what they are really done for is to raise the energy, and at times to convey emotion. or atleast that is what I would do back when I fronted for a band like this. hope that helps you understand it better
Howard is the second singer. The original singer Jesse left the band just after they dropped the first album. He came back after Howard left for medical reasons. You’ve gotta react to the Signal Fire. That song bangs.
Killswitch was supposed to be at Rockville 2018 in FL, first major weekend long concert i had ever gone to. They didnt show. Sad days. Still rock hard to them though.
When I found Killswitch engage when I was younger, it was during a time that for black people like me in the area that I was, it was not normal for black people to like heavy metal. But I did. Even though I grew up on a lot of the classic r and b, this reverberated with me. So to see bands like seven dust, Killswitch engage and living color, which was the first band that I ever heard that had a black lead as a vocalist, it made me feel normal for a while. And this lead singer? Every time I hear him. The hair goes up on my arms. I just love it!
Lyrics in bands like this matter so much, and in a lot of cases explains the reason for delivering said lyric in a scream. Any time you do a metal song you should have the lyrics up, i cant stress it enough.
I had the great fortune to meet most of this band at a bar in Baltimore after one of their shows... Some of the nicest people I've ever met! Really cool guys that love their fans!
In case you didnt know by now, Howard Jones (The Black Singer) wasnt the original vocalist. The original vocalist was Jesse Leech. He was with killswitch for 2 yrs then left and howard joined and was with the band for 10 years then he left due to health and personal issues and now jesse is back. Howard still does music. Hes got his own new band called Light The Torch and Sion.
I remember driving down to Waikiki on Friday and Saturday nights and we will be in street traffic and windows down- and the entire car would look just like your friend- make or female- This whole era- when you could belt it out and then break your neck- amazing!!! Especially in the street traffic’
LOL! I just came from watching a video about one of my favorite YTer’s testimony regarding Christ, right before I came across you fellas. My music project is called Christiana + The Devil - based on my life struggles and how Christ saved me; while my legal first name means “bearer of Christ.” I believe I survived a near decade of pure purgatory, while being bedridden/housebound - as well as surviving California’s most deadly and destructive wildfire, in Paradise - all to pursue my deep love and passion of being a heavy metal musician. One of the few things of mine that survived was my very first guitar. Though, my very first goal, as a child, was to be a country singer. If country and hip-hop are able to have their day, together, such as they are.. So can country and heavy metal. Countrycore, baby. Countrycore.
Jesse Leach (the current vocalist for Killswitch) is their original singer. Howard Jones is the vocalist who replaced him after he left the band. Howard eventually left the band for personal/medical reasons and that is when Jesse Leach returned to the band
I would say also try to remember that this is art just like movies and when you see someone in a movie screaming you don’t get put off of it because they’re trying to express a certain emotion that we all feel. It’s the same with screaming in metal.
lmao. Metalcore is my fav genre and Killswitch was definitely the band that got me into it. tons of bangers and so many albums. tbh i would love to see Rob at a metal show soon LMFAO
I've binged this whole series today lmao. I fukn KNEW this was gonna lead you to metal. You started with Rage, S.O.A.D, Linkin park... This was every mid 2000's metal head's intro into the genre!
weird to see people arguing about genres in the comments saying some of the same things i've been seeing for like 20 years genres exist so people can find things that are similar to certain other things with movies, books, video games or other mediums people seem to be pretty okay with genres and it's great and helpful but when it comes to music (especially metal genres) people have huge fits over it
Check out Howard's new band "Light the torch". Jesse lynch is back as singer for killswitch. Jesse was original from "alive and breathing" and earlier. "As daylight dies" was last album with Howard. Jesse been back since.
“My curse” and “This fire” pleeeeease. I just know you’d like those cuz a few years ago I never really thought I’d like killswitch but they caught me with those 2
A good example of metal (specifically this band) having a positive message, listen to their song Reject Yourself and read the lyrics along with it. It is quick to hear it as angry but when you read the lyrics it has a whole new meaning
I got Images & Words from a relative for Christmas of '92 and played it until it wore out. Introduced me to "melodic metal". Then Awake introduced me to the concept of a coherent album that's a single work of art from start to finish, not just a collection of discrete songs. Just amazing shit.
Howard jones has probably the most legendary metal voice ever . My favorite lead singer ever. Didn't find out he was black until 5 years after listening to them and going to see them live. Lol was awesome
I remember meeting Howard Jones at Ozzfest i think in 2001... He was awesome, signed a bunch of my stuff. I also met Zakk Wylde and got to take a shot with him and the other band members.. (lied about my age..) That sound you are thinking of is called "pinch harmonics" It is when you strike the guitar string with the guitar pick and your thumb and it gives a squeeling sound.
