Killswitch Engage Vocalist Jesse Leach Discusses His Favorite Albums

2019-09-25

Killswitch Engage – Story by Charles Ken

Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage gives props to albums by Def Leppard, Mastodon and Minor Threat

Killswitch Engage singer Jesse Leach enjoys a wide range of music, and that’s apparent when you look at his favorite albums. Speaking with France’s United Rock Nations (via Blabbermouth), Leach discussed some of the first records he purchased and grew to love, and his picks might not be what one would expect from a metal vocalist.

The first rock or metal album that Leach purchased, he says, is “definitely not massively heavy, but Def Leppard ‘Hysteria’ was the first record I bought. I still to this day love that record. I know every single lyric on that record. I think it’s brilliantly produced by ‘Mutt’ Lange, and it’s definitely a staple of heavy metal for me.”

The album that made Leach want to make music was “Minor Threat” with their self-titled album. “That was the album, that’s the singer, that is the whole idea, that was the first band that made me want to do what I do,” he said. “It was the sheer intensity and screaming of Ian MacKaye, and to this day, they’re still one of my favorite bands, no doubt. If someone puts on Minor Threat, I’ll throw things. I’ll punch a wall. It just really gets me going every time. I’m a massive fan.”

Leach’s favorite album art comes from a band known for their album covers: Mastodon.

“I’ve always loved — and I don’t know why; it’s just a striking, striking image to me — Mastodon’s record ‘Leviathan,'” Leach said. “The artwork on the front of that, it’s magic. It’s iconic. I don’t know what it is about it. Maybe it’s the color scheme, maybe it’s the subject matter… When I first saw the artwork for that record, it stunned me. The colors, just something about it — so beautiful.”

Killswitch Engage’s “Atonement” arrived on Aug. 16 via Metal Blade Records.

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Charles Ken

Meet the expert - Charles Ken is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied writing and history. He's a longtime music buff and covers classic rock for Audio Ink Radio. Contact him at ken@audioinkradio.com.