Killswitch Engage has been making metalcore their life for almost a decade. Melophobe was recently able to sit down with guitarist Joel Stroetzel. Stroetzel has been a witness to a number of significant changes not only in his own music genre, but also within his own band. Stroetzel discusses touring life, the absence of KsE's vocalist Howard Jones from the current tour, and entering the lucrative world of video gaming.
Jack Sickels for melophobe: How's the tour going?
Joel Stroetzel: Ah, well, I guess with all things considered, you know, with the whole singer scenario, it really couldn't be bad. Phil [Phil Labonte of All That Remains] is doing a good job and everybody's having fun.
melophobe: He learned all the words real quick?
JS: Yeah, he actually knew a lot of them off the bat; we know each others' bands pretty well.
melophobe: What do you think about Seattle?
JS: I love it, man. I love it. It's one of the few cities (other than where I live) I want to move to. I got some family here and stuff. It's a place I like to visit very much.
melophobe: So where's home right now?
JS: I live in Massachusetts, kinda close to Boston...maybe an hour from Boston. Boston's maybe the east coast equivalent to Seattle (laughing).
melophobe: Yeah melophobe has contributors out there, too. What do you like about the bands you're currently touring with?
JS: This tour's been fun, man! Pretty great bands, really super nice people, everyone's been a pleasure to be out on the road with, very cool.
melophobe: Was there anything unique in the making of your guys' latest album compared to previous ones?
JS: It was the first time we worked with an outside producer. We worked with Brendan O'Brien down in Atlanta for a lot of it; we did drums down there. Howard [Jones] was pretty much with Brendan doing vocals the whole time, so it was kind of strange being detached for a little bit.
melophobe: So you recorded it all in different spots?
JS: For me and Adam [Dutkiewicz], doing our guitar tracks, it wasn't that different. We did our stuff at home like we normally would - the other guys got kind of thrown around a little bit.
melophobe: And you brought it all together in the end?
JS: Yeah.
melophobe: What do you think about metalcore, death metal, black metal? Do you have any secret favorites/guilty pleasures? What are some of your greatest influences?
JS: Obviously, I like all kinds of metal, man. I think there's a little bit of influence from each style in the music here and there, especially the more melodic European style metal, some of the old American hardcore kind of stuff going on with some of the riffs here and there.... but yeah, I don't know, I pretty much like any style of metal, to be honest with you.
melophobe: What to you think about metal in the US? What do you think about metal in other countries? What do you think about the influence of Scandanavian countries on metal?
JS: It's kind of funny how over the past five to ten years, European metal has influenced metal bands in the States...and how bands in the States have sort of influenced the European metal guys, because you notice a lot more melody going on here. A lot of bands that are, you know, just breakdown hardcore bands are doing guitar melodies and clean vocals, and then there are a lot of the super melodic European bands that have breakdowns and heavy parts, and things like that, so it's kinda funny. Everyone's kind of influencing everyone else at this point.
melophobe: Your opener, Dark Tranquility is Swedish...
JS: Yep, a melodic band, really great band, great band.
melophobe: I get a feeling bands from Scandanavia have a little classical influence?
JS: For sure, for sure.
melophobe: Are you excited about playing at the Grasspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium this year?
JS: Yes, thats going to be coming up sometime in June, I think.
melophobe: Have you played out in Europe before?
JS: We have, yeah, many times.
melophobe: And do you like playing out there and the festivals and all that?
JS: It's a lot of fun...makes for a long day cause there's not really anywhere to go, cause you're kinda stranded in the fields... [laughter] you end up sitting around probably drinking way too many beers cause there's really nothing else to do except hang out. It's fun sometimes seeing a lot of friends we've toured with in the past that we haven't seen in quite some time
melophobe: Yeah, brings a lot of people together...
JS: Yeah, a lot of familiar faces, so that's always nice.
melophobe: What is it like having one of your songs as a part of a soundtrack to the video game God of War?
JS: We're pretty psyched to be part of that, man. We found out about it a few months ago, and we had already finished recording our latest record and we had a few too many tracks to put on the record. We had some leftovers of stuff, so that was kinda easy to do. The song was already mixed and Howard [Jones] put the vocal stuff together. I'm not sure if he already had it done or what the deal was; that song just kinda popped out. It was easy, it was a fun tune, we were bummed it didn't make it to the record... we didn't quite finish it in time.
melophobe: But you still got it out there.
JS: Yeah, we got it out there in the end, and like doing the Guitar Hero stuff and the Rock Band stuff has kinda helped us a lot, so. A LOT of people buy video games these days, so it's good exposure for us; its exciting.
melophobe: How has Killswitch Engage been for you over the years? What are some especially good parts? And downsides?
JS: It's weird, I've been doing it for so long; I just hit the ten-year mark, I think in like September or so, a... decade of my life. Its been a long time, but I remember every stage of it. It's kinda funny really. We started off kinda being the kids who jammed on the weekends and played VFW halls and bars and just playing a show every couple weeks. And then, it's funny how its kinda become our job at this point...we're actually out on tour a good portion of the year doing it.
melophobe: Yeah, this has been a long tour.
JS: Yeah, this is long. We've been out for five weeks on this one almost, and we still have two weeks to go. But it's been a good run, man! Hoping we do it for another ten, but if it ends tomorrow, I don't have any regrets. It's been a good run, so, it is what it is.
melophobe: So you guys have any plans in the coming year or two?
JS: Um, well, as of now, Howard's taking a little break from things. We're hoping to schedule a tour again in the states sometime probably in May. That was the original plan. European stuff coming up in the summer, and after that we're not really sure, maybe talk about doing a new record or something in the fall.
melophobe: How important to you is a band's message? Does it hold the same importance compared to the music itself? What kind of message would you say KSE puts forth?
JS: I think that all depends on the listener, man, because people take different things out of it, you know? I think certain people listen to it for the drumming, or people listen to it for guitar, or some people listen to it because they like the style of singing; some people listen 'cause they like the actual words...we've always tried to, you know, kind of be more of an honest band, and we don't sing about horror movie stuff, swears and everything, nothin' like that We try to be a pretty positive band, and the lyrics have always been pretty positive over the years, minus a couple songs that are more personal. We're not one of those tough guy, metal kinds, putting on a fake face thing. We like to go up on stage and have fun; it lets people know that we're having fun, and encourage them to have fun with us. That's kind of the whole point of this band.
melophobe: I heard Adam [Dutkiewicz] likes to wear different outfits on stage?
JS: Oh yeah, you'll probably see something crazy tonight.
melophobe: What do think about all that?
JS: Ah...crazy shorts and capes and viking helmets - he gets into it man!
melophobe: Makes people smile probably?
JS: Yeah, he's a spirited fellow. [Laughter]
melophobe: Is he different for every venue?
JS: It's usually from tour to tour
melophobe: How would you describe metal, or your music, to someone who is new to metal or KSE?
JS: It's weird. Its kind of a weird mix, you know, because there's a lot of rock and pop elements and stuff; we listen to a lot of that stuff on the side. I mean obviously, there are parts that are heavy; there are metal parts; we always tried to structure things in a way that kind of makes sense to us. We've never been a band that likes to do eight minute songs; We try to keep it short and sweet, songs over before it gets boring. That's always been the idea.
melophobe: Any final lasting words to leave with our readers?
JS: Oh for sure, I mean...well first off I guess everybody who stuck with us through the years, the line up changes, style changes: thanks for sticking with us. And, especially, I guess anyone who's come out to this tour to support us 'cause everybody kind of knows whats going on at this point, and the shows have still been great - either sold out or close to sold out almost every night. And the kids have been awesome. And from us, you know a month ago we thought we were going to have to cancel the tour, so looking back on it, we're very grateful that everyone stuck with us. Still came out and had a good time...that means a lot.
melophobe: Well, I think its cool to bring All That Remains and Killswitch Engage together; it's unique in a way.
JS: Yeah! It makes for a different show; it's probably something people will never see again, so it's be there and be fun, you know?
melophobe: What gave you your inspiration to start a band with all these guys?
JS: Well, we all kinda played in bands in the past that played shows together. We're all kind of from the same area...me and Adam are from Western Massachusetts, bass player Mike [D'Antonio] was closer to Boston. He played in the band Overcast, we played in the band Aftershock, and Jesse Leach at the time played in the band called Korin. We all did shows together, and...ah...it's funny because all three bands were starting to kind of come to an end at the same time. We kind of found each other and started up something new and, at the time, it was just kind of a hobby, a side project to all our other bands. But it ended up being the one we ended up sticking with.
melophobe: Right on. Thanks a lot, man.
JS: Hey, no problem, man; it was nice talking to you.
melophobe: Appreciate it, appreciate it.
