It’s fascinating to see what a side project allows members to express that they couldn’t in their primary outfit. Doubly so in the case of Times of Grace: Jesse Leach and Adam Dutkiewicz already have a flexible outlet in Killswitch Engage. Leach had not yet rejoined the band in 2011 when the collaborators’ debut arrived; 10 years later Songs of Loss and Separation shows that outside of the NWOAHM influences that have marked Killswitch’s style for over 20 years there’s a lot of darkness still to mine, and the opportunity to play in a more melodic, heartfelt space really differentiates this from the pair’s other outlet. It also makes for a stronger, more impactful offering that’s been sticking in my head since first playing the record.

Continue reading →