Killswitch Engage track with ex-member Howard Jones will raise awareness of mental health

Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach has spoken about the band’s highly-anticipated track with their former vocalist Howard Jones.

It was revealed last week that Jones, who left Killswitch in 2012 after nine years with the band, had hooked up with the group to record a new track.

How Leach has given more details about the song and says that he wants it to “help continue to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.”

He posted the following on Instagram, which also included a video of him lip-synching a line of Jones’ vocals.

Leach says: “It was such a great day talking mental health with Hojo. A ton of laughs, stories and comradery! The song is about keeping hope in dark times and helping out those in need. 

 “The lyrics were written shortly after Howard’s band Light The Torch had announced the new direction and new name. The song was written even before we all hung out a few months back. 

I plan on using this song to help continue to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention

Jesse Leach

“This song was in fact written with Howard in mind and our connection through our similar mental illnesses. I mean now that I’ve hung with this guy a few times, it’s ‘crazy’ (pun intended) how similar we are. 

"We are brothers in metal, anxiety, hardcore music, love of medicinal marijuana and fighting depression. 

“I had such a fun time listening to Adam Dutkiewicz bust Howard’s balls like he does mine. We both have that ‘hardcore kid’ push when it comes to vocals and the sharp pitch is our excited ‘go to’ when singing – although his big vibrato truly makes it sound all good.”

Leach adds: “We may be very different sounding voices but in truth we are similar in many ways in our minds. Today was epic, it was huge for the legacy of Killswitch, it was fun and it felt like what we were doing was important. 

“I plan on using this song to help continue to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Both Howard and I have a very strong outspoken stance on the subject and I will use this to help with the cause! @hopefortheday I’m looking at you – we will talk soon! Strength in unity!”

Further details on the collaboration will be revealed in due course.

Because yah all loosin yah damn minds over my last post (we are stoked too the song is bad ass)! So here’s me lip syncing to Howard as he sings live (happening in the room behind me with the door open) at the studio today. Can you say uh HUGE voice! Straight up “black molasses” ha ha... it was such a great day talking mental Health with Hojo. A ton of laughs, stories and comradery! The song is about keeping hope in dark times and helping out those in need. The lyrics were written shortly after Howard’s band @lightthetorchband had announced the new direction and new name. The song was written even before we all hung out a few months back. This song was in fact written with Howard in mind and our connection through our similar mental illnesses. I mean now that I’ve hung with this guy a few times, it’s “crazy” (pun intended) how similar we are. We are brothers in Metal, anxiety, Hardcore music, love of medicinal marijuana and fighting depression. I had such a fun time listening to Adam bust Howard’s balls like he does mine. We both have that “Hardcore kid” push when it comes to vocals and the sharp pitch is our excited “go to” when singing (although his big vibrato truly makes it sound all good tho! We may be very different sounding voices but in truth we are similar in many ways in our minds. Today was epic, it was HUGE for the legacy of Killswitch, it was fun and it felt like what we were doing was important. I plan on using this song to help continue to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Both Howard and I have a very strong outspoken stance on the subject and I will use this to help with the cause! @hopefortheday I’m looking at you, we will talk soon! Strength in Unity! Nothing but support and love for “Light The Torch!” Today was a good day! OH and if you haven’t BUY the new “Light The Torch” already! @killswitchengage @lightthetorchband #Duet #killswitchengage #kserecordingsessions #LightTheTorch #JesseLeach #HowardJones #Anxiety #Depression #MentalHealth #HonorTheLegacy #mentalhealthawareness #ItsOkNotToBeOk #SignalFire #Hope #SuicidePrevention #MedicalMarijuana #MarijuanaIsAMedicine #LegalizeIt #Metal #Hardcore 🏴JeSsE LeAcH 🏴

A photo posted by @jesse_d_leach on Apr 12, 2018 at 9:34pm PDT

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.