Alive or Just Breathing

Alive or Just Breathing
Studio album by
Killswitch Engage
ReleasedMay 21, 2002
RecordedOctober 2001 – February 2002
StudioZing Studios, Westfield, Massachusetts
Genre
Length44:57
LabelRoadrunner
ProducerAdam Dutkiewicz
Killswitch Engage chronology
Killswitch Engage
(2000) 		Alive or Just Breathing
(2002) 		The End of Heartache
(2004)
Singles from Alive or Just Breathing
  1. "Self Revolution"
    Released: 2002[3]
  2. "My Last Serenade"
    Released: 2002[4]
  3. "The Element of One"
    Released: 2003[5]

Alive or Just Breathing is the second studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 21, 2002, through Roadrunner Records. Alive or Just Breathing was Killswitch Engage's first album on Roadrunner and was recorded from October 2001 to February 2002. Produced by drummer and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, this was the band's first album on a major label, which prompted them to write and record the album to the best of their abilities.[6] Alive or Just Breathing has been viewed as a landmark album in the metalcore genre and was well praised upon its release by fans and critics.[7] The lyrics, which were all written by vocalist Jesse Leach, were intended to bring a positive message through the music.[6]

Shortly after the release of Alive or Just Breathing, Leach left the band for personal and health issues.[8] Killswitch Engage quickly recruited Howard Jones to replace Leach.[8] Jones would stay in the band for nearly ten years, until his departure in 2012, which prompted Leach to rejoin the band on the ten-year anniversary of Alive or Just Breathing.[9] This is also the last album to feature Dutkiewicz on drums, as he would switch to guitar before the touring process.[10] The drumming position was filled by Tom Gomes.[10]

  1. ^ "The 66 Best Metal Songs of the 21st Century". Loudwire.
  2. ^ "Killswitch Engage [2009]". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Self Revolution (track listing). Killswitch Engage. Roadrunner Records. 2002. RR PROMO 636.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ My Last Serenade (track listing). Killswitch Engage. Roadrunner Records. 2002. RR PROMO 637.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ The Element of One (track listing). Killswitch Engage. Roadrunner Records. 2003. RR 8457-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ a b Lambgoat, John (June 2, 2002). "Killswitch Engage interview". Lambgoat.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference metalreview1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b "Killswitch Engage land new frontman". Blabbermouth.net. July 4, 2002. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "It's Official: Jesse Leach Rejoins Killswitch Engage". Blabbermouth.net. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  10. ^ a b Ditzel, Eleanor. "Killswitch Engage". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2012.