Killswitch Engage have just shared new song “I Am Broken Too.” Listen and watch the lyric video below, which features singer Jesse Leach’s handwritten lyrics. The song appears on the band’s eighth album, Atonement, out August 16 via Music For Nations.
“This song is very near and dear to my heart,” Leach explains. “I wanted the listener to feel the urgency, the heaviness of the topic as well as a possible connection. Many people suffer from mental illness in one form or another. I want nothing more than for people to feel like they are not alone in this struggle. There is always someone there to help, to listen, and to be there for you. Don’t lose hope and don’t let your brokenness consume you. Broken can be fixed, or at the very least, maintained. No one is alone in this fight.”
“It’s about someone that I love dearly who had a breakdown, and it was somebody who was living a ‘normal life.’ On paper, you would look at this person and think he’s got it made; he’s doing great.
That person would conceal those issues and drink it all away or numb it in some sort of way.”
Leach goes on to talk about his own mental health issues and how when he was younger, mental health wasn’t talked about due to the stigma attached to it.
You can read the full interview on the Alternative Press website.
The band will donate a portion of the proceeds from the song to Hope for the Day, a Chicago-based non-profit organisation that focuses on suicide prevention by providing outreach and mental health education through the use of music and art.
Regarding the decision to work with Hope for the Day, Leach says, “I personally chose Hope for the Day to be the organisation we partner with for this song. I admire their tireless efforts to spread mental awareness and suicide prevention. The phrase and the hashtag #ItsOkNotToBeOk is a simple yet powerful statement. I think it coincides with #IamBrokenToo perfectly! Johnny Boucher and his organisation are out spreading the powerful message of connectivity and solidarity in this fight for understanding mental health issues. I’m honoured to have them on our team for this song and this movement to continue to raise awareness and keep the conversation going for mental health issues.”
Killswitch Engage are currently in the USA on a co-headline tour with Clutch. The band return to Europe for a headline run in the autumn, kicking off in Norwich, England on October 14 and wrapping up November 10 in Nuremberg, Germany. Support bands will be announced soon.
ATONEMENT TRACK LISTING:
1. Unleashed
2. The Signal Fire [featuring Howard Jones]
3. Us Against The World
4. The Crownless King [featuring Chuck Billy]
5. I Am Broken Too
6. As Sure As The Sun Will Rise
7. Know Your Enemy
8. Take Control
9. Ravenous
10. I Can’t Be The Only One
11. Bite The Hand That Feeds
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE IN EUROPE:
Mon 14th Oct – NORWICH (UK) UEA
Tue 15th Oct – BRISTOL (UK) O2 Academy
Thu 17th Oct – GLASGOW (UK) Barrowland
Fri 18th Oct – MANCHESTER (UK) Academy
Sat 19th Oct – BIRMINGHAM (UK) O2 Academy
Sun 20th Oct – LONDON (UK) O2 Academy Brixton
Tue 22nd Oct – BRUSSELS (BEL) AB
Wed 23rd Oct – AMSTERDAM (HOL) Melkweg
Fri 25th Oct – OBERHAUSEN (GER) Turbinenhalle
Sat 26th Oct – BERLIN (GER) Huxleys
Mon 28th Oct – HELSINKI (FIN) Circus
Wed 30th Oct – STOCKHOLM (SWE) Fryshuset
Thu 31st Oct – OSLO (NOR) Rockefeller
Fri 1st Nov – KARLSTAD (SWE) Nojesfabriken
Sat 2nd Nov – COPENHAGEN (DEN) Amager Bio
Mon 4th Nov – WARSAW (POL) Stodola
Tue 5th Nov – LEIPZIG (GER) Werk 2
Wed 6th Nov – MUNICH (GER) – Tonhalle
Fri 8th Nov – LAUSANNE (SWI) Les Docs
Sat 9th Nov – PRATTELN (SWI) Z7
Sun 10th Nov – NUREMBERG (GER) Loewensaal
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Metal Report Editor.
Ex guitarist in Zenopede, ex vocals for a goth covers band that was hailed as the future of Welsh music, former DJ, promoter and nightclub director. Writer for Gear4Geeks’ Blog4Geeks and owner of Gear4Geeks ltd. First published music critique was Kerrang letter of the Week.
Definitely has never been the future, present or past of Welsh music.