(New York, NY): On May 21, 2002, Killswitch Engage released their second album and Roadrunner Records debut, Alive or Just Breathing. The album went on to become definitive of the critic-created New Wave of American Heavy Metal genre, thanks to its explosive choruses, intensely personal, spiritual and provocative lyrics and ability to vacillate between extremely brutal and melodically beautifully. It was, in a word, a benchmark release.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the album, the band will be embarking on an intimate, crowd-pleasing Alive or Just Breathing 10th Anniversary Tour in the U.S, which launches on November 24 in San Bernardino and wraps on December 20 in Portland, Maine. KsE will be headlining the annual California Metalfest in San Bernardino, CA on November 24 to kick off the tour.
With original frontman Jesse Leach, who left the band shortly after AOJB’s release, back in the fold since early 2012, the time was more than perfect for the band to celebrate the album with a tour during which they will play the entire album from start to finish. They will also play other more recent hits.
It’s only appropriate that longtime Massachusetts cohorts Shadows Fall, who came up in the same scene as KsE, will serve as main support. Opening act Acaro also hail from Massachusetts, making it somewhat of a hometown affair.
“I honestly never thought I would have the opportunity to sing these songs on stage with Killswitch again,” Leach said. “Now here I am back in the band and celebrating 10 years of the release of this record. I am absolutely thrilled for this tour. I can’t wait to sing ‘Rise inside’ and ‘Just Barely Breathing’ among others. On top of it all, we have our good friends in Shadows Fall and Acaro joining us. This tour will be one we will all remember! “
Guitarist Joel Stroetzel echoed those sentiments, saying, “We’re all looking forward to this tour! It’s going to be a great time on all levels. Playing songs we haven’t played in many years, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Alive or Just Breathing with Jesse now back in the band, and just hanging out with some great old friends — we’re psyched.”
Advance tickets for all shows will be $20.02, in honor of the year the album was released. The band will also be making a limited number of tickets available per show for the price of $5.21, in honor of the date the album was released, to military personnel with the help of VetTix.org. Vet Tix pre-sale begins on October 2, while public onsales start October 5.
Alive or Just Breathing was also recently elected to Decibel’s esteemed and elite Hall of Fame. The album’s extensive Hall of Fame profile will be featured in the December issue of the magazine, arriving just in time for the tour.
Killswitch Engage Alive or Just Breathing Tenth Anniversary Tour Dates:
November 25 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
November 27 Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
November 28 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
November 30 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
December 1 Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont Club
December 2 Dallas, TX – Trees
December 4 St. Petersburg, FL – The State Theatre
December 5 Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
December 7 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
December 8 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
December 10 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
December 11 Columbus, OH – Al Rosa Villa
December 12 Toronto, ON – Opera House
December 14 Buffalo, NY – The Town Ballroom
December 15 Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
December 16 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
December 18 So. Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
December 19 Northampton, MA – Pearl Street
December 20 Portland, ME – State Theatre
The Rock Tribune 