Bay Area metal icons MACHINE HEAD have released ‘Civil Unrest’, a 2-song digital single, featuring A-side, ‘Stop The Bleeding’ and B-side, ‘Bulletproof’, with the former featuring additional guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman, Jesse Leach. This pair of fierce protest anthems were both written days after the back-to-back murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. They are not for the faint of heart.
Stream or purchase the incendiary tracks here – https://nuclearblast.com/mh-civilunrest
The gritty performance video was directed and edited by Mike Sloat, shot on location on the streets of Oakland, CA, with Jesse’s part filmed in Kingston, NY with David Brodsky.
Watch it here –
Vocalist / guitarist Robb Flynn shares the inspiration behind the release: “I wrote and sang the lyrics on Wednesday May 27th 2020, the day that the four officers who murdered George Floyd were (originally) not charged with anything. This day was engulfed in protests and riots across America. I drove into Oakland, past large demonstrations already happening and in a fury wrote down everything I was feeling after watching the horrific footage. Within hours, what I wanted to say, what I needed to say had been recorded in the song.”
“I decided to sing it over a song called ‘Stop The Bleeding’, that we had recorded back in December. 2018 with Jared [MacEachearn, MACHINE HEAD bass guitar] and Carlos Cruz [Warbringer] on drums.
‘Stop The Bleeding’ features a guest appearance from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman, Jesse Leach, seeing Flynn and Leach trading lyrical lines that spit anger and frustration at current events.
Flynn continues, “I had been speaking with Jesse for maybe 6 months about singing on the song, as it always had a little bit of a Killswitch vibe to me. Unfortunately (or fortunately), our schedules hadn’t lined up, but with the subsequent lockdown from coronavirus, we had time to make it work. After what happened to George Floyd, I sent him the lyrics I’d written and he replied saying he was “100% on board”. Jesse is someone I consider to be a pioneer and in many ways, one of the men who changed the face of metal. His contribution to this song made it extremely powerful and it’s an honor to have him be a part of it.”
Jesse Leach mirrors the sentiment, stating,“Being asked to be part of this song is an honor. Yes, because it’s Machine Head, but more importantly, this is a message that needs to be heard and spread. These issues concerning abuses of power and racism are timeless. I have written about these previously and I’ll write about them again. I think Robb really nailed this one, both lyrically and sonically. My hope is this song helps awaken those who hear it. Robb has been a frequent voice of the voiceless in these times, so teaming up with him is a no brainer. We need more of our Metal Community to speak out on social issues and help raise awareness, especially during these crucial times. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, it transcends language and culture. This is the reason we as musicians need to do our part to spark thought and discussion on these types of issues. We can make a difference through music and we can help stop the bleeding.”
MACHINE HEAD are donating a significant portion of their streaming proceeds from ‘Stop The Bleeding’ to http://grassrootslaw.org, the organization representing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
The B-side, ‘Bulletproof’ is a new song, also recorded with Carlos and Jared back in December 2018. Flynn adds, “The lyrics for ‘Bulletproof’ were finished in the aftermath of not only the Ahmaud Arbery murder at the hands of white supremacist, but everything twisting out of control in our World. The isolation and craziness of the pandemic, the lockdown protesters storming government buildings with AR-15‘s, as well as the blatant lies and conspiracies pouring out of our political leaders mouths, hour by hour, day after day.”
The songs needed something visually provocative as ‘sleeve artwork’, so the band looked to longtime collaborator Strephon Taylor who hand illustrated various elements from this moment in time, to make a powerful statement about America and the World.
Both tracks were produced by Robb Flynn (Machine Head, Roadrunner United, Sworn Enemy, Dress The Dead) and engineered by Zack Ohren at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with the devastating mix being handled by long-time MACHINE HEAD collaborator and producer extraordinaire, Colin Richardson, together with Chris Clancy at Audioworks Productions UK. The tracks were mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.
STOP THE BLEEDING lyrics
The endless scroll of human tragedy
I swipe along as the days go by
Another brother murdered out in the streets
I connect to the shame, we don’t know what it’s like
Chef Brian Tsao, known for his appearances on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay and CHOPPED shows, as well as his high-energy, heavy metal chef persona on Metal Injection’s Taste of Metal web series, is pleased to announce Small Bites Of Hope, a fundraiser event on May 9 at VANDAL, the restaurant from Executive Chef and Food Network star Chef Chris Santos.
The event will be a fundraiser for the non-profit Hope For The Day, a Chicago-based charity whose mission is to achieve proactive suicide prevention through mental health education and outreach. Tsao supported the cause in 2017 with the inaugural Small Bites Of Hope held in New York’s Hit Factory Studio on May 18.
This year’s Small Bites Of Hope fundraiser features returning host Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage, who had this to say about the event: “I’m honored to be a part of Small Bites Of Hope once again. Raising awareness and keeping the topic of mental health on the forefront of our community is crucial. It helps people realize they are not alone in this struggle.”
Tsao is teaming up with Santos to deliver their staple menu of street food and small-bite hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails. Santos added, “It’s been a pleasure to have Chef Brian Tsao not only a part of our family at Beauty & Essex but also in the music industry! We’re excited to host this fundraiser and to bring attention to the help that is needed for all of those affected by mental health issues. I’m excited to join Chef Brian Tsao on shedding light on this cause.”
Sponsors of the 2018 Small Bites Of Hope event are Metal Blade Records, Black Light Media, Revolver, Jackson Guitars, Dark Matter Coffee, and Nightowl Studios.
Tickets will be sold online here, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting mental health education and proactive suicide prevention programs around the world.
About Hope For The Day:
Hope For The Day’s mission is to achieve proactive suicide prevention through outreach and mental health education. Hope For The Day is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based out of Chicago, IL. For more information go to hftd.org
About Nightowl Studios:
Nightowl Studios is a production company and creative studio based out of Los Angeles, specializing in advertising for comic books, video games, TV/Film and more.
About TAO Group:
The TAO group are a leading restaurant and nightlife company that develops, owns and operates many of the most successful food, beverage, and nightlife entertainment venues in the United States.
Roadrunner Records have reported that Adam D. and Jesse Leach of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE were interviewed by Impericon the last time they were on tour in Europe—here are their answers to the site’s infamous “25 Questions,” which include impossible choices like: Black Flag or Black Sabbath? Metallica or Slayer? Terminator or Rocky? and many more. Watch now!
Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE — singer Jesse Leach, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D’Antonio, guitarist Joel Stroetzel and drummer Justin Foley — have set “Disarm The Descent” as the title of their upcoming sixth album. The 12-track record is due out April 2 on Roadrunner and is the follow-up to 2009’s self-titled release. “Disarm THE Descent” is the band’s first album with original singer Leach at the vocal helm since 2002’s now-classic, genre-defining “Alive or Just Breathing”. Leach returned to the band in January 2012 after a decade-long absence.
The first single, “In Due Time”, will be made available digitally on February 5. Album pre-orders will kick off in early February, as well, with more details forthcoming.
“Disarm The Descent” was selected by Alternative Press magazine for its “Most Anticipated Albums of 2013” issue, and the band was profiled in Guitar World as one to watch in 2013. Clearly, buzz from fans and the metal and hard rock community regarding new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE remains deafening.
“It is with a grateful spirit that we prepare for this record’s release,” Leach said. “From the music, to the lyrics, to the artwork, we are all proud of what we have accomplished. To me, this is by far my best vocal performance, much thanks to Adam‘s guidance and faith in my abilities. I am very grateful to be where I am in life, back in an amazing band with a record we are all excited for the world to hear. Thanks to all the fans for their warm welcome back and their undying love for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.”
2012 marked a busy year for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.
With Leach firmly installed as the frontman for the last 12 months, the band spent its summer on the road. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE shook the bedrock of venues across the country as part of the first-ever Trespass America tour alongside FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.
The band recently embarked on a tour that celebrated the 10th anniversary of “Alive Or Just Breathing”. They performed the album in full, with a few fan favorites and hits from their gold-selling albums, 2004’s “The End Of Heartache” and 2006’s “As Daylight Dies”, sprinkled into the setlist. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE were also profiled by Decibel in the magazine’s highly respected “Hall of Fame” feature for “Alive Or Just Breathing”.
In between tours, the band put its nose to the grindstone to work on what would become “Disarm The Descent”, with Dutkiewicz producing. The wheels have been turning for the past year, as the band supplemented recording with touring. The time is upon us for the next chapter of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, who were at the forefront of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal resurgence that defined the ’00s and have remained vital into the new decade.
“Disarm The Descent” track listing:
01. The Hell In Me
02. Beyond The Flames
03. New Awakening
04. In Due Time
05. A Tribute To The Fallen
06. The Turning Point
07. All That We Have
08. You Don’t Bleed For Me
09. The Call
10. No End In Sight
11. Always
12. Time Will Not Remain
“Disarm The Descent” was mixed by veteran British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY and NEVERMORE.
“[The recording process] was great,” Leach told Loudwire. “I came off tour I was filled with energy, ready to go, we knocked out a bunch of stuff. I had joined the band, the record was there, we’re on tour so I really didn’t have time to write. I took the past two months not only recording but writing so I’m there with an idea, being in the other room writing and going to Adam saying, ‘Here’s my idea I just wrote, what do you think?’ So there’s real spontaneity some of the songs that we just finished up. I had maybe five or six solid ideas when I came off tour and the rest had to be developed as we were recording it. It was exciting but at the same time tough because for me I’m digging deep down into my emotions and my psyche trying to come up with stuff that is honest and emotive and relevant, hopefully for the listener. It’s tiring but well worth, anything that’s worth achieving you got to suffer a little bit for it. I think mentally and spiritually and a little bit physically we were suffering but all of that made for an amazing record that I’m really proud of.”
He added, “The music is definitely the fastest KILLSWITCH record ever. It’s very heavy but still maintains the signature KILLSWITCH hooky, melodic stuff there, too. There’s definitely melody attached, but I pulled out some new styles vocally, yelling and screaming and growling and layers and it sounds massive.”
Asked what the vibe has been working on the new record with the other members, Leach said, “These guys have welcomed me back with open arms and just very encouraging and digging the stuff that I’m doing and these guys were just like, ‘Wow! We’re really excited. We feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve been this excited about music,’ and that just makes me feel amazing. It makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans have already had the opportunity to hear one of the cuts that will appear on the upcoming CD: a rough mix of the song “No End In Sight” was recently leaked online, and as a result the band has started playing it live.
“That song is the weakest song on the whole record,” Leach told Loudwire. “That’s my opinion. I actually almost wouldn’t mind if it wasn’t even on the record because I think other stuff is much better, but probably since we played it and fans know it, we’ll put it on, but in my opinion, that’s definitely the weakest song. Now that the record is done, in retrospect, that would not be the song that we would be playing live.”
New KILLSWITCH ENGAGE song “No End In Sight” (demo version) audio stream:
On Tuesday, November 6, a benefit concert was held in NYC for Amnesty International and the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy relief fund. The house band, led by guitarist Todd Youth, performed a set of Bad Brains covers, joined by a wide variety of guests, including legendary Bad Brains frontman H.R., country singer Steve Earle, John Joseph of the Cro-Mags, Kyp Malone of TV On the Radio, Vernon Reid of Living Colour…and Killswitch Engage‘s Jesse Leach. You can watch video of Jesse singing “I Against I” below.
Killswitch Engage will launch a North American tour on November 24, on which they’ll be performing their Roadrunner debut, Alive Or Just Breathing, in its entirety – find a show near you!