Interview

Babble & Beat - Many of your songs are extremely deep lyrically. What do you get inspired by?

Howard - Every song is individual, so it’s not like I have a set formula - or am a good writer [laughs]. I just get the music, get an idea and just run with it. It usually ends up being a chorus, and then I just wrap the song around it.

Babble & Beat - So, usually the music is already written.

Howard - Yeah, a lot of times the music is already written. Sometimes I’ll have stuff that I’ve already had, and it fits. A lot of times I just get a vibe – as intellectual as that sounds [laughs].

Babble & Beat - Since the last singer left, do you think you guys have changed at all with your music or do you think you have stayed with the same formula?

Howard - I think the only way we have changed is that we gained a hundred more pounds by me coming to the band [laughs]. Um... every band matures, and tries to progress – we still sound like Killswitch, but I probably write more sissy things [laughs].

Babble & Beat - I’m sure the Warped Tour is a million times different than headlining a normal tour. How is the Warped Tour atmosphere different?

Howard - Well, there’s a lot less 250-pound guys around, but we did Taste of Chaos and kind of got a vibe of what to expect, but it’s to a much grander scale here. You’re definitely dealing with a much younger crowd, and a lot of them aren’t really sure how to absorb us, or some of the more aggressive kids that come and watch us, but I don’t know, it’s just kind of worked out. Our usual show is just a lot of sweat and a lot of big dudes just yelling and stinking.

Babble & Beat - Are there fewer Mosh Pits at these shows?

Howard - Surprisingly no! There has actually been a pretty good amount of activity.

Babble & Beat - Now as far as the way the band sounds, you really set yourself apart from other heavy metal acts. As far as your singing, was that something that you tried to develop – having a different sound voice than a lot of heavy metal bands out there?

Howard - No, that’s just been something that I’ve been doing for a long time. I’ve always done heavy music with some singing in it. I’ve probably been doing that for 15-years. Since the first band I joined I was screaming and singing, so it’s just developed into what it is.

Babble & Beat - What was harder for you to develop – singing or screaming?

Howard - I don’t know. I haven’t given that much thought. Maybe, singing? It’s more of the transition between the two, going from singing to screaming, or going from screaming to singing. It’s usually just the transition – it gets a little weird.

Babble & Beat - You guys have had huge hype out there, especially in the last couple of years. Everyone knows Killswitch. You’re on Fuse all the time. Is it hard living up to the reputation when you guys go out and play?

Howard - I don’t know if we even have a reputation.

Babble & Beat - Sure you do.

Howard - Most people didn’t know who we were when we first started. Everyone says, ‘the first singer made the first album, and you guys blew up.’ Umm... you guys must not have been around for the couple years of touring where nobody knew who we were, and we were making a hundred dollars a night – if that. So, there’s a lot that went into it... I try not to think too much about that stuff, because then I think you start to deal with the whole ego and id, and man, pretty much in two days nobody goings to like our band, so we try to make the most of it now.

Babble & Beat - You think so?

Howard - That’s the nature of music. The band that you liked yesterday – you don’t even remember who they were until you dust off their CD because you had an old Coke can sitting on it. ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about these guys.’ You put the CD in...oh that sucks! You never know.

LINKS:
Killswitch Engage is currently a headliner on the Van's Warped Tour. To read our concert review, CLICK HERE.

Official Killswitch Engage
Official KsE MySpace - music clips!