Killswitch Engage's THE END OF HEARTACHE is their first full-length album with singer Howard Jones, whom is all ready known for having a commanding stage presence and for shaking the stage when he jumps, on lead vocals. The rest of this line-up on this album consists of Adam Dutkiewicz on additional vocals and guitar as well as additional percussion, Joel Stroetzel on guitar,Mike D'Antonio on bass,and Justin Foleyon drums. Howard Jones's smooth vocals are heard and brought out very well on this album, and so are the multi-talents from the other band members. Adam Dutkiewicz also adds plenty of the loud energy-filled screams their first singer, Jesse David Leach, was known for to keep the old style alive while moving on with newer styles.

The album starts off with the same short but loud, shocking, intent, and energy-filled scream that their self-titled debut album did before the music starts jamming as the song, "A Bid Farewell", takes an original sound and beat of its own.The song has a very fast and heavy beat but also has some very deep depressing yet touching meaningful lyrics that Howard Jones brings out real well with his smooth vocals.

The album stays in high gear with the next song, "Take This Oath", only with some more intent lyrics that Howard Jones brings out excellently.

The album stays in high gear but slows down a little bit with the third song, "When Darkness Falls". There is a lot more depth and emotion in this song. Howard Jones really uses great emotion to bring out the lyrics excellently along with his vocals still being real smooth. The music also displays plenty of depth to go right along with the vocals perfectly.

The album really speeds up with the fourth song, The Rose Of Sharyn". The vocals stay smooth, though, and the instruments all go together with the vocals perfectly without getting sloppy or letting down even once to keep the fine art of this album alive.

The longest and most complete song on this album is the title track. The title alone pretty much says what the song is about. The lyrics are very sad, but very clever, realistic, and touching. Some examples are:

In Sorrow I Speak Your Name
And My Voice Mirrors My Torment
(Seek Me) For Comfort (Call Me) I'll Be Waiting
For The End Of My Broken Heart
Am I Breathing? My Strength Fails Me
Your Picture A Better Memory
For Comfort For Solace
(Seek Me) For Comfort (Call Me) For Solace
(I'll Be Waiting) For The End Of My Broken Heart

The lyrics are brought out excellently with so much depth and the right emotion for those sorts of lyrics. There is much depth to the music, too. There is also a great display of multi-talents from the other band members as well as good mixings of the rhythms and melodies. All the rhythms, melodies, vocals, and paces of this song go well together without getting sloppy in any way at all. There is a very great art to this song, and it very well deserves to be the title track.

All the songs on this album contain at least some of the great qualities mentioned in this review. The songs are also all unique in their own ways. The album is in great production as well.

That is not to mention the pretty awesome live photos of the band members on the inside cover. Each member is photographed individually in pretty good detail, including Howard Jones doing one of his famous jumps before shaking the stage.

Those who like their first two albums should like this album as well. Those who have enjoyed their concerts with Howard Jones singing for them should definitely like this album. This band is really progressing and only getting bigger and better as they go along. With the rate they are going, they should have a long and great future ahead of them.

Recommended: Yes