Alive or Just Breathing
Encyclopedia
Alive or Just Breathing is the second studio album by American metalcore
band Killswitch Engage
. It was released on May 21, 2002 through Roadrunner Records
. It is the last album to feature vocalist Jesse Leach
. The album's title comes from a lyric in the track "Just Barely Breathing.", It is also one of the first albums to spark the mainstream rise of the metalcore
genre in the early 00s
. The album is 33rd in Music Radar's list of Greatest Heavy Metal albums and is featured in IGN
's honorable mentions in their list of 25 Greatest Metal Albums.
A music video was made for the track "Life to Lifeless", which shows the band performing live in black and white. Another music video directed by P. R. Brown
was made for the track "My Last Serenade."
It is the last album to feature vocalist Jesse Leach
, who left the band because of family issues and depression from being on the road. It is also the last album to feature Adam Dutkiewicz
as the drummer, who immediately switched to guitar after production for the album finished.
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
. It was released on May 21, 2002 through Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
. It is the last album to feature vocalist Jesse Leach
Jesse Leach
Jesse David Leach is an American musician from Providence, Rhode Island, and is best known as being the former lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and later for being the vocalist for the blues rock band Seemless...
. The album's title comes from a lyric in the track "Just Barely Breathing.", It is also one of the first albums to spark the mainstream rise of the metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
genre in the early 00s
Background
Alive or Just Breathing managed to peak at #37 on the Heatseekers Chart. Although the album did not receive much mainstream success, it received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics and is also recognized for the rising popularity of metalcoreMetalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
. The album is 33rd in Music Radar's list of Greatest Heavy Metal albums and is featured in IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's honorable mentions in their list of 25 Greatest Metal Albums.
A music video was made for the track "Life to Lifeless", which shows the band performing live in black and white. Another music video directed by P. R. Brown
P. R. Brown
Paul R. Brown is a graphic designer, photographer, and music video director.In 1996 he founded Bau-da Design Lab, which currently operates out of Los Angeles and New York. P.R. Brown is well-known for his album designs for musicians such as Mötley Crüe, Korn, Godsmack, and early in his career he...
was made for the track "My Last Serenade."
It is the last album to feature vocalist Jesse Leach
Jesse Leach
Jesse David Leach is an American musician from Providence, Rhode Island, and is best known as being the former lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and later for being the vocalist for the blues rock band Seemless...
, who left the band because of family issues and depression from being on the road. It is also the last album to feature Adam Dutkiewicz
Adam Dutkiewicz
Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz is an American musician, recording engineer and music producer, best known as a guitarist and backup vocalist from Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.-Biography:...
as the drummer, who immediately switched to guitar after production for the album finished.
Track listing
- The thirteenth track is a hidden track with a length of 2:50.
Band
- Jesse LeachJesse LeachJesse David Leach is an American musician from Providence, Rhode Island, and is best known as being the former lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and later for being the vocalist for the blues rock band Seemless...
- lead vocals - Adam DutkiewiczAdam DutkiewiczAdam Jonathan Dutkiewicz is an American musician, recording engineer and music producer, best known as a guitarist and backup vocalist from Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.-Biography:...
- drums, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
in 'My Last Serenade' Video - Joel StroetzelJoel StroetzelJoel Michael Stroetzel is best known as one of two guitarists from the Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.Stroetzel's guitar style is influenced by the bands Slayer, Anthrax, Zakk Wylde, as stated on the World Ablaze DVD....
- all guitars - Mike D'AntonioMike D'AntonioMichael "Mike" D'Antonio is best known as the bass guitarist and founder of Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage and of the band Overcast....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Additional musicians
- Tom GomesTom GomesTom Gomes is a former drummer for the metalcore bands Aftershock, Catchthirteen, and Killswitch Engage.He joined Killswitch Engage after the completion of the recording of their 2002 record, Alive or Just Breathing, and participated in the Road Rage UK tour of 2002 and the Ozzfest of 2003, after...
- drums in 'My Last Serenade' video - Becka Dutkiewicz - Backing vocals on "My Last Serenade"
- Philip LabontePhilip LabontePhilip Steven Labonte is an American musician from Massachusetts, best known as the lead singer of the American metalcore band All That Remains and formerly of Shadows Fall.-History:...
- Backing vocals on "Self Revolution" and "To The Sons Of Man"
Production
- Daniel Moss - Photography
- Mike Gitter - A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
- Andy SneapAndy SneapAndy "Undie" Sneap is an English record producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is best known for producing and mixing many acclaimed heavy metal albums.-Musician:...
- Mixing and mastering