CD REVIEW: Times of Grace - The Hymn of a Broken Man

(originally posted on www.411mania.com/music)

Contrary to what your average Hot Topic kid might tell you, groups like All That Remains, As I Lay Dying, and Killswitch Engage did not invent metalcore. That honor (or dishonor depending on your position) belongs to a number of bands that the majority of us would have a hell of a time recognizing by name. Rather, the groups mentioned above put the newly rising subgenre of heavy music in front of the public eye (or ear), by infusing it with a pleasing radio sensibility that the whole family could enjoy.
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In particular, Killswitch Engage's breakthrough release, Alive or Just Breathing, is credited with much of the trendsetting behind the "rage n' croon" metalcore phenomenon. The vocalist who carried them on this landmark album, Jesse Leach, left just as the group was truly beginning to garner acclaim; acclaim that only continued to blossom in the very capable hands of his replacement, Howard Jones. 

Killswitch have certainly released some worthy material with Jones at the helm, however, their patented formula of aggressive verses and "ray of sunshine" choruses has grown a little stale over the years. By the time their second self-titled album dropped in 2009, an unfortunate conclusion became apparent to many; the group had boxed themselves into a creative cul-de-sac.
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In 2008, lead guitarist and producer, Adam Dutkiewicz, was presented with an interesting opportunity when he found himself bed ridden from emergency back surgery. He continued to write new material, but instead of presenting it to the members of his standard gig, he enlisted Leach's talents to complete the new project.

In commenting on Times of Grace's new songs, Dutkiewicz described them as “an epic mix of Metal/Rock/Pop/Shoe gaze & Punk." He also stated in regard to the overall work: "All of your metal expectations will be incorrect, we are pushing genre boundaries”. That first part might be true, but I don't know how many will be sold on that last bit. Fortunately for these two men of many projects, that just might be enough. 

For as much acclaim as Killswitch Engage received for their later works, there were always those, "I liked them back when..." "tr00 fans" who continued to demand the return of the group's original voice. If The Hymn of a Broken Man is anything to go on, it looks like that stubborn bunch might have had a point. From the opening bellows, shouts, roars, and passionate wails in "Strength in Numbers" the faith is restored. Leach is unbelievable.

Times of Grace' first single "Strength in Numbers"

Leach has participated in a couple of projects since his departure from his first gig, but whether it was deficiencies in songwriting or simply not playing with the right people, his vocals never seemed to shine as brightly as they did during his early days with Dutkiewicz and company. With the duo reunited, that long dormant chemistry seems to have reawoken with a vengeance. Dutkiewicz's songwriting lays the perfect foundation for Leach's massive vocal range, allowing the prized singer to take center stage once again.

Whether it be his soulful croons in the acoustic standout "The Forgotten One" or his cataclysmic, tar and gravel vitriolics on "Until the End of Days," Leach, again, proves himself a master of his domain. As with Killswitch's earlier albums, the choruses on THOABM, make virtually every song memorable, even if you can see them coming a mile away. The title track is especially effective in this regard.

Times of Grace's second single, "The Forgotten One"

Okay, so the vocals are pretty phenomenal, but what about everything else?

Dutkiewicz commendably handles all of the instrumental and writing duties on this affair, in addition to his typical guitar and back-up vocal contributions. The guy is a one man band. As respectable and prolific as his work proves on this debut, it, unfortunately, falls a little flat.

Anyone familiar with the harmonized leads, chugga-chugga breaks, and double kick-drenched drumming, that nearly every popular metalcore band uses, will find little here that provokes or surprises. D' breaks out some slick tapping parts in "Live in Love" and "Worlds Apart" as well as a nifty delay driven passage in "Until the End of Days," but beyond that, it's fairly clear what the listener is getting here.

To his credit, Dutkiewicz knows exactly what he's doing. The sound he creates for THOABM is at times very moving, despite it being more or less "done to death". He knows precisely which strings to pull and chords to choose to create songs with an immediate and consuming emotional impact. This is a talent Leach, no doubt, benefitted greatly from. 

Adam D. is one talented musician and Jesse Leach is a hell of a vocalist, but, as a whole, it's hard to call The Hymn of a Broken Man anything better than good. It's leagues above anything Killswitch Engage and the rest of the sound-a-likes have put out recently, but the difference isn't originality; it's quality. If you enjoy the hyper-melodic whims of this style, you'll find this debut nothing but enjoyable. If you're looking for the next big thing, though, continue the pursuit.

3.5 devilsticks out of 5