Killswitch Engage takes off at Alley Katz

“Are you dead yet?” asked Killswitch Engage’s burly front man Howard Jones to an ecstatic crowd at Alley Katz on Aug. 19. Only the third show of their first headlining tour with opening acts From Autumn to Ashes, 36 Crazy Fists and 18 Visions – the band’s expectations are high.

Strong reviews of their new album “The End of Heartache,” killer live shows and an obligatory song on the “Resident Evil: Apocalypse” soundtrack, which hits stores Aug. 31, helped establish Killswitch Engage’s status as a ferocious metal act.

“We weren’t expecting to get a review (in Rolling Stone), especially a good one,” said Jones on the band’s tour bus. “They’re more interested in indie rock and bad indie rock.”

When asked about their influences, Jones answered, “Pizza, bagels, hot dogs. Wow!” followed by a belly laugh from drummer Justin Foley.

Smiling, Jones offered “Sorry, that was from the Simpsons,” and proceeded with a more serious response.

“Faith No More and Mr. Bungle,” he said. “Mr. Bungle’s ‘California’ is absolutely astounding.”

He also mentioned that the band enjoys power metal, especially The Darkness. “The Darkness is amazing. We all bought (the album) at the same time.”

Killswitch Engage was definitely the act with the most muscle. Besides Howard Jones’ slight resemblance to Vin Diesel, Killswitch completely obliterated the opening acts, which seemed more like fodder for the final set. Heavy hitters like “A Bid Farewell,” “Rose of Sharyn” and the new single “The End of Heartache” literally had teenagers and metal heads falling on the stage from the crunch of the audience. Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz announced that “everyone should stage dive” for the band’s last song “Serenade.”

The steely gnash of guitar strings, brutal vocal barks and paw pounding drums set the tone for the metal beast released into the muggy air that night as Richmond’s children leapt from the stage onto the sweaty heads of their peers.

Rock.