Justin Foley joined Killswitch Engage in the fall of 2003 after the departure of then-drummer Tom Gomes. His former bandmate, Howard Jones, had just joined the band as their lead singer and recommended Foley for the vacancy. A year later, Killswitch Engage would be nominated for a Grammy for their gold 2004 record The End of Heartache and be opening for Slayer as part of the Jagermeister Music Tour – a meteoric rise for a band that just five years prior was playing travelling hours to play basement shows in New England.
Now some 20 years later, Killswitch are on the verge of releasing their ninth studio album, This Consequence, in February through Metal Blade Records. Having welcomed original lead singer Jesse Leach back into the fold in 2012 following Jones’ departure, the band have released a number of successful albums over the past decade while touring the globe to play for their ravenous fanbase. Their latest effort is no exception, as it’s a tight collection of ten well-written songs that contain the classic elements fans have come to expect from a Killswitch record, while signifying another step in the band’s evolution.
A classically trained percussionist, Justin breaks the mold of the prototypical metal drummer. His influences range from Charlie Benante of Anthrax to obscure classical Russian composers, and his playing reflects the diversity of that range. The combination of his technical, savvy, and brutal playing alongside his Killswitch bandmates has allowed the band to rise to worldwide fame.
Justin spoke with me for about 45 minutes about a number of topics, including:
- the recording and songwriting process for This Consequence, how it differed from previous album cycles, and his personal contributions to the record.
- Killswitch’s upcoming North American tour, why metal bands are not playing New York City these days, and a discussion of lost local venues.
- how his training as a percussionist and playing with orchestras has influenced his playing and writing.
- the events that led to Justin joining Killswitch, reflecting on his whirlwind first year in the group with Howard Jones, and how their cover of “Holy Diver” came to fruition.
- a healthy discussion of MLB stadiums and the quest to visit each one, his documentation of the band’s live shows, and Killswitch’s obsession with The Price Is Right.
- reflections on the band’s success and a special moment with Charlie Benante of Anthrax.
Justin was a pleasure to speak with and more than generous with his time. With his self-deprecating sense of humor, he consistently downplayed his role in the group’s success, but twenty years in, his performances like on this record are a big reason why Killswitch Engage are such an incredibly successful band. Killswitch Engage’s ninth studio album, This Consequence, is due out on Metal Blade Records on February 21st.
Enjoy!
