Howard Jones (heavy metal musician)

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Howard Jones
Howard Jones onstage
Background information
Genre(s)	Metalcore
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Label(s)	Ferret Records, Roadrunner Records
Associated acts	Killswitch Engage, Blood Has Been Shed

Howard Jones(Born in 1977) is the current lead singer of metalcore band Killswitch Engage and tech metalcore band Blood Has Been Shed.

Jones is a longterm WWE fan, as confirmed in a recent interview regarding the WWE Wreckless Intent album, he confirmed it was a dream come true to work with the organization. Killswitch Engage's song 'This Fire Burns' is the current theme of ECW Extremeist CM Punk. Originally from Central Ohio (Columbus) area, he resides in the New England area where both his bands originated. His band success did not start until he relocated to Connecticut for his endeavour with Blood Has Been Shed.

After the release of The Novella of Uriel, the band went on tour, but Howard was eventually approached for a bigger project. Fellow New England metal band Killswitch Engage had lost their lead singer, Jesse Leach, and Howard auditioned to take his place. Howard Jones replaced the lead singer of Killswitch Engage, Jesse Leach, in July of 2002, shortly after the release of Alive or Just Breathing, Killswitch Engage's Roadrunner Records debut album.

Meanwhile, Blood Has Been Shed released their third album, Spirals, in 2003. Critical reviews were mixed, with some saying the album was a bit stray from the music found on I Dwell and Novella, while fans found it to be the band's most sonically-challenging album yet.

The first time fans heard Howard with Killswitch Engage was on a re-recording of the track "Fixation on the Darkness" on Alive or Just Breathing. Later, he would be heard on the song "When Darkness Falls", which was first released on the soundtrack for the movie Freddy vs. Jason. Finally, Killswitch Engage released their first album with Howard as the new singer, as well as Blood Has Been Shed drummer Justin Foley. The End of Heartache would spawn two successful singles, "Rose of Sharyn" and the Grammy-nominated title track, "The End of Heartache". There was a minor spot of controversy with some fans over the Grammy nomination, as the song that was picked was a remixed version that would eventually appear on the Resident Evil: Apocalypse soundtrack. The difference between the original recording and the remixed version is a matter of the song being sung in a traditional singing style rather than using the original scream track that appears on the album.

In November 2006, Killswitch Engage released their fourth album (and second with Howard Jones) entitled As Daylight Dies. The album has already spawned the single "My Curse", and it has been cited by the band through numerous interviews that the album recalls influences from bands in the NOLA music scene, as well as metal bands like Pantera and Machine Head.

Despite his frontman role in Killswitch Engage, Howard is still the lead singer for Blood Has Been Shed, and it has been stated that there will be a new album from the band sometime, but there has been no official date set.

Aside from singing, Howard has also taken on the role of a manager to new and upcoming artists. Currently, he manages two bands Twelve Tribes, and Mikoto. Howard is also managing producer Zeuss.

[edit] Discography

-Albums-

Blood Has Been Shed - I Dwell On Thoughts Of You (September 21, 1999; Ferret Records)
Blood Has Been Shed - Novella of Uriel (February 20th, 2001; Ferret Records)
Blood Has Been Shed - Spirals (March 11th, 2003; Ferret Records)
Killswitch Engage - The End of Heartache (May 11th, 2004; Roadrunner Records)
Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (November 21st, 2006; Roadrunner Records)

-Guest Appearances-
(not in chronological order)

"The Dagger" - Roadrunner United: All-Star Sessions
"Punch-Drunk Punk Rock Romance" - Every Time I Die: Last Night In Town
"Elysium" - 36 Crazyfists: Rest Inside The Flames
"Our Faces Fall Apart" - Demon Hunter: Summer of Darkness
"The World Behind" - Throwdown: Vendetta
"One Hell Of A Prize Fighter - Eighteen Visions: Vanity