It’s always a special occasion when Killswitch Engage comes to town. This time, however, fans got an extra special treat as the band brought along supporting acts August Burns Red and Light The Torch.

While some fans may have been unfamiliar with Light The Torch, many recognized the bands vocalist, former frontman of Killswitch Engage, Howard Jones. When original (and current) Killswitch vocalist Jesse Leach departed from band abruptly in 2002, Jones stepped in and recorded three albums with the band during his 10 year stint. This included the gold-selling  record The End of Heartache (Roadrunner Records) and its Grammy-winning title track. So understandably, this tour package created a lot of buzz.

Light The Torch took the stage to a packed house and gave the fans a fast-paced set that set the mood for the night. Pockets of fans familiar with the band’s tunes were jumping around excitedly from the get-go while the rest were quickly won over by their catchy grooves and Howard’s signature smooth vocals.

August Burns Red quickly whipped the room up into a frenzy as the fans lost their minds to tracks like “Bloodletting,” “White Washed” and a killer cover of “The Legend Of Zelda” theme song from their recent Phantom Sessions EP. They were a great choice for this bill.

Killswitch Engage took the stage and immediately proved why they are the undisputed kings of live metal by jumping right into “Unleashed” and “Hate By Design” with all the passion and energy they’ve been bringing for the last twenty-plus years. The setlist was peppered with classic Howard-era jams like “Daylight Dies” “This Fire” and “My Curse.” Some surprises of the night included “Strength of Mind” off 2016’s “Incarnate” and “Soilborn” which is notably acknowledged as the first track the band ever wrote and was featured on their debut record.

The real treat of the night was when Jesse brought Howard onstage for some old Killswitch classics. The crowd went absolutely apeshit when Howard and the gang burst into “Rose of Sharyn” and that energy persisted as he and Jesse shared vocals on “End of Heartache” and “The Signal Fire,” which they released together on Killswitch’s 2019 record “Atonement.” This was a cathartic experience as many had never seen Howard perform these songs and to others it offered a sense of closure in that they could hear those classics performed the way they were recorded just one more time.

All in all, this show was a very special experience and will certainly remain in the hearts and minds of those in attendance for years to come.

WORDS BY SCOTT SOMMER

PHOTOS BY EVIL ROBB PHOTOGRAPHY (from the Boston show at House of Blues