5 Best Killswitch Engage Riffs

[@peteplaysmusic]

Killswitch Engage got riffs! Okay, so this is more than 5 riffs (kind of a medley) but, when you have riffs this good, how could I not do more than 5!?

[@Xarosai]

Howard Jones voice is just perfect too! That's why I love Light The Torch! 😁

[@ulrikbrndsted9891]

That was my first thought too, how can you pick 5!?

[@TheHitmann069]

As an 80's hair metal head and guitarist, I'd never heard any Killswitch until my Son introduced me to them. Been 'engaged' ever since. Well played Sir. 🎸❤️👏🏻👊🏻

[@siddharthdeshmukh8118]

Some time ago, I read an articele where many modern (Metalcore/Deathcore/Djent) bands mentioned their favourite songs from the 80s. Adam D of Killswitch Engage named "Still Of The Night" and that's how I discovered Whitesnake and many other Hair metal bands (Dokken and Ratt are my favourite).

[@carlosalbertomunozgiron6089]

They are the fathers of this genre if i am not mistaken and that is a title well deserved

[@BIGEUSMC]

My son turned me onto Trivium when they first came out and I’ve been hooked on them, Killswitch and most other metalcore. Pushing 60 but still making the house shake

[@donniegraybeard9620]

Can you really even have a, "five best," with Killswitch? It's all too good!

[@otjunior]

You can say it’s his top 5 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@carlosalbertomunozgiron6089]

Yeah, be Howard time or Jesse time, they are mostly fucking good

[@nickjanssen2275]

I remember back in my Highschool years on my last day of being a senior,I turned on my car and arms of sorrow started playing and with the cool sunny day driving to school with that song blasting,and then after school having the same song blasting driving home,so now every time I hear arms of sorrow or killswitch it just reminds me of the last days of school

[@stipser1]

In due time (including the verses) is one of my all time favorites

[@Stand1ngBear]

'Alive or Just Breathing' was one of the very first metal albums I've ever owned. That opening rift of My Last Serenade was the most awesome thing I had ever heard at that time.

[@mayatmaot]

My fave killswitch engaged song will always be "this fire"

[@kanoaikawach]

Making his way to the ring... weighing in in at 215 pounds.. from Chicago, Illinois... C M PUNK~

[@InitialDreadly]

I thought this comment was actually on the "this fire burns" tab I had playing in the background as I read through the comments. Glad to know im not the only one

[@mayatmaot]

Even through the darkest days, this fire burns always.

[@brbqsauce]

Such a nice video. Don't listen to them as much as I used to in my days of youth. Great riffs and Adam produces great squeals.

[@xenokitty]

Alive or just breathing is my favorite album. Glad you included it

[@xXJayeDuBXx]

Last Serenade is such an amazing song!!

[@GregJonson]

My personal favourite is Reject Yourself. There's something about riffs in e minor played in drop C that's just *chef's kiss*

[@bradenleahy146]

Reject Yourself is my absolute favourite Killswitch song. Good taste, sir!

[@alexhollon7526]

It's also the PERFECT album closer. It just ends so epic and yet satisfying. As Daylight Dies is my personal favorite of theirs. Hell, while I've listened to many other bands since then, it's probably still my favorite record period.

[@villainsinvitro]

​@@alexhollon7526I would argue the same! I can't wait to see what Howard and Adam are cooking up now since they were the quintessential KsE

[@nowanknows8979]

Love this take on the 'best riffs' genre, sounds much better than 5 separate riffs with hard breaks inbetween

[@zcuric]

The Crownless King - so good, so underrated.

[@djargen]

The riffs from their song "Life To Lifeless" are also really good

[@imsomeone2263]

Goated drums in the song too

[@KasbashPlays]

Pete took me back to my college days in an instant. Great stuff.

[@stupotter6709]

Genuinely Killswitch have so many GOAT riffs!!

[@thedanielspindler]

Rose of Sharyn chorus riff is AMAZING! Has to make the cut for best KSE riffs.

[@PhantomWowfull]

my first few years on guitar i was learning every single KE songs, love their riffs

[@GreigSills]

Nailed it dude. One of my top 3 bands. Just sooooo many killer riffs.

[@metalzen3480]

Crazy that as an old "metal dude" I didn't even give this band a listen till around 2011ish (the Howard Jones material first) as I was stuck in a rut listening to the same old favorites that I had been listening to for years. Here in the US at that time they got alot of airplay on SXM Octane. Had just gotten the service for free with a vehicle and I can still remember hearing them for the first time. (I can't be 100% but it was probably Rose of Sharon.) I honestly was blown away by their songs, the vocals, drums, guitars, everything! This band unlocked for me the "ear tweak" I needed to appreciate growling vocals and subsequently lead me down a path of new musical discovery! That said I think not only their riffs and melodies but their guitar sound is one of if not my absolute personal favorite metal guitar tone, (ugh, sorry Master of Puppets, I still love you too!" just incredible sonically! My entire gym playlist is still focused around Killswitch, as well as other bands in the Metal Core genre (Is this right? lol idk, I'm old) Love this band, cheers man!

[@jessetate9701]

Been a KSE since 2009! Great riffs

[@cyberflightfpv4184]

Kse has been my favorite band side by side with ill nino since 2001~2002 the shows they put on are some of the best memories of my life. Just got to see ill nino in bar 2 weeks ago and it was a dream. I hope to see kse in a small venue one day and get to sit down with them and just bs like i did with ill Nino.

[@jeffspidle2495]

NEED MORE!!

[@Barrsie]

The Australian release of The End of Heartache had a bonus CD with some live tracks. 'My Last Serenade' was my favourite live rendition of the song. The energy was insane, the tone was absolutely crushing and the pinch harmonics going back and forth during the song were god-tier. I miss that CD

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’ll always love The End of Heartache since that was the first song from them I ever heard and is still one of my absolute favourites from them

[@encompassthyeclipse7278]

Loved this upload man, Great playing and tone

[@zerofender]

Perfect list actually

[@DhavalVaghela56]

Amazing stuff Pete! Love the tone and the riffage 🤘

[@bryanmartin8336]

Haven't seen an Amarok in a hot minute. Other than mine. I see that all the time.

[@Seetherfan25]

Same. Havent seen it since i was watching vids cause i wanted to buy it. But i chose the schecter c6 pro instead

[@yeaitsmescott]

Can't wait for their new album.

[@НародныйДепрессант]

And the vocals are in my head, goosebumps

[@oSileyCT-7212]

The End Of Heartache 😢

[@mikeybautista1294]

Those riffs really are bangers. But that guitar steals the show.

[@jon4904]

I'M LOVING YOUR TONE,,,AND ALL OF YOUR CONTENT AND VIDEOS,,,ARE SO FIRE ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@neonbelly4]

Reject yourself didn't make it, i think it's their best riffs. Awesome playing anyway, always looking forward for Pete's videos

[@adamauzmendi7851]

Agreed

[@drej1714]

My favorite would have to be "Bid Farewell"!!!

[@mexicanmaggot666]

Killswitch fucking KILLS!! One of my favorite bands.

[@337BLOOMLEE]

Nice work, gr8 band... thanks 4 sharing

[@thomassochacki128]

Vide Infra and Temple from the Within are awesome.

[@terdsie]

I've never listened to Killswitch - no reason, just haven't gotten around to it. These are beautiful riffs. I'll have to check them out now.

[@SKGDK]

Nice one, Pete 👌

[@joshmore7175]

This Fire Burns should absolutely be on this list

[@iijj]

I didn't know this band, so I genuinely thought that Pete was gonna show us 5 riff in which the authors used (engaged) a kill switch knob on their guitars, lmao

[@nikkmorse]

Could listen to you all day pete 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@racerdeth]

I remember hearing My Last Lemonade on the rock channels as a frustrated metalhead (turn of the century teen metalheads will understand) and thinking "finally, some riffs!" Instantly hooked.

[@HYPERPEACE]

Just Let Go is probably my favourite riff, well that bridge, is incredible. Life to Lifeless is probably the dirtiest metal riff I've ever heard, love it for that reason.

[@neilweir-smith8228]

Aaaaaaa getting to see KE for the first time in a few months when they come and open for Maiden.

[@psychosis8429]

Yes I love this Killswitch Engage is my favorite band of all time

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

Just wonderful. Great work. 😊

[@kylenewberry8598]

In Due Time is such an under rated KSE song.

[@Shelby8371]

Adam is a GOD

[@slicksmick89]

Fantastic

[@ThePhilTrain]

In the Unblind was underrated. Infact, their whole first album was.

[@JamieSlays]

this is sick maaaaate lets do one together !

[@Urdarkottur]

it's just gorgeous! I can't stop shaking my head!!! total, destroying mega like! it's just gorgeous! I can't stop headbanging! totally destroying megalike! ❤❤❤❤❤ 🍺

[@stereoboost]

Break the silence is my favorite

[@InitialDreadly]

I was a bit sad to not hear this fire burns in here, but these are all good picks regardless

[@uwvadertje]

Look into corriosion of comfirmity still my fave band

[@delapan_belas1988]

Awesome

[@brownpunk1794]

Drop c all riffs?

[@psychosis8429]

Yes

[@MartinvonBargen]

KSE aren't my fave band by a long stretch, but I like watching Pete play as I always get song ideas after he posts a new vid. 🤘🤘

[@peteplaysmusic]

Thank you 🙏

[@SteveMostou]

My top 5 also

[@JaxTheRiffer]

What about Be One and those sick pre chorus and chorus riff??

[@petrovichluzhin]

Great tone. What are you using?

[@jessemilstead810]

I really can’t say “arms of sorrow” grabs the same…. How do you say it… Things I want it to as in due time does. From that older era. “This Fire,” or “Breath life.” Does

[@emimele]

Nice play, as always! 🤘🏼What string gauge are you using? thanks ❤

[@lexcallahan3055]

That My Curse riff though!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrTubularBalls]

Ver yice! I remember learning these riffs (or similar ones, for copyright reasons I guess ) from an issue of Guitar Techniques. I had a blast playing them over the backing tracks! Took me a long time, but I nailed them all except one. I couldn't get it quite up to 190bpm(!). How did you get the clean sound in the intro? Sounds like there's chorus on it, but what else? What amp?

[@peteplaysmusic]

Thanks! It’s Archetype Rabea on one of the clean presets and I added LOTS of of compression and a bit of chorus :)

[@DrowningTimeOfficially]

Pete how are you satisfied with the amarok? i had trouble with the neck pickup

[@xray6115]

cool

[@dethskullcrusher]

This are the classics, but i do think The Crownless King has one of the best riffs the band has ever produced.

[@jedcox353]

Crownless king is almost exactly the same song as Down for Life by Testament

[@lichtsmonch]

😮

[@alexhollon7526]

Honestly, this band has a spotless catalog. You could start at any record and have a good time. Sure, some records are better than others. But there isn't one that's actually objectively bad. At worst, it's just slightly off.

[@albolders6688]

PsyOpus next?

[@Pega5us2400]

C'è chi ha scremmato durante l'intro di my curse e c'è chi mente🗿

[@villainsinvitro]

Where is Reject Yourself???

[@soullessSiIence]

Damn, only 7K views .. Guitar content on KZbin has reached new lows

[@peteplaysmusic]

Guitar content on KZbin is fine, I think. The key is consistency, which is something I'm working to improve on. Thanks for watching! :)

[@eldonhopps7715]

Forgive me for asking but is this just drop A

[@peteplaysmusic]

It’s Drop C :)

[@eldonhopps7715]

@peteplaysmusic how do you tune to c on a 7 string sorry if that's ignorant. I just got one recently and it's a bit of a learning curve

[@peteplaysmusic]

@eldonhopps7715 No worries! For a 6 string usually, you’d tune down to C G C F A D (Lowest string to highest string). For a 7 string you’d do exactly the same but add a low G on the lowest string, so the full tuning would be G C G C F A D (low to high). Hopefully that makes sense?

[@eldonhopps7715]

@@peteplaysmusic do I tune Down or up. I feel like I should tune down right??

[@peteplaysmusic]

Yep, tune down and you might want to use thicker, heavier gauge strings, although you don’t have to. I’d recommend the Ernie Ball Power Slinky set (the purple ones). So you’ll tune your 7 string down to G C G C F A D (low to high). If you’re playing along to the KSE riffs in this video, you’ll just kind of ignore the lowest G string because they only use 6 strings. Hope that makes sense?

[@NoOverXplain]

Indeed those are the worst kse riffs,you oughta know tons of staffs out there buddy

[@MikeJones-qe8st]

Can't actually hear what you're playing man, which is a shame as I love Killswitch

[@awakennomore]

Gotta disagree. Not that these are bad choices. But no "Breathe Life" or "Eye of the Storm"? Come on now.

[@Blakzale]

Reject Yourself?

[@adamauzmendi7851]

100%

[@ProfessiAnaL9]

Agree @artiomofff