| The Hymn of a Broken Man | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 18, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2007–2010 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 52:56 | |||
| Label | Roadrunner | |||
| Producer | Adam Dutkiewicz | |||
| Times of Grace chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Hymn of a Broken Man | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Single cover for "Strength in Numbers" | ||||
The Hymn of a Broken Man is the debut album by American heavy metal band Times of Grace,released on January 18,2011,through Roadrunner Records.
When touring the UK with Killswitch Engage, [1] guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz required emergency surgery on his back. [1] While in the hospital recovering,he began writing new material which he later recorded and demoed at home. [1] Dutkiewicz later contacted former Killswitch Engage bandmate and singer Jesse Leach about writing lyrics and recording vocals [1] feeling that he "[doesn't] think [he is] the greatest vocalist and lyricist" and "wanted a little help in that department." [1] Under the moniker Times of Grace,they began recording material in 2008 [2] with Dutkiewicz stating on the group's Myspace that the songs were "an epic mix of Metal/Rock/Pop/Shoe gaze &Punk. All of your metal expectations will be incorrect,we are pushing genre boundaries". [2] They hoped to release an album of finished material by the summer of 2009. [2]
After completing the recording of material in 2009, [3] Times of Grace returned in 2010 [4] [5] [6] to release their debut album. [4] Dutkiewicz recorded vocals, [1] guitars,bass and drums for the album [1] with Leach providing lead vocals and lyrics. [1] In September,they filmed a video for the single "Strength in Numbers", [7] with debut album The Hymn of a Broken Man scheduled for release on November 9. [7] However,the album's release was delayed [8] with a new release date of January 18,2011. [3] [9] The majority of songs on the album are played in Drop D tuning,although for the songs "Fight for Life","Until the End of Days","The End of Eternity" and "Fall From Grace" Adam uses a 7 string tuned to Drop A.
A limited CD/DVD edition was also released,featuring 13 companion videos made by Agata Alexander which present a visual interpretation of the album.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 69/100 [10] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |    [11] |
| AbsolutePunk | 80% [12] |
| Allmusic | [13] |
| Artistdirect | [14] |
| BBC Music | favorable [15] |
| Blistering | 8.5/10 [16] |
| PopMatters | 8/10 [17] |
| Rock Sound | 8/10 [18] |
The Hymn of a Broken Man received generally positive reviews,scoring a 69 out of 100 on Metacritic based on seven reviews. [10] Allmusic reviewer Phil Freeman commented that "Anyone who thought Times of Grace was going to represent some radical departure is bound to be disappointed. Anybody who comes to it expecting melodic metal with hardcore crunch,occasional bits of post-rock guitar,and angsty yet ultimately life-affirming lyrics,on the other hand,will be pleased." Rick Florino of Artistdirect gave the album a perfect score of five out of five,commenting that "The Hymn of a Broken Man functions as a heavy,heartfelt journey through pain," and that "Times Of Grace are the future. Let another new age begin."
Upon release,The Hymn of a Broken Man charted at number 44 on the Billboard 200,selling nearly 10,000 copies. [19] It also debuted at number 2 on the Hard Rock charts and number 13 on the Rock album chart overall as well.
All lyrics are written by Jesse Leach and Adam Dutkiewicz; all music is composed by Adam Dutkiewicz
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Strength in Numbers" | 4:16 |
| 2. | "Fight for Life" | 3:36 |
| 3. | "Willing" | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Where the Spirit Leads Me" | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Until the End of Days" | 4:21 |
| 6. | "Live in Love" | 3:49 |
| 7. | "In the Arms of Mercy" (instrumental) | 1:54 |
| 8. | "Hymn of a Broken Man" | 3:13 |
| 9. | "The Forgotten One" | 4:38 |
| 10. | "Hope Remains" | 4:49 |
| 11. | "The End of Eternity" | 5:52 |
| 12. | "Worlds Apart" | 4:33 |
| 13. | "Fall from Grace" | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 52:56 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Willing" (acoustic version) | 3:25 |
| Total length: | 56:22 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Strength in Numbers" (music video) | |
| 2. | "Strength in Numbers" (visual interpretation) | |
| 3. | "Fight for Life" (visual interpretation) | |
| 4. | "Willing" (visual interpretation) | |
| 5. | "Where the Spirit Leads Me" (visual interpretation) | |
| 6. | "Until the End of Days" (visual interpretation) | |
| 7. | "Live in Love" (visual interpretation) | |
| 8. | "In the Arms of Mercy" (visual interpretation) | |
| 9. | "Hymn of a Broken Man" (visual interpretation) | |
| 10. | "The Forgotten One" (visual interpretation) | |
| 11. | "Hope Remains" (visual interpretation) | |
| 12. | "The End of Eternity" (visual interpretation) | |
| 13. | "Worlds Apart" (visual interpretation) | |
| 14. | "Fall from Grace" (visual interpretation) |
| Chart (2011) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| German Newcomer Chart [20] | 7 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 [19] | 44 |
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [21]
Times of Grace
Additional musicians
| Production and design
|
Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbanding of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, and drummer Justin Foley. The band has released eight studio albums and three live performance albums. Their eighth studio album, Atonement, was released on August 16, 2019.
Alive or Just Breathing is the second studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 21, 2002, through Roadrunner Records. Alive or Just Breathing was Killswitch Engage's first album on Roadrunner and was recorded from October 2001 to February 2002. Produced by drummer and guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, this was the band's first album on a major label, which prompted them to write and record the album to the best of their abilities. Alive or Just Breathing has been viewed as a landmark album in the metalcore genre and was well praised upon its release by fans and critics. The lyrics, which were all written by vocalist Jesse Leach, were intended to bring a positive message through the music.
Howard Jones is an American metalcore vocalist best known as the former lead singer of Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed. He is the current vocalist of Light the Torch, formerly known as Devil You Know, and SION with YouTuber/guitarist Jared Dines.
The End of Heartache is the third studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on May 11, 2004, through Roadrunner Records. It is the first album to feature lead vocalist Howard Jones and drummer Justin Foley. It received positive acclaim from critics.
Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist of the metalcore bands Killswitch Engage, Aftershock and Times of Grace, as well as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the melodic death metal supergroup Serpentine Dominion.
Killswitch Engage is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage, released July 4, 2000 through Ferret Music. The album is the only release ever by Killswitch Engage to be released through Ferret, the band would later be signed to Roadrunner Records, where their follow-up LP, Alive or Just Breathing was released. The band's debut is considered to be one of the first ever successful albums in the metalcore genre, garnering a re-release five years after its original pressing. No songs in the album were released as singles.
Jesse David Leach is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the metalcore band Killswitch Engage. He is also a vocalist for Times of Grace and The Weapon. Leach co-founded Killswitch Engage in 1999, but left the band in 2002; in February 2012, he rejoined the group following the departure of vocalist Howard Jones. He currently resides in the Catskill Mountains in New York.
As Daylight Dies is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on November 21, 2006 through Roadrunner Records. It was produced by the band's guitarists, Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel.
Seemless was an American rock/metal group formed by ex-Shadows Fall/Unearth drummer Derek Kerswill, Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, and ex-Overcast/Killswitch Engage guitarist Pete Cortese.
Killswitch Engage is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. It was released on June 30, 2009 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's second album to be self-titled, the first being their debut album. It was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and Brendan O'Brien. The album's reception from critics and fans has been mixed, with praise for Howard Jones's vocals and criticism of Dutkiewicz's and O'Brien's production and the album's reliance on formula.
The Powerless Rise is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band As I Lay Dying. The album was released on May 7, 2010 in Europe, and on May 11, 2010 in the United States. The Powerless Rise debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 38,000. The album features three singles: "Beyond Our Suffering", "Parallels", and "Anodyne Sea". Music videos have been released for all three, with the latest one consisting of live footage. The album title is taken from their lyric of the song.
Times of Grace is an American metalcore band formed in Southampton, Massachusetts. The group consists of Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach while guitarist Joel Stroetzel, bassist Matt Bachand, drummer Dan Gluszak complete the touring lineup. An album was planned for 2009. However, the group remained largely inactive until 2010, releasing the single "Strength in Numbers", with their debut album, titled The Hymn of a Broken Man, released in 2011 through Roadrunner Records.
Darkness in the Light is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Unearth. The album was released on July 5, 2011, in Europe through Metal Blade Records. The album features Justin Foley of Killswitch Engage on drums, on all tracks.
Disarm the Descent is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. The album was released on April 2, 2013, under Roadrunner Records. It is the band's first album with Jesse Leach on vocals since 2002's Alive or Just Breathing. Killswitch Engage announced the return of Leach in January 2012, after vocalist Howard Jones parted ways with the group due to illness. The album received generally positive reception from professional critics.
"In Due Time" is the lead single from Killswitch Engage's sixth studio album, Disarm the Descent. The song is the band's first single to feature vocalist Jesse Leach since 2003's "The Element of One". The song charted at no. 23 on the Active rock chart and no. 26 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
Incarnate is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage, released on March 11, 2016. The band released "Strength of the Mind" as a promotional single from the album on December 11, 2015 and revealed the title of the album six days later. The band toured to promote the album with Memphis May Fire and 36 Crazyfists. On January 26, 2016, the track listing was revealed. Three singles were released from the album: "Strength of the Mind" on December 11, "Hate by Design" on January 29 and "Cut Me Loose" on February 19. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most successful album on the chart, and reached No. 1 on both the Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts, with 33,000 copies sold on its first week of release.
Serpentine Dominion is an American death metal supergroup consisting of Killswitch Engage lead guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, Cannibal Corpse vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and former The Black Dahlia Murder drummer Shannon Lucas. They released their debut album on October 28, 2016.
Atonement is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage, released through Metal Blade Records on August 16, 2019. Lead single "Unleashed" was released on June 25, and followed by "I Am Broken Too" in July which would later follow up with a music video in August, as well as "The Signal Fire" shortly before the album's release. The band began a co-headlining tour of North America with Clutch in promotion of the album in July.
"The Signal Fire" is a song by American metalcore band Killswitch Engage. The song was released as the third single from the album in August 2019. The song features guest vocals from Howard Jones, who was the band's lead vocalist from 2002 to 2012.
Songs of Loss and Separation is the second album by American rock band Times of Grace, released on July 16, 2021, through Wicked Good Records. It is their first album with drummer Dan Gluszak.
