Concert Review: Killswitch Engage

Monday night at East Moline’s The Rust Belt felt less like a standard tour stop and
more like a summit of heavy music’s absolute best. The September 21st billing of
Killswitch Engage, Machine Head, Rivers of Nihil, and Judiciary was relentlessly
stacked, and every single band brought their absolute A-game to the packed
room.

Judiciary
Kicking off a Monday gig can be a thankless job, but Texas crossover-thrashers
Judiciary didn't care. They hit the stage with raw, unapologetic hostility. Frontman
Jake Collinson commanded the floor while the band dropped thick, punishing
grooves that immediately opened up the pit. It was a flawless burst of hardcore
energy that set a violent, glorious tone for the rest of the evening.

Rivers of Nihil
Next up, Pennsylvania’s Rivers of Nihil dragged the crowd into a heavier, much
more technical atmosphere. Leaning into their recent 2025 self-titled release,
bassist and vocalist Adam Biggs sounded absolutely gigantic. They managed to
weave towering, cinematic synth elements right into their brand of blistering saxophone infused death
metal, proving their progressive chops without ever sacrificing sheer aggression.

Machine Head
Having caught Machine Head all the way back in their Ozzfest days, I can
confidently say Robb Flynn and his crew are playing tighter right now than they have in years. Operating as direct support on a co-headlining run means they didn't have time for a sprawling "An Evening With..." set. Instead, they delivered a lean, devastating, all-killer-no-filler Bay Area thrash assault.
Flynn remains a total ringleader on stage, orchestrating circle pits with a knowing
grin. They wasted no time, launching straight into the crushing weight of "Imperium," and following it up immediately with the modern thrasher "CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE." From there, it was a sprint through some of their
heaviest material, with tracks like "Locust" and "Game Over" proving exactly why their signature brand of Bay Area aggression remains unparalleled. When the opening harmonics of "Davidian" hit to close the set, the venue practically shook. They played a set that felt like a headline show all its own.

Machine Head Setlist:
● Imperium
● CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE
● Game Over
● ØUTSIDER
● Locust
● BØNESCRAPER
● Davidian

Killswitch Engage
Then came the kings of metalcore. I’ve been following Killswitch Engage for over
two decades—dating back to seeing them tear up Chicago in 2004, and catching
them again last March. Watching them now, the band is operating at an absolute
peak. Adam Dutkiewicz remains the ultimate stage anomaly. He operates like a
human cartoon character, sprinting around the stage in his signature gym shorts
and pulling wildly exaggerated facial expressions, all while flawlessly shredding
some of the most punishing and precise riffs in modern metal.

But the real revelation of the night was Jesse Leach. Delivering a barrage of
anthems from "My Last Serenade" to "The End of Heartache," Jesse’s vocals have reached a new stratosphere. It’s a bold statement, but right now, Jesse’s live delivery—both his soul-tearing screams and soaring clean melodies—is even better than Howard Jones’s legendary era. He owns every single word, and you never once think to yourself "I wish that was Howard".  Jesse also dedicated "Aftermath" to some of the recently fallen such as Andy Williams.  He got political before "Strength of the Mind" telling the crowd to "love your neighbors" and while sounding like he was making a very left leaning statement about things needing to change, he insisted "no, no, no. This isn't about left or right. Fuck both sides". 

Killswitch Engage Setlist:
● Fixation on the Darkness
● This Is Absolution
● The End of Heartache
● Aftermath
● A Bid Farewell
● In Due Time
● To the Sons of Man
● Broken Glass
● Hate by Design
● Forever Aligned
● The Signal Fire
● I Believe
● Strength of the Mind
● Rose of Sharyn
● This Fire
● My Curse
● My Last Serenade

Four bands, a flawless Monday night, and a brutal reminder of why this genre’s
live shows remain unmatched.

Until next time...
If somebody falls in the pit, pick them up and keep the circle moving.

-Dittohead.