Get ready for a musical reunion that’s been years in the making—and one that’s bound to stir up emotions. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and former frontman Howard Jones are still hashing out details with record labels for their highly anticipated BURN ETERNAL project. But here’s where it gets controversial: after years of silence, will this collaboration live up to the hype, or is it a nostalgia-driven gamble? In a recent chat with Ore Bihovsky on TotalRock’s Louder radio show, Dutkiewicz revealed that the album is finally complete. “It’s all ready to go,” he confirmed, though a release date remains elusive. “We’re still in talks with record labels, so that’s the next hurdle.” For fans, this update is both thrilling and frustrating—a reminder of how long this project has been simmering.
BURN ETERNAL, a stripped-down duo featuring Dutkiewicz and Jones, promises a sound that’s unmistakably rooted in their KILLSWITCH ENGAGE heritage. “It sounds like me and Howard,” Dutkiewicz explained, acknowledging his role as a songwriter for KILLSWITCH. But will it evolve beyond their past work, or simply retread familiar ground? That’s the question lingering in the minds of listeners. The project has been in the works for at least two years, with the album mixed in December 2024, yet its release remains shrouded in uncertainty.
And this is the part most people miss: BURN ETERNAL wasn’t born out of a grand plan but a simple text. As Dutkiewicz recalled, “Howard just hit me up. He was like, ‘Why don’t you write some music for me?’ And I was like, ‘Sure.’” By August 2023, Jones had shared on Instagram that 13 demos were in the works, with hopes of wrapping up the album “as soon as possible.” But here’s the kicker: Jones’ journey back to music hasn’t been easy. After leaving KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in 2012, he battled manic depression and bipolar disorder, eventually forming DEVIL YOU KNOW (later renamed LIGHT THE TORCH) with guitarist Francesco Artusato and drummer John Sankey. Their albums The Beauty of Destruction (2014) and They Bleed Red (2015) were well-received, but Jones’ return to the spotlight was far from seamless.
In a 2016 interview with Metal Hammer, Jones opened up about his mental health struggles: “I didn’t realize how bad I was… I thought the high levels of anxiety were just my lot in life.” His candidness sparked conversations about mental health in the music industry, a topic still fraught with stigma. But it also raises a bold question: Does the industry do enough to support artists battling personal demons? Jones’ return to music, as he told Heavy New York, was less about ambition and more about survival. “I was basically agoraphobic for three years… I went off the grid. I didn’t have a cell phone. I was gone.” His decision to “dip [his] toe in” wasn’t just a career move—it was a lifeline.
Now, as BURN ETERNAL teeters on the edge of release, fans are left wondering: Will this project redefine Jones and Dutkiewicz’s legacy, or will it be a footnote in their storied careers? And what does it mean for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, whose history with Jones ended abruptly 14 years ago due to his personal struggles? As bassist Mike D’Antonio told the Boston Globe in 2012, “It became very apparent we had to move on without him.” But with Jones back in the spotlight, old wounds—and old loyalties—are sure to resurface.
So, here’s the burning question: Is BURN ETERNAL a triumphant comeback, or a risky bet on past glory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s just getting started.
