Concert review: Killswitch Engage w/ Kublai Khan TX, Fit for a King, and Frozen Soul | 03.06.25, The Factory (with photo gallery)

Photo of Killswitch Engage’s Justin Leach by Laura Jerele

Last night at The Factory, metalheads gathered for a nearly sold-out show that was nothing short of electrifying. Despite it being a school night, fans showed up in droves, clad in the obligatory black concert shirt attire and ready to unleash their inner beasts. The evening kicked off early (no joke, it was a 6:30 start) with opening sets from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For A King, and Frozen Soul, each delivering their own brand of heavy, growl-infused metal that set the heavy tone for the night. The crowd showed up early, which I loved to see, so each band had a huge response from St. Louis—y’all did us proud! 

But it was the headliner, Killswitch Engage, that truly ignited the crowd. The band’s current lineup—vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D’Antonio, and drummer Justin Foley—brought it with an energy that was a good mix of old school metal, fun antics, and a ton of appreciation for their fans. Adam, ever the jokester, sported a shirt with an arrow pointing to his endless right labeled “I’m with stupid,” embodying his playful, irreverent stage persona. He egged the crowd on in a super fun way that I was really not expecting in the best possible way, and the fans ate it up!

And moshing. There was a lot of crowd surfing and the mosh pit was a swirling vortex of mild chaos and crowd surfers riding the wave of metal mayhem. I loved the old school metal throw-out when mid-set, Jesse threw out a Cro-Mags song reference, urging the audience to “cling to unity in these times of despair” and to be mindful of those who seek to divide or unite us. The message resonated and was well received, adding a layer of depth to the night’s festivities.

A standout moment for me from the night was when Brian Fair, lead singer of Shadows Fall, emerged from the sea of fans, crowd surfing his way toward the stage just as Leach was off the stage and hugging the barricade to get up close to the crowd. Leach’s face totally lit up with surprise and he laughed his ass off as soon as he recognized his fellow metal comrade, a testament to the tight-knit community that thrives within the metal scene. 

I had never seen Killswitch Engage before, but I have to say their show was a masterclass in metalcore, blending melodic riffs with brutal breakdowns that were impressive and fun. Each member showcased their energy like they were still an up-and-coming band, from D’antonio’s thunderous bass lines to Foley’s relentless drumming. Stroetzel and Dutkiewicz’s guitar work was both intricate and crushing, providing the perfect backdrop for Leach’s dynamic vocals. I’m pretty sure their fans would say that was an unforgettable show, that it was as entertaining as it was unifying. | Laura Jerele