KILLSWITCH ENGAGE re-enlisted their original frontman Jesse Leach as their singer back in February following the departure of vocalist Howard Jones. The news was simply broken by a photo of the lineup (found at the bottom of the page) on the band’s official website. They played their first show with the returned Leach on April 22nd in Worcester, MA at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival. Fan-filmed video is available below:

The setlist on the night was as follows:

'Numbered Days'

'Self-Revolution'

'Fixation On The Darkness'

'Rose Of Sharyn'

'This Is Absolution'

'Take This Oath'

'Prelude'

'Vide Infra'

'Temple From The Within'

'The Arms Of Sorrow'

'My Curse'

'The End Of Heartache'

'A Bid Farewell'

'Life To Lifeless'

Encore:

'My Last Serenade'

'Holy Diver' (DIO cover)

Leach is featured in a new interview with The Boston Herald, conducted prior to his first return gig with the band. An excerpt is available below:

“So far, it’s kind of surreal,” Leach recently told the Herald from New York. “The vibe is just amazing. We’re all breathing a sigh of relief to be back together. The energy is there like it’s never been before.”

It’s been a seamless transition: Leach has remained friends with the band and toured extensively with his longtime friend, KsE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, in the duo’s acclaimed side project TIMES OF GRACE.

“We’re just excited to be making music again because it’s been so long,” Dutkiewicz said recently from his Western Massachusetts home. “I’ve been in a band with Jesse for the past two years, so it feels pretty normal and comfortable.”

Go to this location for the complete interview.

As previously reported, Jones parted ways with the group at the beginning of the year, citing his battle with Type 2 Diabetes among the reasons. Almost immediately, there was speculation that Leach may rejoin the group. However, that was tempered when Killswitch Engage announced open auditions for the vacant singer slot.

Leach was the lead singer for the band’s first two albums — 2000?s self-titled effort and 2002?s Alive Or Just Breathing. After he left the band in 2002, he was replaced by Jones, who recorded three albums with Killswitch Engage.