Kljub temu, da Killswitch Engage s svojim prvim albumom niso bili ravno po mojem okusu, sem vseeno gojil veliko zanimanje za tale album. Sicer ne vem zakaj, ampak imel sem občutek, da me zadeva utegne kratkočasiti čez poletne počitnice (2002). Še zdaj se spominjam, kako sem album nažigal v tistih dolgih vročih popoldnevih in ga celo vzel s sabo na morje. No, stvar že ne more biti slaba če sem jo vzel s sabo na obalo, čeprav morate vedeti, da sem si jo nabavil kak dan preden sem krenil na pot. Že v prvih sekundah, ko vstaviš cd v player občutiš tisto drago kvaliteto zvoka, kmalu zatem pa še zgradbo, ter sestavino komadov, ki sta se od prejšne plate močno izboljšala, da ne govorim o spevnem vokalu, ki skupaj z nekaterim kitarskim igrabjem, dela komade tako imenitne. Glasba, ki jo igrajo je moderen ter malce skomercializiran metalcore v stilu Shadows Fall, z razliko, da komadi niso tako komplicirani in ni toliko soliranja, čeprav tudi o preprostosti ne morem govoriti. Fantje pač mešajo metal s hardcorom, temu dodajo še poudarek na melodičnosti in mogoče nekaj nu-metal vplivov, ter dobijo velik krog občinstva. Kljub temu da se vilikokrat prepuščajo nežnejšim trenutkom, glasba ni ves čas melodična in isto velja za vokal, s čemer pa nastopi ne tako dobra plat tega benda saj znajo iti, grobo kričanje/kruljenje in strupeni kriki, včasih malce na živce ampak ni panike. Situacijo kvarita tudi dva komadi, ki sem jih slišal že na prejšnji plati in sta se ne vem zakaj pojavila tudi tukaj. Ta dva komada samo še pripomoreta k dolgočasju, ki se prične s sedmim komadom. Je pa zanimivo da so starejši komadi včasih bolj metalski in kompleksni, ter izgleda, da je bil bobnar s svojim dvojnim pedalom takrat na svojem vrhuncu. Kot sem že prej omenil je kitarsko delo popolnoma fantastično in sploh dvojne kitarske harmonije v komadu ''Just barely breathing'' ki predstavljajo vrhumec albuma. Za popizdit dobro! Komadi se med seboj lepo razlikujejo in časovno trajajo od 3 do 5 minut, razen ''To the sons of man'' (najbolj agresiven in še najbolj nezanimiv komad na plati) in ''Without a name'' (akustičen), ki ne dosežeta dveh minut. V besedilih omenjajo razne svobodomiselne ideje, ki bi bile potrebne za spreminajenje stvari na boljše in kljub temu, da mi je sporočilo všeč nisem prepričan če čutim isto o tem kako so zapisana...precej enostavno in ne začutim neke prave iskrenosti. Layout je uredu, navzven abstrakna poslikava, navznoter pa vse črnobelo z lepo berljivimi besedili, ter par bend-fotkami. Brez dvoma dosti boljše od prejšne plate in me že zanima kaj sledi?

English Version:
Althought Killswitch Engage's first album (self titled) wasn't really that exciting I was still cherishing high interest for this one. I can't say why but I had a feeling ''Alive or just breathing'' could entertain me over the summer holodays (2002). I still remember rolling the disk in these long warm afternoons and than taking it with me at the sea side together with my favourite records. Well, album can't be bad if I took it at the beach, though you have to know I had bought it only a day before departed. In the first few seconds after you insert cd into the player you perceive this expensive sound quality and shortly after that structures and compositions that songs possess which are notable improvements since afore mentioned album, not to mention beautiful singing and some guitar work making this album so good. The music they play is a moderan and just a bit commercialised metalcore like Shadows Fall and alikes with less solos and not so complex playing, though I can't talk about simplicity neither. They blend metal and hardcore with a big emphasis on melodiousness and maybe a slight nu-metal influences, what's enough to gain a huge number of audience. Althought they often stray into calmer areas they thrown in also plenty of heaviness and not so melodic parts. The same goes for the vocals which range from beautiful singing to harsh screaming/growling or shouting and sometimes even venomous screams. Sometimes rough screaming manner can be pretty disturbing but it's not such a big deal. I find more disturbing these two tracks I already heard on their prior output and I really don't know why they have put them herein as well. These two songs only adds to the lack of attraction that appears with seventh song, but it's definitiely interesting to see complextity and heavier metal influences these two songs possess...just take a look at how their drummer handled his double-pedal back than...amazing! Like I mentioned before the guitar work is fucking great especially the dual harmonies in ''Just barely breathing'' which I see as a highlight of this album. I'm totally crazy about this part! There's a good deal of diversity from one song to another and they run from three to five min except for the ''To the sons of man'' (most aggressive and most unattractive song herein) and accoustic ''Without a name'' both taking less than two minutes. In the lyrics they mention various ideas needed for changing things on better and I like what they say but I'm not sure if I like how they're written...pretty simple and I don't feel some true sincerity reading through them. Layout is good, outside has abstract painting while inner side's all in dark-gray'n'white colours with nicely legible lyrics and a few band photos. No doubt, much better record than their prior effort...I'm already interested what's up next!