Howard Jones (American singer)

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Howard Jones (born July 20, 1970) is an American metalcore vocalist best known as the former lead singer of Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed. He is the current vocalist of Light the Torch, formerly known as Devil You Know, and SION with YouTuber/guitarist Jared Dines.

Jones' vocal performances have been described as "emotive and strident", and he has been referred to as "one of metalcore's finest singers".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early years

Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970, Jones quickly became interested in metal. He has stated that his journey into heavier music came from one of his high school friends: “I’m getting exposed to a lot of music. I listened to radio and stuff like that all the time. But then he’s the one that really exposed me to metal and death metal, just all that. So it was kind of him. Age of 14 or 15, he’s just got tapes and CDs and I just started absorbing it. I just loved it. That was kind of it.  I think it was like '85 when we started listening to Stryper. That time you’re just pulling from all this stuff. So I’m watching MTV, but I’m still listening to everything. If I can get my ears on it I’m absorbing it. That was a good time for me.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He would often search for underground bands to listen to. During his high school years, he would always listen to something while walking in the hallways.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his teen years, Jones started to suffer from anxiety and depression.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

Jones' love for heavy music led to him making music in the underground band Driven in 1996, releasing a single album. He later performed with Blood Has Been Shed from 1997 to 2004, releasing 3 studio albums. In 2002, after hearing about Jesse Leach's departure, Jones contacted Killswitch Engage and tried out for them. Jones was then accepted by the band, beating out Philip Labonte of All That Remains. Jones then had to quickly memorize seven songs for his debut at the 2002 Hellfest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his time with Killswitch Engage, they released the gold-certified album The End of Heartache,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the platinum-certified As Daylight Dies,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as a second self-titled album which was their biggest commercial success at that point, peaking at number 7 on the Billboard 200 along with becoming their first to top the US Hard Rock Albums Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He and the band also contributed to the God of War: Blood & Metal soundtrack with the song “My Obsession”.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jones' lyrics introduced a more introspective and emotionally resonant tone than previous records, which helped broaden the band’s appeal and emotional range.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> During the band's 2010 winter tour, Jones temporarily stepped away to deal with personal issues related to his mental health.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Jones then officially left the band after nearly ten years in 2012, but remained a close friend. He would go on to collaborate with them again for the single "The Signal Fire" from their album Atonement. Jones still makes sporadic appearances when Killswitch Engage goes on tour, surprising crowds and singing alongside Leach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Leach has praised Jones for elevating the band’s mainstream reach, spotlighting The End of Heartache as the turning point for the band’s global impact.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jones has also filled in for other bands, such as Trivium and Five Finger Death Punch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Jones started Devil You Know with guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish) and drummer John Sankey (Devolved, Fear Factory and Divine Heresy). Billed as a supergroup, they released two albums, The Beauty of Destruction (2014) and They Bleed Red (2015).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following Sankey's departure and his attempt to claim the copyright of the band's name, the rest of the band members started again with a fresh name, Light the Torch, with the addition of a new drummer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jones stated “There was just too much negativity. And so it needed to be cut, and an even better way to change the name, change the style of music, but it’s still the guys who were bonded together to do it. It’s a completely separate thing. And I don’t know how many of those songs [from Devil You Know] will ever see the light of day from us in a live setting, but it’s just part of the journey.” Light the Torch then released Revival in 2018, with Jones claiming he felt a renewed love for music.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, they released their second record, You Will Be the Death of Me.

In 2020, Jones released a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song "Simple Man". It received 600,000 views by June 2021, with Jones stating that he didn't expect the reception.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2021, Jones joined with heavy metal YouTuber Jared Dines and producer Hiram Hernandez to release "The Blade" as part of a new project named Sion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On December 3, 2024, Jones via his Instagram confirmed that he and former Killswitch Engage bandmate Adam Dutkiewicz were almost finished mixing a debut album for their new band called Burn Eternal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2025, Jones stated that he started working on a solo album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lyrical themes and style

Jones' lyrics touch upon emotions, inner strength and overcoming obstacles mentally.<ref name=":0" /> His singing style is often described as emotional, contributing significantly to making a impactful sound. While in Killswitch Engage, he would often use screaming vocals and growls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has stated that he doesn’t like explaining his lyrics and likes to leave them up to interpretation: “I’m just that dude. I want to leave it up to interpretation. It takes all the fun out of it if I go through all of the explanations. Some stuff is pretty obvious and other stuff you can figure out [...] I kind of like that you can take what you like out of lyrics.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He stated "I just kind of write what comes man, it all depends on where I’m at and where the music is. I never know what’s going to happen when I start writing. I just try to write what fits and it’s not like I have a particular theme in mind when I start writing, or sometimes it kind of is that way.”<ref name=":0" />

In an interview with Loudwire, he claimed that while writing music, he tends to not consume any other entertainment: “I'm not listening to other music, I'm not really watching anything. [Music is] all I'm thinking about it and I can't help it, so that obsessive part of me... I'm hearing demo music, get my sleep, I'm waking up, I'm hearing that stuff and it just overtakes me. That's why I have to separate my life at times because I get way too obsessed with music.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Jones is an avid fisherman and owns property on the Red River of the North in Manitoba, Canada. He is a frequent guest on Jamey Jasta's podcast on the GaS Digital Network. Jones left Killswitch Engage in early 2012 to allow himself to manage his type 2 diabetes, which was worsened by a hectic touring lifestyle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, Jones stated that his diabetes put him in a coma for three days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has since gotten his diabetes under control and has started exercising, along with reshaping his diet.<ref name=":1" />

In 2015, Jones revealed that he had struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time, which had been worsened by his rise to fame in Killswitch Engage. He revealed that he had come close to committing suicide in 2009, when he had aimed a .44 Magnum revolver at his head in his apartment in Connecticut, and that the police had intervened after being notified by a concerned neighbor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jones stated “I was going insane. It never occurred to me to get help. For years, I just tried to fight through it and I was driving those guys berserk. My anxiety was building and building, and near the end, there were a lot of times I’d sit in the back of the bus or lie in my bunk for hours on end without speaking to anyone.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, he teamed up with his former band to raise awareness for mental health;<ref name="rocknationksementalhealth">Template:Cite web</ref> the resulting song "The Signal Fire" appears on the 2019 album Atonement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although formerly straight edge,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jones now shares a passion for medical cannabis with friend and fellow Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach.<ref name="rocknationksementalhealth"/>

Awards

During Jones' tenure with Killswitch Engage, the band won a handful of awards, with The End of Heartache winning best album at the 2004 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards along with the band being nominated for the best international act. The title track was also nominated for best metal performance at the Grammys in 2005.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2007, Killswitch Engage won Best International Band at that year's Metal Hammer Golden God Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, the band also took home both Most Outstanding Metal/Hardcore Band of the Year and Act of the Year at the Boston Music Awards. As Daylight Dies was also nominated for album of the year. Individually, Jones was nominated for the National Male Vocalist of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2010 the bands self titled album won best Best International Album at the Bandit Rock Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Jones and his new band, Devil You Know (now known as Light the Torch) won the Best New Band award at that year’s Metal Hammer Golden God awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2023, Loudwire put Jones on their list of the top ten “Best Clean Singers in Metalcore”.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

File:Howard Jones (2005).jpg
Jones in 2005
Blood Has Been Shed
Killswitch Engage
Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know)
SION

Guest appearances

References

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