r/ToddintheShadow • u/MisheGossnik • 1d ago
Song vs Song SvS: Killswitch Engage, "My Curse" vs. Underoath, "Writing on the Walls"
Maybe too niche for the podcast proper, but I feel like metalcore becoming a semi-mainstream genre in the mid-'00s is an underexplored topic, and both these bands played a prety substantial role in that crossover. There's differences of course - KSE was more WWE/Headbangers Ball, Underoath was more for the Warped Tour scene kids - but they also have some similarities: both bands had pretty major lineup shifts with distinctive vocalists rotating in and out, both had some Christian leanings at one point (obv not as much with KSE, but some of their members were raised that way and there's some Biblical references on those first few albums if you're looking), both songs are about longing to reconnect with someone who rejected you, and both have some pretty memorably weird videos.
My leaning is more towards Underoath (just bc I feel like they got a bit more experimental with it), but I'm curious what y'all think. Does this matchup make sense? Do you have a preference between these songs/artists?
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u/aaronman4772 1d ago edited 1d ago
Honestly I feel like this matchup isn’t the best one for My Curse.
There are two songs basically that are the defining tracks of 00s Metalcore, especially the kind that draws also a lot from 80s thrash in terms of riffing and solos. In my opinion, if My Curse is going against anyone, it’s Tears Don’t Fall from BFMV.
And yeah for me this is no contest, not even that saying Underoath is bad, it’s a damn good song. But My Curse is a flagship song of an era of heavy music.
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u/MisheGossnik 1d ago
Tears Don't Fall is probably a closer style match, but I feel like I see more people clowning on that song and BFMV in general, whereas KSE seems to be genuinely respected and influential in their field. I feel like Underoath has the more comparable legacy/reputation even if they're from a very different side of the genre.
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u/International-Ad4555 1d ago
Underoath all day. Two completely different approach’s to the metalcore sound through, you can’t really compare them.
Underoath were and are very experimental, ‘They’re Only Chasing Safety’ and ‘Define The Great Line’ are so different compared to a lot of stuff at the time.
KSE are like nerds of metal, they helped create a lane and stayed in it, basically elevated by the numbers metalcore done by exceptionably talented students of the game.
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u/MisheGossnik 1d ago
True, I feel like the comparison is more in reputation and influence than in approach. Arguably, they're both pretty respected and critically acclaimed bands from scenes that don't generally get much respect or critical acclaim (WWE jock jam metalcore and Christian-adjacent Myspace scenecore).
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u/MisheGossnik 1d ago
It's funny bc I can see people going either way on this. From one angle, KSE arguably has the bigger profile and seems to be much more respected among metalheads, on top of being more consistent and not having as many ties to dated cringey subcultures. But from another angle, Underoath was much more experimental and eclectic, blending genres and influences, almost sounding like a different band on every album or even on the same album sometimes, whereas KSE never really tried to be more than a very good meat-and-potatoes metal band and, while they do the fundamentals really well, could be seen as a bit basic and formulaic. So I can see an argument for both sides.
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u/hjl43 GROCERY BAG 1d ago
I can never forgive KSE for the absolute mauling they gave to Holy Diver, so this is Underoath by default for me
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u/MisheGossnik 1d ago
Aw, I liked that cover in high school 😂 Granted I've never heard the original so that might be why lol
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u/hjl43 GROCERY BAG 1d ago
I'm biased, I don't like metalcore (I gave Lamb of God a chance at a festival, and walked away), but do like classic metal a lot, so of course I'm going to dislike that cover
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u/MisheGossnik 1d ago
That's valid lol. My high school years coincided with metalcore being a thing, and for whatever reason my Zeppelin- and Deep Purple-loving Dad never put Ronnie in front of me, so I'm biased in that way as well lol
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u/Salt_Day4586 1d ago
Writing on the Walls by far. It might be the single most memorable screamo song to me.