'The End of Heartache'

The band Killswitch Engage is included on Guitar Hero: Van Halen. I've never played that version of Guitar Hero so I didn't know that until last night.

I was on YouTube, listening to Killswitch Engage when I thought “The End of Heartache” sounds awfully familiar. Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks:”Panama!”

After some fierce Google work I realized that KsE is on the Van Halen game so the song similarity makes sense...or does it?

I mean, the more I listened to “The End of Heartache” the more obsessed I became. I'm convinced the root of the song – the main riff basically – is the key hook from “Panama” just in a lower octave. Here, listen:

Now, compare to “Panama.”

See what I mean? Realize I'm not saying the songs are the same – they are not. Rather, they share a similar riff structure. I think this was KsE's way of paying tribute to the mighty VH. Thoughts?

Comments

[reptileblvd]

I agree. Very interesting.

[Brian L]

I cannot hear it. I guess, I cannot get past the screaming and rage. Not a fan of Kill Switch

[Ace Steele]

I can understand downtuning from standard E tuning down to E-flat, Occaisionally I can see tuning down a whole step to D. But this downtuning to B just sounds like shit! This is exactly why none of these 90's & beyond bands won't have the longevity of a KISS or Aerosmith. There is NO dynamic left in the music. Just a low rumble w/ some Cookie Monster growling over the top.

5 years from now, all these band will be gone, (along with Rock n' Roll, which they killed,).

You'll find these guys working at Taco Bell.

[spence]

I saw these guys love once. One of the worst shows I have ever seen. Yes, they are tight. But, no they don't rock. I hate people who vomit into the mike and call it music.

[spence]

and by love I mean live

[Shadow]

I really like this song but other than that album KSE hasn't really done it for me. There is a less screamo version i believe somewhere out there. I think it was on the soundtrack to Resident Evil:Apocolypse. It does sound familar to Panama i'll give it that!

[BigB]

To Brian L: Your out of touch with music and obviously dont play very much guitar. First they dont tune to drop B tuning, they use a 7 string guitar, with the top string B and they rest tuned to standard. Which is standard for 7 strings. The guitar sound fuller and you get a much richer tone. And longevity?! Do your research and see just how many metal bands from the 80's and 90's who are still playing. KISS and Aerosmith's are great bands however their fan base is going to die soon because they are all grumpy old men like you and have nothing to offer a new generation. Age is what killed rock and roll not metal. Stop trying to live in the glory days of rock and roll by posting bullshit like this. KSE is a band where he sings more then he screams. So for you to say Cookie Monser growls, you really have not listen to very much metal and you watch way to much Brian Posehn standup. And last but not least these guys will never work at Taco Bell. Adam Dutkiewicz (lead guitarist for KSE) is a music producer and is working with lots of bands (All That Remains). If you knew anything about the metal you would know that most if not all band members have side production jobs. So listen the next time you want to talk shit, make sure you have your facts straight. Because you come across as an old man who has been out of touch with music for a long time. :)

[BigB]

And yes these riffs are the same, but it wasnt done intentionally by KSE.

[Satan]

both of you talking about tuning are fools. they've never used 7 strings (find me a single pic to prove otherwise) and are not in B. They have always used 6 strings and are in drop C tuning. do your research before talking about this shit, especially you BigB "the next time you want to talk shit, make sure you have your facts straight." Youre a fan and your shit is way the fuck off.

[BigB]

lol oh shit a post from Satan himself! Tru Satan KSE do use 6 strings, but I did want Brian L to know that B or C tuning is common and give a richer sound and dynamic to the music as a whole. I am a fan of KSE (atleast this album) and obviously not a big a fan as you. Thanks for the corrections. :)

[Ace Steele]

Obviously, BigB is neither musically inclined, or able to separate fact from his fanboi-ism. Aerosmith has sold over 150 million records,KISS has sold over 100 million records. Killswitch Engage has taken over 10 years just to sell their first million. (it'll take a miracle for them to sell a 2nd million) In the past, both KISS & Aerosmith have sold a million in one day.

There is no "rich tone" when it's detuned that far. It's all floppy sludge & distortion box.

Settle down, Jr.

[Metalboy!]

Ace is right...

Satan is right (that sounds funny!)...

Spence is right...

Brian is right...

BigB, you are SO WRONG, and in more ways than just your misguided defensiveness and criticisms here.

It duzn't matter what the f*ck the sh*t is tuned in as it completely blows.

As Ace accurately observes, it's a bunch of damned dog barking with sludge guitar.

They could save some money and just mike up a Doberman and have some dude in a leather "Gimp Suit" a la "Pulp Fiction" have him on a chain to bark and lunge at the audience.

Better yet, have some Doro lookin' chick in a leather catsuit have two miked up Dobermans lunging at the audience.

However, I do actually kinda like their cover of Dio's "Holy Diver" from their "As Daylight Dies" album. But it figures that the only cool thing they have ever done is a cover song and nothing of their own real creation.

And a Classic Rock cover, no less, from the world where Aerosmith and Kiss come from.

For you to dis those bands is ludicrous, Big B. How many of our beloved bands of the 80's, 90's and the present have been influenced by Aerosmith and Kiss? Nearly all of the ones we love on this site.

I betcha even Killswitch Engage like those bands.

And they did lift the "Panama" riff, as Al points out, though it is hardly doing anything for that monstrosity of a song that she's posted above.

If this keeps up, Al, I'll be writing my pennance.

Bring Back Glam, now... Oh, you did, with French Kiss! I forgot, I'm going back in time here when I'm commenting on this post.

So, yeah, Killswitch Engage blows and it is "interesting" that they lifted that Van Halen riff. The most interesting thing they've done since covering Dio.

So, BigB, the two most interesting moments for Killswitch Engage are lifts from Classic Rock bands.

Regardless, BigB, Killswitch Engage are, *** GONG ***, So UNROCK!

p.s. Go back to Blabbermouth or wherever you came from!

[emetal]

i do not hear it. period.

oh wait, there it is. ahahaha its right around the 3:30 mark

I LOVE VAN HALEN
I LOVE KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

YOU'RE ALL OLD FARTS LOL stop chirping

[Brian L]

Big B: I am not out of touch with music. Listen to it all the time. You are right, however, about not playing an instrument. I am just sayin that I really dont like this particular group.

[Metalboy!]

'The Beginning of Earache'

[Metalboy!]

Okay! There's the imposter again rehashing my old comments from years ago. I would still like to hear YOUR OWN actual opinions on BBG! Bad form, my friend!

Here's how you will know what I am writing now are comments from the REAL Metalboy!...

This is what I think about Killswitch and the similarity of these two horrific songs. That's right -- I said horrific.

First off, I actually kinda like one song by them -- yep, I said "ONE" -- the aforementioned, "Holy Diver", but that's IT! It figures, too, that the only song I like by these guys is a cover because their own stuff frickin' SUXX. Beyond the sh*te guitars, the lead vocalist sings with the plaintiff wail of O.J. Simpson's Akita!

And now you know it's me, too, with this forthcoming comment...

"Panama" frickin' blows, too!!! Love Van Halen! Always very much disliked "Panama", to put it mildly.

Sincerely,

Metalboy!

The REAL Defender of (Nearly) All Things Hair Metal!

[dj]

both bands are fantastix!!!