TIMES OF GRACE Frontman Vents About Leaked Album

Original KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Jesse Leach has released the following statement regarding the reports that "The Hymn Of A Broken Man", the debut album from TIMES OF GRACE — Jesse's new project with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist and producer extraordinaire Adam Dutkiewicz — was leaked via the Internet two weeks prior to the CD's official release:

"So the inevitable has happened, the record of my career has been put out there without consideration for all of the hard work and promotion.

"I know this is the day and age we live in and this happens to everyone now. I still don't feel it is right regardless of the reasoning. To me, it is like if I were a painter and I worked for four years on a painting. Every single brush stroke was painstakingly conceived, every tone and texture worked and reworked until it was just right. I would sit for hours in my studio sipping on a drink and thinking: Is this good? Is it just right? I would go out and live my life outside of the studio and any chance I got I would go back and just stare at it making sure it was exactly how I wanted it. Then, after reworking it a dozen times, I put it under a tarp and spent months planning the revealing of it at my gallery opening. Then, one night, some clever fellow broke into my studio ripped of the tarp and took a quick Polaroid photo of the painting. This art thief then published the photo in a local magazine, so the painting is now a photo of a photo.

"I know what some of you are thinking, 'Dude, get over it. This happens all of the time,' and I know it does, but I am not going to front and pretend 'it is all good.' The least I can do is say something, so that's what I am doing. There is nothing I can physically do, so this is it.

"Don't get me wrong, folks — I am still excited for January 18th! I have been waiting a long time for this and no lo-fi Polaroid shoddy leak is going to take that away from me. I am confident you good people will still support us.

"For all those who already bought the record, many, many heartfelt thanks to you all your support has gotten me out of my day job and in preparation for the road once again! I get to have a second shot at making a living off of my music! To me, this is incredible and I count my blessings every day!

"All of your messages, comments and promotion is awesome. All of you give me hope and gracious words every day. Thanks for giving a damn about me and my art.

"I feel I do have a purpose with my music and it has nothing to do with fame and fortune. Just getting simple honest recognition and respect means a great deal to me.

"So again thank you all for your support and every time I see a comment pleading with people to buy the record regardless, it makes me smile.

"Well, off to train and get my but into shape for the upcoming tour! Cue the 'Rocky IV' training montage music... going for a run out in the snow!"

TIMES OF GRACE is getting ready to take the show on the road for the very first time. The band will embark on its inaugural tour, beginning February 1 in Baltimore, Maryland and wrapping up in its native Boston, Massachusetts on February 27. STRAIGHT LINE STITCH and WAR OF AGES will round out the bill, making for an evening of eclectic hard rock and metal.

"The Hymn Of A Broken Man" will land in stores on January 18 via Roadrunner Records.

Dutkiewicz and Leach worked together on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's benchmark album, 2002's "Alive Or Just Breathing". That record has become definitive for an entire generation of American metal, with Leach's voice and uplifting lyrics serving as one of the key elements that propelled the album to "modern classic" status. Leach, who went on to sing for the more classic-rock leaning SEEMLESS and who currently sings for the metal band THE EMPIRE SHALL FALL, was always remembered fondly by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE fans, even though he left the band shortly after "Alive Or Just Breathing"'s release.

While fans will no doubt be thrilled at the concept of the duo reuniting, TIMES OF GRACE is not interested in fashioning "Alive Or Just Breathing Part II". It's an entirely new project and represents a different musical path for both Adam D. and Leach! It is an album of cleansing and catharsis for each of them, where internal demons were exorcised and set to music that's as aggressive as it is melodic.

"In all my life. I have yet to write a record that bares my soul as much as this record does," Leach said. "Adam and I had a real spiritual connection while making this and I know that it comes through in the performances and lyrics. This record has our blood, sweat and tears flowing through it. It is painfully honest at times. In short this record is our catharsis."

Adam D. also commented on what TIMES OF GRACE means for him personally, saying, "Making this record was something completely new for me. It documents some of the most difficult-yet-spirited times of my life in the past three-and-a-half years. A lot of the music and lyrics just came out of me while going through several internal struggles, and writing these songs were the only comfort I could find. I reached out to Jesse to help sing and write these songs with me because of my respect for his musical abilities, and because of our great friendship...one that seems to not change no matter what happens in our lives. In the end, I am very proud of this record, and I feel it has helped me through some of my darkest days. I'm hoping that people will enjoy it, and also that it can maybe help others to keep the most positive mindset, even through the most trying of times."

The track listing for the album is as follows; the songtitles reflect the sentiment of catharsis that is the common thread running through "The Hymn of a Broken Man".

01. Strength In Numbers
02. Fight For Life
03. Willing
04. Where The Spirit Leads Me
05. Until The End Of Days
06. Live In Love
07. In The Arms Of Mercy
08. Hymn Of A Broken Man
09. The Forgotten One
10. Hope Remains
11. The End Of Eternity
12. Worlds Apart
13. Fall From Grace

"Where The Spirit Leads Me" video:

"Strength In Numbers" video: