Break the Silence

As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer

Consumed by self
We walk through each day
With no mind to deprivation and moral decay

We must destroy and rebuild
We must destroy and rebuild
For the sake of all, it starts with one
With one

As I live and breathe
I'm watching, watching the world die
We greet this with apathy no longer

If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer

Make this world, take notice
The change is in our hands
The battle has just begun
We are not defeated

If we cant break the silence (how can we survive?)
Search inside yourself (and know that you're alive)
We must break the silence
Now we are alive
Silent no longer

With all that I am
I will lift my voice
To start this revolution
It starts today
And it starts with me
Time is no longer

With all I am
I will lift my voice
With all I am
It starts with me

Break the silence [3X]
We are alive
Break the silence [3X]
We are alive


When people think of metal music, they immediately associate it with senseless screaming and suicidal tendencies. Many people lack to see the passion and the messages that many of the artists who fall into this genre of music are pushing for. All the mainstream listeners think of are death and despair when they hear the throaty roar that is metal. Killswitch Engage is a band that many would take five seconds to listen to and then immediately classify it as unnecessary damage to the vocal chords. But Killswitch Engage does not focus on the preconceived notions that metal music holds. In their song “Break the Silence”, Killswitch Engage uses the strength of their music and vocals, engaging diction, and imagery to call out for social reform.
The opening stanza of “Break the Silence”, lays out the whole problem that Killswitch has a problem with. They feel that a feeling of “apathy”, has taken over the mind of humans as “we watch the world die”. Before these lines are even spoken, an upbeat rhythm is played, giving the listener the feeling of anticipation, as if some kind of message approached the ears. For these first three lines, the words are screamed at the ears of the listeners. These words are almost unrecognizable to the untrained listener, much like the problems of the worlds pass by all those who are apathetic to the problems of the world.
In an idea that bears similar connotations as apathy, the people of the world go on living “consumed by the self”. This ties into the idea of apathy as the people of Earth has no feelings for the others around because they cannot look beyond their own problems. Killswitch also refers to how we “walk through each day with no mind to the deprecation and moray decay”. There are many messages within these lines. The first is obvious, that we do not heed the problems of the world and nor do we face it. The other is far subtler, with the choice of the word walk. No one who is living life with the intentions of helping others walks through life. Life is a struggle, no matter how small the struggle may seem. To walk brings images of a leisurely stroll from start to finish. If we were dealing with these problems we would not be walking through life, but there would be no need to call out for social action, as action would already be taking place.
In the next few lines, images of destruction are brought to mind. Much as an old building must be destroyed to make room for the new one. The old establishment of apathy and selfishness must be torn down for new roots in justice and equality. This line “We must destroy and rebuild”, is repeated twice in a row; therefore, signifying its importance as a message to the listener. The next line has one of the most important of all that Killswitch is trying to say and that it only takes “one”. This is the first line in the song that is sung with complete clarity relative to the other lines. The absence of the harsh voice does not take away from its meaning, but rather enhances it as all listeners have full capabilities to understand what is said. This idea of “one starting a “revolution” becomes a recurring idea from this point on.
The refrain of “Break the Silence”, Killswitch asks us how we can be alive knowing that there are such great problems in this world, yet still acting apathetic. The refrain is a call to action as it tries to have the listener reaffirm their own humanity and for the good of all humanity, rise up to the occasion. At this point, the title of the song comes into play, asking us to “Break the Silence”.
It is at this point that the connection between the title of the song and message of the song becomes clear. We, the listener, are to become the ones who are no longer apathetic and to “lift our voices. We must “take into our own hands” the ability to be the change within this world.
In conclusion, Killswitch Engage reveals itself not as the metal band it appearance at first glance. With Christian allusions in many of their other songs, “Break the Silence” becomes another addition the endless list of those who call for social reform. While it is true that no specific problems are mentioned such a starvation, social justice, etc, it is true that Killswitch has pointed out the root contributor for the continuation of all the world’s problems. We must not longer side on the sidelines and watch as our fellow man suffers, but rather we must throw aside our selfishness and aid our brothers and sister even as other do not, and hopefully we shall set the blaze the trail for more to follow.