Exclusive: Killswitch Engage's Adam Dutkiewicz on Boston sports & more

Formed in 1999 out of western Massachusetts, Killswitch Engage is often credited for being one of the most influential metal acts in the last 20 years. Twice Grammy-nominated, the band has sold over three million records worldwide, with The End Of Heartache and As Daylight Dies both gold-certified in the United States.

Further on the commercial end, the band has enjoyed multiple Top 10-charting albums, with 2016's Incarnate landing at #6 on the Billboard Top 200, #1 on the Current Rock Albums chart, and debuting at #1 overall in Canada, #5 in Australia, and #10 in both the U.K. and Germany.

As co-founders of Killswitch Engage, guitarist/backing vocalist Adam Dutkiewicz, guitarist Joel Stroetzel, bassist Mike D’Antonio and lead vocalist Jesse Leach -- who returned to the band four years ago after a decade-long absence -- together with long-time drummer Justin Foley continue to make trend-resistant, timeless heavy music.

Beyond having songs featured on Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, John Madden and the Resident Evil III soundtrack, Killswitch Engage was the performing artist of entrance music by former WWE wrestling champion CM Punk.

Killswitch Engage recently announced its signing to Metal Blade Records with a new album planned for Fall 2019. In advance of that, KSE -- in support of its Beyond The Flames: Home Video Vol. II video release -- is hitting the road for a co-headlining tour with Clutch, which kicks off on July 8th in Quebec, Canada.

While on-site at Columbus, Ohio's Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, I had the pleasure of interviewing guitarist/vocalist Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage. Sports-related highlights from our Q&A are below for your reading pleasure.

After turning off my recorder, Dutkiewicz talked more sports with me, noting that he has been to 29 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams' stadiums; the Texas Rangers' stadium in Arlington, Texas is last on his list.

Are you a sports fan?

Adam Dutkiewicz: LOVE sports. Everything New England.

So Deflategate never bothered you?

Adam Dutkiewicz: Well, who really knows what happened with Deflategate? But here's the whole thing, they discussed the whole issue before half-time, right? Then the balls were inflated back to standard PSI and then the [New England] Patriots still won the game. It wasn't close. They outplayed the [Indianapolis] Colts. So I don't think the PSI really matters.

So Bruins, Red Sox, all that...

Adam Dutkiewicz: Let's go Bruins. Red Sox are having a rough time. The Celtics deserved to lose to the [Milwaukee] Bucks.

What is it that keeps you Boston or New England-based all these years later as someone who's been around the world a lot of times?

Adam Dutkiewicz: I grew up there. When you live in New England for almost 40 years that stuff's in your blood.