Formed in 1999, the band signed with Ferret Music, and released their self-titled debut album in 2000.

[2] Their third album, 2004's The End of Heartache, peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200,[4] and sold 38,000 copies in its first week of release.

[5] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2007, denoting shipments of over 500,000 copies.

[6] Their fourth studio album, As Daylight Dies, was released later that year and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200 with 60,000 copies sold in its first week.

Continuing on the success of Disarm the Descent, Killswitch Engage's 2016 album Incarnate peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200, and in the top 10 in several countries.