German melodic death metal/metalcore band Heaven Shall Burn have released a cover of Killswitch Engage’s Numbered Days, featuring Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach, as the sixth single from their upcoming tenth album, Heimat, out June 27, 2025, via Century Media Records. Accompanied by a visualizer, the track celebrates the long-standing friendship between the bands, with Heaven Shall Burn paying tribute to Killswitch Engage’s seminal 2002 track from Alive or Just Breathing. The cover, infused with Heaven Shall Burn’s ferocious metalcore and melodic death metal style, includes a nod to their classic Whatever It May Take in the lyrics. Due to a vocal cord infection sidelining frontman Marcus Bischoff, Hiraes vocalist Britta Görtz will fill in for upcoming live shows, starting with Kufstein on June 11, 2025.
Watch the Numbered Days visualizer:
Pre-order Heimat at heavenshallburn.lnk.to/Heimat-Bio
Heaven Shall Burn state: “Killswitch Engage are THE metalcore band! When we heard Numbered Days for the first time, it totally blew us away. It was clear that something new was brewing up. No other band has influenced this style of music more and interpreted it better. Just because the guys have been very good friends for many years doesn’t mean you can’t pay tribute to this great band.” Jesse Leach adds: “All of us are honored by Heaven Shall Burn covering Numbered Days. That song truly kicked off an album for us that would change our lives. Now to have a band like Heaven Shall Burn cover it 23 years later is really wild! Grateful and very stoked to have been a part of the reshaping of this song.”
Heimat (German for “home/homeland/native land”) explores the concept of homelands and spiritual identity, rejecting populist misuse of the term. Produced at the band’s The Dude Ranch studio by guitarist Alexander Dietz and mixed/mastered by Tue Madsen, the album features artwork by Eliran Kantor, depicting a symbolic triptych with a resistant stag, lynx, and owl. Collaborations with Sven Helbig, Wilhelm Keitel, the Mondëna Quartet, and the Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir enrich its sound. The 13-track album, plus a four-track Keinen Schritt zurück EP, follows their chart-topping Of Truth and Sacrifice (2020).
Track Listing:
- Ad Arma (1:54)
- War Is the Father of All (6:42)
- My Revocation of Compliance (3:32)
- Confounder (4:19)
- Empowerment (4:45)
- A Whisper from Above
- Imminence
- Those Left Behind
- Ten Days in May
- Numbered Days (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) (3:38)
- Dora
- A Silent Guard
- Inter Arma
Keinen Schritt zurück EP:
- Keinen Schritt zurück (feat. Donots)
- Schweineherbst (feat. Dÿse)
- Eisenkopf
- Destroy Fascism
Formats:
- Ltd. Deluxe Triple-Gatefold transp. red-blue splattered 2LP+CD
- Ltd. Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (with Live at Summer Breeze 2024)
- Ltd. Vinyl variants: transp. light blue-red, red&black split, deep blood red, olive green, transp. sun yellow, orange, transp. green
- Black LP, Standard CD Jewelcase, Digital (+ EP)
After Bischoff’s throat infection forced Heaven Shall Burn to cut their Rock am Ring set and cancel shows, Hiraes’ Britta Görtz will take over vocals for performances in Kufstein (June 11), Greenfield Festival (Interlaken, June 13), and Nova Rock (Nickelsdorf, June 14). Bischoff says: “Britta from Hiraes will fill in for me… Give her a warm welcome, show her what HSB fans are made of and make the shows something very special in the band’s history!” Görtz, known for her versatile growls from Cripper and Critical Mess, brings melodic death metal prowess to the stage. Bischoff is recovering and expected to return soon.
Heaven Shall Burn will play festivals and exclusive club shows to support Heimat, with Görtz performing at select dates. Killswitch Engage are touring Europe, promising Numbered Days and other classics. Full dates: heavenshallburn.com, killswitchengage.com
Connect: heavenshallburn.com, Instagram, Bandcamp
Stream Numbered Days and pre-order Heimat to experience Heaven Shall Burn’s crushing tribute and bold new chapter.