Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach has warned his fans about the effects of social media and media manipulation.
While taking a break from social media in February, he shared a throwback video from last year on Instagram. In it, he performs a spoken word piece called ‘Pencil to Paper,’ which he feels is relevant to today’s world. “While I am on holiday and fairly tuned out of social media for the month of February, here is a throwback video. This is from last year around this time. This is a spoken word piece called ‘Pencil to paper.’ It seems rather relevant to the times we are living through currently,” he said in the caption of the video.
He highlighted how fear governs people and urged them to question the facts rather than blindly accepting the narrative pushed by the media. “Divide, rule, conquer and keep us living in fear is the agenda as old as the historical hierarchies that shape history. Not I, I will not participate or add fuel to the dumpster fire that is the narrative for us all to consume like numb, subservient puppets.”
“Carve your own path, think for yourself and utilize wisdom to discern the truth amidst the haze of lies and misinformation being spoon-fed to us all via the mainstream media. Positive energy, strength and perseverance to everyone who reads and sees this. We all have our purpose and calling in this world. Together we can and will make a difference. Be the change you are longing for in this world. Don’t sit idly by and just watch it burn. Speak your truth and contribute your compassion. Be a part of the solution not the problem. Be the revolution,” he added.
The singer encourages people to chart their own path, use wisdom to find the truth, and critically evaluate the information provided by mainstream media. Not only that, but this same reason is also how the band made their latest album, ‘This Consequence.’ “This record was very much about sitting in my suffering, sitting in the suffering of the world, reflecting upon it and then moving through it with a righteous anger where I wanted to sort of wake people up. You don’t have to think this way. You don’t have to live in this divisive world. You don’t have to shut somebody down because they don’t agree with you,” he said during an interview.
“What I’m writing, the righteous anger I’m coming through is very much of a revolutionary state of mind, trying to bring people together for the greater good for all of us. Because the powers that be, the people who are in control — name them, whoever you want to call ’em or whatever, entities, beings — there is a reason why they’re pushing, through social media, through mainstream media, divisiveness, wars, negativity. Good things don’t usually make the headlines, and there’s a reason for that. So read between the lines, try to pay attention to what is going on in the periphery and use your discernment to know why this is being thrown at you. And you can fight against it. You can become the change that this world needs within yourself,” he added.
The new album comes out on February 21 this year.
