But why, nearly two decades later, are people still desperate to get this album on their hard drives? And more importantly,

But this album is a masterpiece because real human beings poured their grief and talent into it. Howard Jones wrote many of the lyrics while dealing with his mother’s illness. The rawness is real.

Pay for it. Buy the MP3 from Amazon or 7Digital for $9.99. Rip the CD. Even if you stream it, buy a t-shirt.

Let’s break down the legacy of the album, and then talk about the legal (and ethical) ways to add it to your digital library. Released on May 11, 2004, The End of Heartache was a gamble. It was the first full-length album to feature vocalist Howard Jones (who replaced original singer Jesse Leach). The pressure was immense. Could Killswitch survive a vocalist change?