<P> In 1999, Killswitch Engage recorded a demo containing four tracks, including "Soilborn", the first song written by the band . The demo was first released at the band's first show, opening for melodic death metal act In Flames, in November 1999 . They released their self - titled debut album the following year . Although initially the album was not a financial success and did not land on any charts, it attracted the interest of Carl Severson, who worked at Roadrunner Records at the time . Severson handed Killswitch Engage to several Roadrunner representatives . Mike Gitter, a talent agent of the company, contacted D'Antonio, attended several of the band's shows, and offered the band a recording contract with Roadrunner . Realizing that Roadrunner had the resources to promote and distribute Killswitch Engage releases, the band accepted his offer, declining several offers from smaller labels . </P> <P> For a brief time in 2000 and 2001, ex-Overcast guitarist Pete Cortese joined Killswitch Engage, but left when he became a father . Killswitch Engage began writing new material for their second album in November 2001 . Mixed in January at Backstage Studios by producer Andy Sneap, the album was titled Alive or Just Breathing, after lyrics in the song "Just Barely Breathing". A music video for the single "My Last Serenade" increased the band's exposure, and the album peaked at number 37 on the Top Heatseekers chart . </P> <P> Following Alive or Just Breathing's release, the album having been written and recorded for two guitarists, the band decided to expand and become a fivesome; Dutkiewicz moved to guitar and former Aftershock drummer Tom Gomes filled in the vacant drummer position . After Leach was married on April 20, 2002 and began touring again he fell into a depression . Leach left the band a few days before the band was meant to play a show and sent the band members an e-mail telling them he had quit . D'Antonio said in an interview that "after three years of hanging out with the dude, and considering him a brother, to just get an email was a little bit harsh ." </P> <P> The band immediately started to search for a replacement vocalist and found Howard Jones of Blood Has Been Shed . Jones disliked the band's sound when he first heard it . He commented, "I was like,' Meh .' I come from hardcore and dirtier metal, and Killswitch sounded so clean . But the more I listened to it, I realized there's some really good songs here". After hearing about Leach's vocal problems, Jones contacted the band and was accepted as the replacement . Philip Labonte of All That Remains tried out for lead vocals but lost to Jones, who had to quickly memorize seven songs for his debut at the 2002 Hellfest . </P>

What happened to the lead singer of killswitch engage