Adam Dutkiewicz

Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz (born April 4, 1977)^[1] is an American musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist of the metalcore bands Killswitch Engage, Aftershock and Times of Grace, as well as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the melodic death metal supergroup Serpentine Dominion. He has also produced and engineered albums for several other metal bands.

Dutkiewicz, of Polish, Austrian, Scottish, and English descent, was born and raised in Westhampton, Massachusetts. Growing up he taught himself Metallica riffs on bass and later learned how to play the drums and lastly the guitar.^[2] He attended Hampshire Regional High School. Dutkiewicz also later attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying production, audio engineering, and bass guitar.^[3][4] He graduated with a B.M. in 1999.^[5] While at college, he began playing guitar and producing for the band Aftershock with his brother Tobias Dutkiewicz and friend Joel Stroetzel.^[6] The groups debut album Letters was released in 1997, this was also the first ever recorded Dutkiewicz produced. The group released one more album in 1999 before shortly disbanding.

Following the disbandment of Aftershock in 1999. Dutkiewicz began collaborating with former Overcast bassist Mike D'Antonio and vocalist Jesse Leach to form Killswitch Engage Dutkiewicz, now playing drums, also recruited guitarist Joel Stroetzel to compete the line up. Dutkiewicz was the drummer of Killswitch Engage, until the release of its second album, Alive or Just Breathing,^[7] when he moved to guitar, and Tom Gomes became the band's drummer.

In 2004 Dutkiewicz and the band would release their breakthrough album The End of Heartache. Dutkiewicz later commented on this time in a 2019 interview “The moment we were told that we were going to be featured in one of the Resident Evil movies, I realized that people were paying attention to us.” “It was a whole new world that opened up so many possibilities and potentials, so I think we did step it up. It was a good time for us.”^[8] During the recording of their certified platinum As Daylight Dies, Dutkiewicz pushed the band to relax their perfectionist habits that he instilled into theme during previous recordings. Part of loosening up was having more casual, relaxed recording sessions.^[9] Overall he has assumed the role of producer on all of Killswitch Engage's records,^[7] except on their second self-titled album Killswitch Engage, which was released June 30, 2009. For this album he took on the job of co-producer alongside Brendan O'Brien (known for his work with AC/DC, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Incubus, Mastodon, and Stone Temple Pilots). He returned to full production work for their next album Disarm the Descent in 2013 and Incarnate (2016), which is the band’s highest charting album peaking at number 6 on the Billboard 200.^[10]

While Killswitch Engage was writing material for their next album Atonement lead singer Jesse Leach was suffering from both physical and mental issues. So Dutkiewicz took him aside and offered words of inspiration and help him finish laying down the tracks, Leach has described Dutkiewicz as his “musical sole mate”.^[11] There most recent album This Consequence was released in 2025.

While touring with KillSwitch Engage in 2007 Dutkiewicz had to undergo immediate back surgery. While in the hospital, he wrote new material which he later recorded and demoed at home. Dutkiewicz later contacted Jesse Leach about writing lyrics and recording vocals. This resulted in a side project called Times of Grace, they began recording material in 2008 with Dutkiewicz stating on the group's Myspace that the songs were "an epic mix of Metal/Rock/Pop/Shoe gaze & Punk.^[12][13] Their debut album The Hymn of a Broken Man was released in 2011. In 2021 the group released their second album Songs of Loss and Separation as a celebration of The Hymn of a Broken Man's tenth anniversary.^[14]

Dutkiewicz first got into engineering when he bought a four-track cassette recorder, he then continued working on his skills during his time at Berklee.^[2] Besides Killswitch Engage he has also produced for the bands As I Lay Dying, Underøath, The Devil Wears Prada,^[15] The Acacia Strain,^[16] Unearth,^[17] All That Remains,^[18] From Autumn to Ashes,^[7] Johnny Truant,^[19] Parkway Drive,^[20] The Agony Scene,^[7] Every Time I Die^[7] and others. He has been compared to Ross Robinson, producer of many nu metal albums, because of his influence on modern metal and shaping the sound of melodic metalcore. He is viewed as one of the more pivotal figures in helping shaping the genres sound, and has produced some of the more influential albums of the genre such as Alive or Just Breathing, The Fall of Ideals, and The On Coming Storm.^[21] He is also an engineer for Zing Recording Studios, which has produced for numerous artists, including several from Tooth & Nail Records and its heavy metal sub-label Solid State Records.^[4]

When it comes to helping artists reach their goals he stated “I listen,” “You hear what the personality of the band is. You listen for their strengths and traits. You want to embellish upon those. If somebody can do something that no one else can or has a specific talent, make sure the world hears it. And when you find something that takes away from the quality of the song––the groove, the ebb and the flow––always address that with the band.”^[2]

In 2002, Dutkiewicz, alongside Robby Roadsteamer, Ken Susi and his brother Tobias, formed The Sweatpant Boners. They released one album before breaking up that same year.^[22] In 2003 he would once again join Ken Susi along with Derek Kerswill to form Burn Your Wishes. This group also only made one album before disbanding.^[23][24]

In 2009, Dutkiewicz wrote songs for George Fisher and asked him to perform vocals over them.^[25] This eventually led to Dutkiewicz forming Serpentine Dominion consisting of Fisher and Shannon Lucas. They released their debut self titled later that same year.^[26]

In December 2024, it was announced Dutkiewicz and his former Killswitch Engage bandmate Howard Jones were almost finished mixing a debut album for their new band called Burn Eternal.^[27][28]

Dutkiewicz has been a longtime player of Caparison Guitars mostly using the Caparison PLM-3, a discontinued model, with EMG pickups (EMG 85 in the bridge, and two EMG SA single coils in the middle and neck positions) and DR Tite-Fit .012-.052 strings. He also uses the Caparison Dellinger, Horus, TAT, and Angelus models. He is quoted as saying that he likes the guitars because they have a very "strat-like neck." Ever since 2007, he has been seen using various models and brands, but still uses Caparison for tracking in the studio.^[29]

In 2008 shows, Dutkiewicz used a black Parker Fly with an EMG 81/EMG 85 set for pickups. Atop this, he used a custom Caparison, modeled after the Dellinger model. He previously used Parker Guitars for their light weight so as to avoid worsening his back problems, but ended his endorsement due to quality issues after getting his signature model. Sometime in 2008, he switched to using a stock PRS Guitars Custom 22, which he used for a few years. In the video for "In Due Time", Dutkiewicz can be seen using an EVH Wolfgang Hardtail. He has since then switched to EVH Wolfgangs full-time.^[29] The modifications done to the Wolfgangs involve removing the neck pickup, pickup selector switch, and tone knob, replacing the Schaller fine-tuning stop-tail piece with a standard stop-tail piece, replacing the locking nut with a standard nut, and installing locking tuners.

In 2015, Dutkiewicz officially re-joined Caparison Guitars. He now also uses Fishman Fluence Modern pickups. He uses his signature model, the Caparison Metal Machine. It is based on the TAT Special FX with Fishman Fluence Killswitch Engage Signature pickup in the bridge position. He left out the neck pickup for more wood mass in the guitar.^[30]

Dutkiewicz has used a wide variety of amps throughout his career, including the Mesa/Boogie Roadster and Triple Rectifier heads, a Marshall JCM900, a modified Soldano SLO-100, and a Hughes and Kettner TriAmp MKII, which he did not like for metal because he said it "didn't hold together well." He has also used the Framus Cobra and Dragon, the Peavey 5150, the Splawn Nitro, the Diezel VH4, and the Fuchs Viper for distorted tones, and the Fender Twin '65 Reverb and Vox AC30 for clean tones. He is currently endorsed by Laney Amplification, used their Ironheart series of amplifiers and currently using Tony Iommi’s signature amplifier TI-100.^[31]

In his current live amp rig, he uses both Laney amps, making use of a Laney Iommi head with a Celestion Vintage 30-loaded Laney Iommi 4x12 cabinet for his distorted tones, and a Laney Lionheart 1x12 combo for clean tones.

For his current live effects rig, he makes use of a Maxon OD808 Overdrive, Maxon AD-9 delay, Maxon CP-9 Pro+ compressor, Boss Corporation NS-2 Noise Suppressor, Boss ABY switcher, Jet City JetDirect DI box, and a Korg DTR2000 tuner. For wireless, he uses an Audio-Technica 5000 Series.^[32]

Dutkiewicz currently uses D'Addario EXL115 (.011 - .049) string sets with Intune 1.14mm picks.^[29]

Dutkiewicz's style is a fusion of the melodic rock and extreme metal styles. He also does not rehearse often and “just wings it”. He stated in a 2011 interview "I'm not technique-driven at all. I never really aspired to be anything fantastic as a player, it's about making music first and foremost.”^[33]

Growing up Dutkiewicz listened to a lot of classic rock acts such as AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. He has cited Eddie and Alex Van Halen as an influence on his guitar playing and drumming.^[33] Additionally, he has credited James Hetfiled for making him the guitarist he is today.^[34]

Dutkiewicz's is known for his energy and humor during live shows, sprinting across the stage and providing other over the top movements. He is said to provide a combination of “comedic showmanship and musical mastery.”^[35][36] He is also known to occasionally wear comedic costumes on stage.^[37]

Regarding Dutkiewicz's stage personality, Joel Stroetzel stated, "Adam likes to take the piss out of things. Just wants to have a good time—kind of act like an asshole, but in a funny way. He likes to get people going, egg the crowd on. He gets up there and calls the crowd ‘pussies’ and all this stuff. But coming from a guy wearing short shorts and a cape, you gotta take things like that in stride."^[38]

Talking about Dutkiewicz's stage attire, Jesse Leach stated, "That's his sort of middle finger to everybody, to all the people who act very tough and think metal has to be doom and gloom and trying to be a cool or tough guy, that's his punk rock way."^[39]

Due to Dutkiewicz and his bandmates efforts they took home the award for best live band at the 2014 Metal Hammer Golden God awards.^[40]

Dutkiewicz resides in San Diego, California, he is an outdoor enthusiasts and stated he fell in love with the city's beaches and hiking trails while producing a record in the area.^[41][42] In his spare time he enjoys cooking and playing video games.^[43] Dutkiewicz used to be straight edge.^[44]

On February 10, 2015, Dutkiewicz was a contestant on the CBS game show The Price Is Right, where he won $51,832 in prizes, including a 2015 Honda Fit, a 2015 Nissan Frontier, a small trailer, and a trip to Borrego Springs.^[45]

Under Dutkiewicz production work Killswitch Engage album The End of Heartache won best won best album at the 2004 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.^[46] The title track also gained the band their first Grammy nomination for best metal performance at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Since then the group have garnered two more Grammy Nominations in the same category for “In Due Time” (2014) and “Unleashed” (2020)^[47] Killswitch Engage has also won 3 Boston Music Awards and their 2006 album As Day Light Dies was nominated for album of the year in 2007.^[48][49] In 2009 their second self titled record won best international album at that years Bandit Rock Awards.^[50] Their albums Disarm the Descent and Incarnate were both nominated for metal album of the year at the Loudwire Music Awards.^[51][52] In 2012 Alive or Just Breathing was inducted into the Decibel Hall of Fame.^[53]

He also produced the As I Lay Dying album An Ocean Between Us, the lead single "Nothing Left" was nominated for best metal performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.^[54]

• Letters (1997) – drums
• Through the Looking Glass (2000) – lead guitar, vocals

• Cruisin' With the Masters (2002) – drums

• Split EP w/ The Awards (2003)- guitar

• Killswitch Engage (2000) – drums, backing vocals, production
• Alive or Just Breathing (2002) – drums, piano, guitar, backing vocals, production
• The End of Heartache (2004) – lead guitar, additional percussion, backing vocals, production
• As Daylight Dies (2006) – lead guitar, vocals, co-production
• Killswitch Engage (2009) – guitar, backing vocals, co-production
• Disarm the Descent (2013) – guitar, vocals, production
• Incarnate (2016) – guitar, backing vocals, production
• Atonement (2019) – guitar, vocals, production
• This Consequence (2025) – guitar, backing vocals, production

• The Hymn of a Broken Man (2011) – vocals, guitars, drums, bass, production
• Songs of Loss and Separation (2021) – vocals, guitars, bass, production

• Serpentine Dominion (2016) – guitars, bass, backing vocals, production

• Total Brutal by Austrian Death Machine (2008) – production, guitar solo in track "Come with Me If You Want to Live"
• "A Song for Chi" by Various (2009) – guitars

• Adam Dutkiewicz talks about his production philosophies
• Adam Dutkiewicz's 2005 Killswitch Engage guitar rig on GuitarGeek.Com Archived October 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
• Burn Your Wishes-side project