Killswitch Engage is a metal band from Westfield, Mass., that formed in 1999. The Massachusetts-based band is considered influential in the American metal and hard rock resurgence in the ’00s, leading to several gold-certified releases in their catalog.

The band has sold millions around the world, including two certified gold albums in the U.S.: “The End of Heartache” and “As Daylight Dies.”

One thing Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D’Antonio would change about the music industry if he could is how artists are paid. “It’d be nice if they could figure out how to do digital downloads better,” said D’Antonio. “They’re such a big rush to get things out on the internet. It would be nice to get paid for the art they get made. Maybe it goes back to an underground thing when no one gets paid.”

In fact, D’Antonio recalls when Killswitch Engage needed to go to extreme measures to record their music. “We didn’t have a ton of money to pay for our first record and Jesse (Leach, lead singer) worked at a recording studio,” said D’Antonio. They actually broke into the studio after hours to cut their first record, a testament to their “do-it-yourself” attitude. “With Adam (Dutkiewicz, lead guitarist) being a producer, it’s a lot easier on the pocketbook. The less money you take from a label, the less people you have hanging over your head. Cutting corners is the way to make it. You definitely won’t get paid by the label.”

Killswitch Engage’s “In Due Time” was nominated for “Best Metal Performance” at the 2014 Grammy Awards, the band’s first Grammy nomination with original lead singer Leach. “It’s just a neat little nod,” said D’Antonio. “A lot of genres have multiple awards while metal for some reason only has one. It would be neat for newer bands to get the nod. In my world, it doesn’t really have an effect on me but my parents were very excited. All of a sudden, everything has been validated,” said D’Antonio of his parents who were initially annoyed with him practicing in their garage.

Nagoya, Japan-based Ibanez Guitars has created a few Mike D’Antonio Signature bass guitars. “I’ve had four of them through Ibanez over the years,” said D’Antonio. “I’ve been gradually trying to build the best bass that I can play. I added jazz by the bridge to give it more attack. It’s one of the most comfortable basses I ever played.”

All of Killswitch Engage’s album artwork and tour merchandise is designed by D’Antonio, who is a graphic artist. D’Antonio’s company, DarkicoN design, produces artwork for bands such as Shadows Fall, Unearth, All That Remains, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest and Crowbar. “I really model my stuff after David Carson,” said D’Antonio of the graphic designer known for his experimental typography. “He was the first one to do the disgusting sort of graphic. He would take pictures of walls eaten away by the sun and use them in his design. I like the realism factor he brought to it. He’s super ahead of his time.”

D’Antonio, as part of Killswitch Engage, has toured extensively, which has resulted in quite a few memorable stories from the road. One in particular occurred when they played Ozzfest in 2005 alongside Atlanta’s Mastodon. “They’re rad dudes, but they’re crazy, especially Brent (Hinds, their lead guitarist),” said D’Antonio. While Hinds was onstage during another band’s performance, he threw a bottle into the crowd, resulting in him being zip-tied by security. “He cut off the zip-ties and jumped on our bus,” said D’Antonio of Hinds’ escape from security. He ends up hiding from security on their bus until, ultimately, security caught up with him once he exited their bus. “I love that guy for being a crazy loon,” said D’Antonio.