'The End of Heartache'

The band Killswitch Engage is included on Guitar Hero: Van Halen. I've never played that version of Guitar Hero so I didn't know that until last night.

I was on YouTube, listening to Killswitch Engage when I thought “The End of Heartache” sounds awfully familiar. Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks:”Panama!”

After some fierce Google work I realized that KsE is on the Van Halen game so the song similarity makes sense...or does it?

I mean, the more I listened to “The End of Heartache” the more obsessed I became. I'm convinced the root of the song – the main riff basically – is the key hook from “Panama” just in a lower octave. Here, listen:

Now, compare to “Panama.”

See what I mean? Realize I'm not saying the songs are the same – they are not. Rather, they share a similar riff structure. I think this was KsE's way of paying tribute to the mighty VH. Thoughts?