Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream
Released October 5, 2018
Spencer Charnas, Justin DeBlieck, Justin Morrow, Ricky Armellino, Patrick Galante
Metalcore, Post-Hardcore
Intro
I'm pissed off and recently have been getting into this band so lets start off with what made them household names. I REALLY like this album and its vibes. It takes inspiration from horror movies and is just able to make the songs sound equally catchy and terrifying. Especially with Spencer's insane vocal range you can tell exactly what is happening just by his voice. If you have never listened to this album do that then read the review.
Thoughts & Feelings
This album is amazing. I really enjoy how it uses the heavy music and screamed vocals to tell the stories of horror movies we all know. The songs are very well produced and are extremely well done instrumentally. Every song on this album has its own identity and is super catchy and memorable. Kinda hard to sing along though as half the time the vocals are layered with death growls, screams, singing, and sound effects.
Smash or Pass?
The American Nightmare- SSMMMAAASSSSHHHHH. This song SLAPS. Gets right to the point. Super heavy and the vocals are screamed to let you know what you are in for. If you have no music taste he predicts it. Welcome to your worst nightmare. The guitar work is INSANE and the drumming might be my favorite of any album i have reviewed so far. I LOVE the vocals. A mix of traditional screaming, death growls, and regular singing make a unique feel. This song feels like the average pop track if it was insanely heavy with how catchy it is. I'll also be mentioning the horror movie references when there is one. This one is Nightmare On Elm Street. Great opening.
Thank God It's Friday- SSMMAASSHH. Great acoustic opening IMMEDIATLY KILLED BY SCREAMS AND METAL. Again this song is catchy and the vocals are amazing. This sounds like a death metal song for the most part but has some normal singing for the chorus. This Song is great, perfect follow up to the last one. I really like the calming break near the end, the fake feeling of safety is perfect. If it wasn't obvious by the title, this song is based on Friday The 13th.
Stabbing In The Dark- SMASH. Calm opening. THEN DEATH METAL. HOLY FUCK THE DRUMMING IS AMAZING. This song is HEAVY. I didn't mention it on the last ones, but this band uses traditional theatric/orchestra instruments to add more suspense to these songs. It works SO well. This album feels like a horror movie compilation and feel like that adds to it. This song is based on the movie Halloween.
SAVAGES- Smash. This song is not AS strong as the last 3 but this sons still slaps. The guitar work here is amazing. However this song feels more like extremely heavy punk as opposed to the post-hardcore screamo of the last few. This song doesn't have much if any screamo and that really takes away from it. I know this band likes to use punk aspects but removing one of the most iconic parts doesn't work well here. Still good though, and this one is based on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The Jig Is Up- SMASH. THERE WE GO. THIS IS DEATH METAL. THE LAST ONE WAS JUST FALSE HOPE AGAIN. HOLY F U C K THIS IS HEAVY. The chorus is a bit weak but everything else is PERFECT. This song really relies on Spencer's death scream. Also has a feature from Randy of Finch. This one is based on one of my favorite horror movies, Saw.
A Grave Mistake- Smash. This song is VERY popular. I see why but this song lacks the extreme heaviness I love from this band. With that said however this song absolutely slaps and is 100% on my daily playlist. This song is a perfect song to get people into heavier music, The lack of screaming and the gentle breaks and opening are perfect. This song is based on The Crow.
Rocking The Boat- Smash. Gets right to the point with a blood curtailing scream of SHARK. If it wasn't obvious by that this one is based on Jaws. Very good song. Not much to say on this one, I didn't really like the Jaws movies.
Enjoy Your Slay- SMASH. GOD DAMN THATS A HEAVY START. Then slow piano ballad part. This song slaps again. This is the bands tribute to The Shinning, which was the first "true horror" movie I ever watched, I.E blood and swearing. Cool use of choirs and horns on this one.
Freak Flag- Smash. This song is generic to this band's standards. So REALLY good but it doesn't add anything new to the formula. This song is based on The Devil's Rejects. Hey cool a Rob Zombie movie made it into an album by a band inspired by Rob Zombie.
The World In My Hands- Smash. Same problem on this one. The drums are still amazing but spencer is really holding back on the vocals it seems. I know this song has a feature from another vocalist but he sounds like he is barely trying. This song is based on Edward Scissor Hands. Yup.
Merry Axe-Mas- SMASH. HOLY FUCK THIS IS HEAVY. This review will be a bit off as this is a "Christmas" song and i'm listening to it in September. Anyways this song is GREAT. If all Christmas music was angry murder anthems I would like it more. This one is based on the movie Silent Night, Deadly Night. I've never seen it.
Love Bites- Smash. This feels like a heavier MCR song at the beginning. I REALLY hope that changes but then again this album needs another ballad. The first one was MUCH better though. This song is based on American Werewolf In London. Another one I have never seen.
IT Is The End- SSSSSSSSSSSMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. THIS SONG HAS EVERYTHING. CIRCUS INSTRUMENTS, A GOOD CHORUS, EVEN FEATURES FROM LESS THAN JAKE AND FENIX TX. THIS SONG SLAPS. The vocals are so fucking demonic its perfect for a song told from Pennywise's perspective. THIS is how you convert a horror movie into a song. This one is obviously based on IT. I LOVE those movies and this song PERFECTLY captures the horror and suspense from them.
Conclusion
This album is a masterpiece. ANY fan of Metal or Horror should listen to this. With that being said some parts of this album get kind of boring but everything else is so catchy and loud its perfect.
RANK: A
Sorry for the lack of reviews, school started recently and I've been busy with that. However reviews will be picking up soon again. Thanks for reading and any feedback is appreciated.
-Jake (JunosBestFriend)
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