Ice Nine Kills Discography Ranking

Please read the previous blog before reading this one!

Ice Nine Kills Discography Ranking

I will only be ranking their full-length efforts, excluding the likes of 'The Burning,' 'The Pop-Punk Ska Years,' 'The Predator,' and any acoustic songs the band has released.

#5 - Last Chance to Make Amends

At the bottom of the list is 2006's 'Last Chance to Make Amends.' I've listened to this bad Larry once, and I don't remember any of it. I know a song from this album made it onto 'The Burning,' but that's about it. This album is more post-hardcore, with a bunch of soaring melodies. In my opinion, the band didn't do this style too well. The album is still pretty good, but a lot of the melodies blend together, and they're not very strong. I don't have much more to say about this one.

Favorite Song: N/A

#4 - Safe is Just a Shadow

2017 re-recording artwork

I think part of the reason this one is so low is just because I don't know it as well as the ones I've ranked higher on this list. This album had a re-recording released in early 2017, which is the version I am more familiar with. This album saw the band's songwriting strength increase drastically from their previous efforts. With added vocal hooks, mind-blowing guitar riffs, and an obvious increase in production value, the band took a massive step in the right direction. The album's opener 'Proximity Mines in the Complex' smacks the listener right across the face with an assault of sounds. The song's opening tapping guitar riff gives the listener a feel of the atmosphere the album is going for - ominous, but relevant within the culture of post-hardcore and melodic metalcore fans. This album contains fast songs with stuttering riffs, dangerous china cymbal hits, and massive dual screams from lead vocalist Spencer Charnas and backup vocalist Justin DeBlieck. The album takes the listener through a journey, with highlight tracks such as 'The People Under the Stairs' and 'The Greatest Story Ever Told,' as well as deep cuts such as 'Red Sky Warning.' Though the album was great for the band, and I do like it quite a bit, a few of the songs fell flat for me. I couldn't tell you what any part of a song like 'So This is My Future' sounds like. Definitely worth a listen, but there is a little bit of filler material here.

Favorite Song: Proximity Mines in the Complex

#3 - Every Trick in the Book

I feel disgusting putting this one at number three. We're into territory of albums I like a lot, now. Front to back, this album captures the storybook atmosphere it was going for. Right off the bat, you can feel yourself immersed in the sound of 'The Nature of the Beast,' based on George Orwell's 'Animal Farm.' Blasting you off from there, the album does not slow down until the semi-ballad 'Star-Crossed Enemies,' based on Romeo and Juliet. Constantly bombarding the listener, Every Trick in the Book has new tricks (no pun intended) hidden around every corner. This is the album that got me into the band, and this album cycle is the first time I saw them. That was way back in early 2016. If it wasn't for the songs 'The Plot Sickens' and 'Alice' I would've ranked this album higher. Something about those songs - I don't know. They just feel super weak and cliched to me. I think the only "deep cut" song on this album, 'The People in the Attic,' deserves some more recognition. The chorus in that one gets me every time. 'Me, Myself & Hyde' has to be my favorite song by this band, though. The breakdown, the chorus, the intro. Oh man, everything about that one is just so good.

Favorite song: Me, Myself & Hyde

#2 - The Silver Scream

2019 deluxe edition artwork

So, I actually rank band discographies over on my Twitter account. I listen to a lot of music. I put this album at number one, and I'm here to tell you why I've changed my decision. The band's 2018 effort is super strong. When it released, I listened to it on repeat for the whole weekend. Within a matter of two days, I'd listened to it at least six times. I can tell you right now, I hate the song 'Savages.' I hate it. So much. The song itself is technically decent, and it's based on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a movie I enjoy. The band keeps pushing the song for radio play, and they play it at every show now. It was widely recognized by fans as the worst song on the album, so I have no idea why they took this route.

In turn, this album contains incredible songwriting on just about every other song, save for 'Freak Flag,' but I'm okay with that song. Every song perfectly captures the sound of the movie it was based on. A good example of this can be found in 'Stabbing in the Dark,' a song based on John Carpenter's 'Halloween.' The song starts off with a clock ticking, signifying the presence of Dr. Loomis. Later in the song, panic chords that gives listeners the feeling they are being attacked by Michael Myers. Oddly enough, I find these panic chords very similar to the strikes of the piano that was made popular by 'Psycho.' Though, these chill-inducing staccatos can be found in the soundtrack to 1978's 'Halloween' in the song 'The Shape Lurks,' a song that plays when tension between Michael Myers and his victim arises. This track can particularly be found near the climax of the film, when Michael is actively pursuing Laurie Strode. Ice Nine Kills capture the intensity of this sequence perfectly in their song.

This album feels like a journey, and it's always pleasing to listen to. I feel fully immersed in the album with every listen, and it fascinates me how they could write songs that capture the source material so well. Huge props to the band on this one. If it wasn't for 'Savages' or 'Freak Flag' though, this would probably be my top pick.

Favorite song: Stabbing in the Dark

#1 - The Predator Becomes the Prey

Every song on this one. Every. Single. One. Banger. I find myself coming back to this album more than any of their other albums. The production is clean. The songwriting is on point. The vocals are terrifying, and at the same time, they're beautiful. The guys really hit the nail on the head with this one, or should I say.. the hatchet? 'Let's Bury the Hatchet...In Your Head' is a song that really captures what this album is about - high energy, heavy music, and songs to get people moving. This one, along with 'The Coffin is Moving' and 'The Fastest Way to a Girl's Heart is Through Her Ribcage,' captures what I like about the album. The hooks on this album are phenomenal. These songs get stuck in my head a lot.

This album has a lot of deep cuts, too, as opposed to the newest two albums. 'The Product of Hate' was one of the first songs by this band that I added to my playlist. My brother used to play this band a lot in the car and at my house before I got into them, and the songs he would play a lot were from this album, since it was their newest release at the time. 'The Product of Hate' was actually one of the songs I recognized while going through the songs on my own time, and I added it to my playlist. I think it's interesting that, with a genre of music like this, they can write a song about the Boston Marathon bombing - what the song is about - and speak how they feel about it.

Another song I wanted to shine some light on is 'My Life in Two.' Beautiful vocals in this song. This one has, in my opinion, Spencer's best vocal effort in their whole discography. The lyrics in the chorus, paired with the melody that brings them to life, get me every time. Just give this one a listen. It's not too long.

This album feels like it flies by when I listen to it. Not literally, but you get what I mean. One second I'ts starting. Next thing I know, it's ending. Lots of fun listening to this one, and I still put it on a bunch.

Favorite Song: My Life in Two

If you read this blog and the last one, thank you for reading. I hope you check out this awesome band! Show them your support. They deserve it.

Change-Up: Who is Ice Nine Kills?

I've reviewed all the concerts I've been to recently, so I decided to change things up a little bit! We will resume with concert reviews next week with the Counterparts concert. In two weeks, I will be seeing a band called Ice Nine Kills. I'm very excited for this show. It will be my ninth time seeing this band. I've met the vocalist, Spencer Charnas, three times. He's super chill. I have two shirts from them, a long sleeve and a short sleeve. I listen to this band a lot. Can you tell I like them? Anyway, let's get into it.

Ice Nine Kills in 2018

What is melodic metalcore?

Melodic metalcore is a genre of music that derives from melodic death metal, blending that style with that of hardcore music and including catchy pop-driven vocal hooks. This type of music isn't normally what someone would think of when the term melodic is thrown around, but the genre is driven by screaming and singing vocals, guitar riffs, spastic (yet organized) rhythms, and, of course, breakdowns. At it's core, the song structure is the same thing everyone is familiar with, a couple of versus with a chorus that repeats a few times, and there's a bridge thrown in there somewhere to change things up. This is usually where the breakdown is. A breakdown is exactly what it sounds like - the song builds up tension, then everything collapses. The flood gates open, the gods abandon us, all hell breaks loose. Disrespect your surroundings. Blegh.

Who is ICE NINE KILLS?

Ice Nine Kills is an american melodic metalcore band formed in the early 2002 by vocalist Spencer Charnas and Jeremy Schwartz in the suburbs of Massachusetts. Originally going by the name 'Ice Nine,' The band started out as a ska/pop-punk fusion band, since the members were big fans of ska bands such as Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger. Somewhere along the line, the band changed styles and released their first album 'Last Chance to Make Amends' in 2006, followed by the extended play album 'The Burning' in 2007. The band had a major lineup change in 2009, resulting in their sound being shifted from post-hardcore to melodic metalcore, though this sound change was being foreshadowed on 'The Burning.' With the new members, one of them being guitarist, backup vocalist, and co-songwriter Justin DeBlieck, The band released 'Safe is Just a Shadow' in 2010, which contains one of their classic "older" songs, 'The Greatest Story Ever Told.' This is a favorite among older fans.

Their second full-length 'The Predator Becomes the Prey' was released in 2014. By this time, the band had been gaining a substantial fan base. They performed on the Vans Warped Tour in the summer of that year to crowds bigger than they'd ever seen, though it was only a taste of what was to come soon. The album was successful, containing hits like 'The Fastest Way to a Girl's Heart is Through Her Ribcage,' 'Let's Bury the Hatchet...In Your Head,' and one of my personal favorites, 'My Life in Two.'

Ice Nine Kills in 2014

How would the band follow up that album though? They released the song 'Me, Myself & Hyde' in February 2015, just over a year after the release of their last album. This song received praise from their already dedicated fan-base. In September of that year, the band would sign to major label Fearless Records, marking a new chapter in their career. A week after announcing their signing, the band released the song 'Bloodbath & Beyond' as the lead single for their 2015 release 'Every Trick in the Book,' which was released in December of that year. Every song on this album is based on a different book.

Ice Nine Kills in 2015

A couple years and many tours later, the band's fan base grew significantly. It was announced they would be on the 2018 Vans Warped Tour, the final time this tour would run. This was big for them, and they had a few tricks up their sleeve because of that. Not long before the start of the tour in summer 2018, the band released the song 'The American Nightmare' in the form of a narrative music video containing the song. The new album, the band's fifth full-length effort 'The Silver Scream,' was released in October of 2018. Every song on this album is based on a different horror movie, both lyrically and instrumentally. The album was critically acclaimed by fans and critics alike, containing hit single 'A Grave Mistake,' which gets major radio play on satellite radio and FM radio stations. The band has undergone lineup changes since the release of single 'The American Nightmare' and is currently on their biggest headlining tour yet, playing to crowds quadruple the size they had been selling to just a year ago.

Discography ranking blog to come shortly!

Weekend of Concerts 2: Rapid Fire (Night 3/3)

Night 3 (November 2nd)

(A Different Shade of Blue Tour @ The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts)

This was, by far, the scariest show of the weekend. They took down the barrier in front of the stage. I'm also not sure if you've ever been to a hardcore show, but the crowd is basically just a full-on brawl and it's not even fun. Let's get into it.

SeeYouSpaceCowboy...

This is one of the bands on the lineup that I vaguely knew. They played eight songs over a course of about 25 minutes. They were actually very good. Vocals were on point. Instruments sounded great. Everything was put together well. They're known as a "MySpace revival band," one of the bands that is bringing back the aggressive screamo of 2006, blending it with complex metalcore and mathcore songwriting, and giving heir own spin on the sound. Seeing them play their material live was definitely interesting. My favorite part of their set was when they played '911 Call; "Help I've Overdosed on Philosophy!"' I would definitely see them again.

Candy

This band was one of the ones I didn't know at all, despite listening to all their material prior to the show. Their performance was decent, but there was nothing that stood out to me. The vocalist had pretty good energy, and he had THAT gritty voice you'll find in a lot of hardcore bands that have been cropping up recently. They seemed to just flow from song to song, not really talking in between. They were probably aware of their short 25 minute set time, so they wanted to use as much of that time as possible to play their music. They did good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see them again.

On Broken Wings

This band sucks. Straight up. The vocalist sounded dehydrated and he looked like he didn't want to be there. I couldn't understand a damn word he sang. He was so bad to the point where I, my brother, and our friend were all laughing All of their songs sounded exactly the same. The crowd was terrible for them. To add onto this, they're actually a band that's broken up, but they play shows every so often, still. They were added about a week before the show, and they only played this show of the tour. They were terrible, but I appreciated the laugh.

Rotting Out

This band was decent, though I also didn't know them. They had great stage energy, especially the vocalist. His vocals reminded me of the sounds a chicken would make if he had a gummy worm stuck in his throat. The instruments were definitely bangin', though. They gave me a 90s hardcore punk vibe, too. This is when the crowd started to get a little more into the music. Not sure I would see them again, but I'm glad I got to see them once.

Stick To Your Guns

I know this band! I actually own a maroon crew-neck sweatshirt from them, and I like to wear it a lot. It's probably ruining the print on the shirt, but whatever. Anyway, their performance was super sick. They played around 10 songs. I knew a good portion of them, one of those songs being 'Amber.' The vocalist called for stage diving during that song, so I went up and did a stage dive. Getting up on that stage that I've seen so many bands on before was weird, even though I was only on it for a little bit (for now). This band went hard, though. Incredibly tight performance, as usual. I could do without the short political speech the vocalist usually gives at shows, but other than that, I recommend seeing them.

Knocked Loose

This show was my 7th time seeing the boys in Knocked Loose. They're one of my favorite bands. Their first full-length album 'Laugh Tracks' is one of my favorite albums of all time. They just released their second full-length album 'A Different Shade of Blue' in September, calling for a tour to follow up its release. They played 10 of 12 songs from that album, plus about five from 'Laugh Tracks,' then just one from their 2014 EP 'Pop Culture.' They also played a song called 'Intro,' which is not a recorded song they have, and it was not played first. They actually opened with my favorite song from the new album, 'Trapped in the Grasp of a Memory.'

As soon as they started playing, the floor erupted. Everyone was losing their mind. It was a very violent set throughout. I somehow got to the front, and I was right up against the stage, front and center, for a few minutes. That was starting to hurt my neck, with all the stage divers, so I decided to stage dive and hopefully go back a little bit. I got pushed back right to the stage, so I just stayed there. It was all good. I was so tired from the last two days (and I was sick), so I kinda just chilled there. I was going nuts banging my head and screaming the words, though.

At one point, I did get a mic grab and screamed a couple words into the mic, and that made me feel powerful. I want to do that again. Unfortunately, I didn't know the words to the new songs all too much, but I did my best. I still had a good time, and I would love to see Knocked Loose again. They have my full support. Great group of guys making great music. I did find out after the show that I had a photographer take a picture with me right in the center. Very exciting!

Me in front of the stage, pointing at vocalist Bryan Garris

Thank you all for reading! It's been a lot of typing across the three semi-consecutive blog posts, but I've been meaning to get them done. Until next time! No concerts until the 23rd, so maybe a different type of post in the near future.

Weekend of Concerts 2: Rapid Fire (Night 2/3)

Night 2 (November 1st)

(The Great Tour @ The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts)

Hammerfall

The one and only opening band of the night was Hammerfall, coming all the way over from Sweden. This was my third time seeing these guys. Vocalist Joacim Cans was on point as usual, nailing every note. The guitarists definitely seemed to be enjoying their time on stage, which I appreciate. It helps the crowd get into the music, too. They played 10 songs this time around, with their set time being about an hour. Maybe halfway through their set, they played the absolute banger of a song called 'Hector's Hymn.' I looked down to the general admission floor, and I noticed the mosh pit opened up. 

Naturally, I ran right down there to slam myself into some fat, sweaty men!

I'm not super into Hammerfall's music anymore, but they are definitely an enjoyable band to watch live, and they kept the crowd entertained. One of the standout moments was right before they performed their last song. Vocalist Joacim Cans said, "We have one song left for you guys tonight. . . who is booing? For you my friend? We play two more songs. I'm just kidding!" This lead into them playing their most popular song 'Hearts on Fire.' For this song, Cans stood on the barrier, asking the audience to sing with him. This was only a warm up for what was to come later.

Sabaton

One of my favorite bands! I'd been impatiently waiting to see these guys since the last time I saw them in March 2018. They released a new album in July titled 'The Great War,' an album based entirely on events that took place in World War I. The Swedish power metal giants have returned to Worcester to show everyone that they mean business. . . funny business. They aim to put smiles on everyone's faces. They did just that at their show on November 1st. Playing almost entirely World War I related material, meaning choice cuts from the new album as well as emotional ballad 'The Price of a Mile' and a new favorite among fans 'Bismarck.' Other material was included in their set, but the theme of the set revolved around World War I.

My favorite part was the stage tank they brought. They normally don't bring this into the United States because they said they've broken at least three stages with the tank. So, what the stage tank is - well - it's an actual tank. On top of the tank is a platform they put the drums on. This was the first time I'd seen it in person. I hope they do it again.

I did enjoy their song selection. I enjoy the new album, so it was cool to hear a bunch of the new songs live. I wish they'd played 'A Ghost in the Trenches,' but oh well! At least they played '82nd All the Way,' which is another one of my favorites from the new album. I crowd surfed during that one. I crowd surfed a lot at this show. I went really crazy at this show and sung my heart out. This is one of the bands that you can't go wrong with. They always lift me up, and they're always fun to listen to. I also want to mention that I saw my classmate Dan there, so that was epic.

The Stage Tank

Part 3 coming in a little bit. Keep your eyes peeled, but please don't peel them too much or it will hurt.

Weekend of Concerts 2: Rapid Fire (Night 1/3)

I did it again. I went to a bunch of concerts. This time I did three nights in a row. I was painful. I was sick. Please don't ever do this. Let's get into Night One.

(Oh no! Bad formatting!)

Me, my two friends Hot Dog and Bacon, and some guy we met at the concert

Night 1 (October 31st)

(Order in Decline Tour @ The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts)

Before I get into the bands, I want to note that I went with my two friends. Since it was Halloween, I made all three of us dress up. This drew a lot of attention to us.

The Plot in You

This is one of the bands I was super excited for. It was actually my fourth time seeing them, but I love this band so much. Their two newest albums are put together with a feeling that is artistically pleasing to the listener. 'Happiness in Self Destruction' is a dark album that outlines vocalist Landon Tewer's struggles. 'Dispose' is equally as dark, but the music is more accessible. Anyway, they normally only play songs from these two albums. They opened with 'RIGGED,' the first song on 'Dispose.' Right before the drop hit in the song, I turned to my friend and said, "What if I ran through all of these people?" He replied with, "Do it, you won't."

So, naturally, I did.

The crowd didn't seem to know this band too well, but a few people were really into them, myself included. The band played mostly stuff from 'Dispose,' though they did play 'My Old Ways.' They also played 'Crows,' a song which they hadn't played on this tour, despite this show being their last night. I was the first crowd surfer, too. I had a great time with these guys, and I am looking forward to seeing them again!

The Amity Affliction

This is a band I don't like too much. I'd seen them two or three times prior to this, one of those times in passing at a festival. I saw them in January, as well. They were okay. My friend Alan loves them. I had started to like their music a little bit more just prior to this show. Surprisingly, they ripped this time. They killed it. Solid performance from the band, great mixing, and super energetic crowd. They played mostly good songs, too! They played their new song 'All My Friends Are Dead,' which is a sort-of return to form for them, after their screw-up of an album in 2018. They called for a wall of death at one point (link to video below), and they called for a circle pit. They really got the crowd warmed up, and I am happy to say they've managed to change my opinion of them with this show. I wouldn't go out of my way to see them again, but I wouldn't be opposed to seeing them again, either.

(video is from their 2018 European tour)

https://youtu.be/xaG4NrXUwAk?t=93

Sum 41

THIS is the band everyone came to see, and it showed. Canada's finest pop punk band put together this tour for the release of their album 'Order in Decline,' which came out in July 2019. This album is the band's most well-received album since 2004's 'Chuck.' Coincidentally, this year is the 15th anniversary of 'Chuck,' so the band decided to pull out a few deep cuts from that album. This made for an unforgettable show.

The crowd didn't wake up until the band played the second song in their set, fan favorite 'The Hell Song.' This is when the crowd exploded with energy. The whole floor was moving! Well, not literally, but there was a big mosh pit. Throughout their set, both the band and crowd displayed unrelenting amounts of energy. The band played 'Chuck" deep cuts like 'The Bitter End,' the band's only full thrash metal, as well as fan favorites like 'Still Waiting' and 'Fat Lip.' They also played a couple new songs. One of the highlights of the night was when vocalist and rhythm guitarist Deryck Whibley called for a circle pit for 'Out For Blood,' the first single from the band's new album.

Pain for Pleasure

Who is Pain for Pleasure? Well, they are actually Sum 41. After Sum 41 had performed, and after they had done their encore, the house lights were brought up, and a good amount of the crowd had left. My friends and I were about to leave. Then, the house lights were brought back down, and a narration started to play over the speakers. We were confused. Sum 41 came out in costumes reminiscent of 80s rock bands, and they played their song 'Pain for Pleasure.' This is a sort-of 80s hair metal type song, similar to a Poison or Whitesnake song. They did not play this song once. They did not play this song twice.They did not play it three times. They played the song four times. Good news is the song is only about a minute and change. Then, they threw kit kats into the audience.

I did not get a kit kat.

I was sad. Part two of this blog will come shortly.