I Prevail Premieres Semi-Acoustic Take Of Its Latest Single, ‘Deep End’

Courtesy: Fearless Records

I Prevail debuted a “stripped down” version of its latest single, ‘Deep End‘ this week.

The band premiered the semi-acoustic take of the song and its companion video Friday. The band premiered the song in its original song in March. The updated, “stripped down” take of the song changes little from its source material. The only real notable difference between the two renditions is that the guitars are acoustic instead of electric. The poppy vibe of the original song is just as present as ever.

The keyboards here are still electric and in this case, so is the song’s drum line. Thus the song is not an entirely acoustic take of the original composition.

The band talked, in a prepared statement, about how the new take on the song was inspired by the song’s lyrical theme.

“‘Deep End’ felt special from the day we wrote it,” the statement reads. “Being one of the most introspective tracks on the record, it became a reflection on an attempt to stop battling certain things about yourself and instead learning to accept them as a part of who you are. There’s a peace to be found in that. Overall, this track allowed us to evolve the softer side of our band and we’re incredibly proud of it.”

Along With ‘Deep End,’ True Power also produced the singles, “There’s Fear In Letting Go,” “Body Bag,” “Self-Destruction,” and “Bad Things“.

‘Deep End’ is featured in I Prevail’s latest album, True Power, which was released last year through Fearless Records. More information on the album is available along with all of I Prevail’s latest news at:

Websitehttps://iprevailband.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/IPrevailBand

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/iprevailband

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Wage War Announces New Live Dates

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Wage War announced its latest tour schedule this week.

The band’s tour, which is in support of its 2021 album, Manic and its follow-up companion record, The Stripped Sessions, is scheduled to launch April 11 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and to run through May 20 in Atlanta, GA. The tour features stops in Portland, OR; Minneapolis, MN and Silver Springs, MD along the way.

Nothing, Nowhere and Spite will serve as support for the tour. Tickets are available here. The tour’s schedule is noted below:

WAGE WAR ON TOUR:
WITH NOTHING,NOWHERE. + SPITE:

4/11 — Ft. Lauderdale — Revolution Live
4/12 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
4/14 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
4/15 — Dallas, TX — Echo Lounge & Music Hall
4/16 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
4/18 — Tempe, AZ — The Marquee
4/20 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
4/21 — San Diego, CA — The Observatory
4/22 — Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco
4/23 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
4/25 — Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
4/26 — Seattle, WA — The Showbox Sodo
4/28 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
4/29 — Denver, CO — Summit
4/30 — Kansas City, MO — The Truman
5/2 — Green Bay, WI — Epic Event Center
5/3 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore
5/5 — Chicago, IL — Concord Music Hall
5/6 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore
5/7 — Toronto, ON — The Danforth Music Hall
5/9 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogart’s
5/10 — Pittsburgh, PA — Roxian Theatre
5/12 — Worcester. MA — The Palladium
5/13 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom
5/14 — Huntington, NY — The Paramount
5/16 — Silver Springs, MD — The Fillmore
5/17 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore
5/19 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
5/20 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade Heaven

More information on Wage War’s new tour is available now along with all of the band’s latest tour dates, news and more at:

Websitehttps://wagewarband.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/wagewar

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/wagewar

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

I Prevail’s Latest LP Is A Truly Intriguing Presentation

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Thanksgiving weekend is officially at its end and with it so is the North American leg of I Prevail’s tour in support of its latest album, True Power, which was released Aug. 19 through Fearless Records. The band is scheduled to take the rest of the year off before heading overseas to Europe in March for the tour’s next leg, beginning March 7 in Zurich, Sweden. Tickets for that tour are most assuredly Christmas presents for plenty of fans, while for lots of others, the band’s new album might actually be its own present. The 44-minute presentation is sure to appeal to the band’s established audiences, as well as more casual audiences. That is proven through its musical and lyrical content alike, as is proven in part through the early entry, ‘Body Bag,’ which will be discussed shortly. ‘Judgement Day,’ which comes a little later in the album’s run, is another way in which the record’s musical and lyrical content comes together to make it worth hearing. It will be addressed a little later. ‘The Negative,’ which comes even later in the album’s run, is yet another example of how the album’s overall content comes together to make the record interesting. When it and the other songs noted here are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes the record worth hearing at least once.

True Power, the latest album from up and coming post hardcore band I Prevail, is an intriguing offering from the band. That is due to its combined musical and lyrical arrangements. The record’s musical arrangements bring together influences of Set It Off, Linkin Park, and Ice Nine Kills for a sound that is quite unique to say the least. It is a sound that oddly enough works as much as it would seem that it wouldn’t work. The lyrical themes that accompany that content makes for its own share of interest. ‘Body Bag,’ the record’s lead single, is just one example of how that combination makes an intriguing offering for audiences. The song’s musical arrangement opens with a distinct, heavy approach much in the vein of Slipknot what with its use of electronics alongside the guitar and drums and the screaming vocals. The use of the clean vocals alongside the screams makes for an interesting juxtaposition in itself that oddly enough, actually adds to the arrangement’s impact. The White Chapel-esque down-tuned crunching from the guitar in the break down adds even more to the whole.

The lyrical theme that accompanies that intense musical arrangement makes for its own interest here. That is because it comes across as that familiar message of being fed up with fake people, those ones who would rather live their lives in misery. This is inferred in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state ,”There’s a million ******* reasons that you got it bad/But everybody’s leaving in a body bag/Go/Save your problems for somebody else who gives a damn/’Cause you won’t find me waiting at your promised land/No/Oh you think you got it bad?/I’m telling you to bite down and face it/You’re never gonna do much or change ****/When all you say is **** that and **** that/Don’t let them save you from yourself/Lights out/Embrace it/Your heart is beating faster/It’s racing/As we go on and on and on and on/Oh my God/Just shut your ******* mouth.” That content right there points to someone just being fed up with that other person being so miserable all the time and expecting others to cow tow to them. The second verse adds to that inference as it states, “Bring it down/Only one of us gets through/Two in/One out/And it’s not you/Run for your life/There’s nothing you can do/Necks snap when I show up/I say one word and it blows up/Run for your life/I’m taking what’s mine/and your time has come.” Now this imagery is somewhat violent, but that is all it is, imagery. This is not a threat of violence against anyone. Rather it is just some bravado meant to say that the subject is all business. It is kind of an over the top way to send such a message, but it is clear enough and is sure to appeal to certain audiences.

‘Judgement Day,’ which comes a little later in the album’s run, is another of those strong, overly direct songs presenting a message of proud defiance. In the case of this song, the arrangement is a stark change of pace. Instead of the odd hybrid collection of influences, this song’s arrangement is a full on metalcore presentation. The screams and the intense energy from the instruments immediately envelopes audiences, not letting up until the song’s end as the song’s familiar theme of defiance is delivered.

This time, that defiance is against not one of those self defeatist types, as discussed in ‘Body Bag,’ but against society in general. This is inferred in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “I walked into the darkness/I set myself on fire/I stared into heartless/And I found out death is a liar/So burn it all to ashes/Drown them all in acid/Say *** pleasing the masses/Don’t blink/I’m going beyond your understanding/Beyond the unimagined/Be honest/Are you ready or not/Let’s find out right now/Oh, destroy yourself/Welcome to the end/I don’t care about what they say/Everybody’s sorry on judgement day/Nothing’s gonna break me/I’ve got ice inside my veins/There’s gotta be a better way/There’s greatness in my DNA/You’ll get yours on judgement day.” There is that pride and confident defiance of society and its standards, clear and present. It continues in the song’s second verse, which states, “I was born on the path to nowhere/Cast out/Not a *** **** thing to prove/No home/No thoughts and no prayers/I’ve got nothing to lose/So **** it/Burn it all to ashes/Drown them all in acid/I’m done pleasing the masses/You’ll see/I’m going beyond your understanding/Beyond the unimagined/Be honest/Are you ready or not?” Again, here is that sense of self determination and simply not caring about what society thinks of the subject. It is a familiar theme that is certain to resonate with audiences both in that familiarity and in the way in which it was delivered.

‘The Negative’ is yet another song that tends to show what makes I Prevail’s new album worth hearing at least once. The song only clocks in at two minutes, 21 seconds, but the energy in the song’s arrangement makes it so interesting here. The more melodic moments that lend themselves to works from Set It Off make for such an interesting juxtaposition to the heavier Motionless in White-esque moments in the verses. Somehow that pairing of influences work as they help to illustrate the emotion in the song’s lyrical theme, which finds the subject battling with himself internally.

The battle is a mental health combat caused by himself and by external forces. This is inferred in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “I’m so sick and tired of the negative/I’m on the edge tonight/Closer to the ledge/You were right/Lost in my head tonight/I’m spinning in circles/And I can’t get out/Running from these thoughts that I can’t say out loud/I’m so sick and tired of the negative/Black and white/You’re right/I’m ******* over it/Patience is paper thin/And something’s gotta give/I’m so sick and tired of the negative.” The inner turmoil is further illustrated in the song’s second verse, which states, “Well, damn/I guess you’re the perfect person/Same day but a different version/Paint the picture/But you don’t deserve it/Color’s fading underneath the surface/So wear black everywhere you go/No take backs at the end of the road/No last chance when the casket’s closed/Your silence is worth more than gold.” This is an illustration of that external force causing that inner battle. There are so many people out there like the one described here. To that end, it makes this part of the theme all the more resonant for listeners. When the whole is considered collectively, that inner battle that the subject fights as a result of it all makes it another fully accessible theme for the band’s target audiences. When it and the other themes examined here are considered along with the rest of the album’s lyrical themes, the whole shows that much more, what makes the record’s lyrical (and musical) content so important. All in all, the overall content examined here makes True Power an intriguing addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.

True Power, the latest album from I Prevail, is an interesting new offering from the up-and-coming post hardcore band. That is proven through its collective musical and lyrical themes, as is evidenced through the songs examined here. When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes this record a presentation that is worth hearing at least once.

True Power is available now through Fearless Records. More information on the album is available along with all of I Prevail’s latest news at:

Website: https://iprevailband.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IPrevailBand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iprevailband

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Wage War Debuts ‘Godspeed’ Video

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Wage War debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band premiered the video for its single, ‘Godspeed’ Wednesday. The video is composed of footage from the band performing live. The song itself is from the band’s latest album, Manic. The album has also produced the singles, ‘Teeth,’ ‘High Horse,’ ‘Manic,’ and ‘Circle the Drain.’ An acoustic take of the song premiered Dec. 17.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Godspeed’ starts off with something of an industrial bent. That leaning is very quickly paired with the band’s familiar metalcore style for a song that is just as unique as anything else featured in the band’s new album.

According to a statement released from the band, the song’s lyrical theme takes on the all too familiar topic of toxic relationships.

“‘Godspeed’ is about finally reaching the last straw and ultimately cutting toxic people out of your life,” the statement reads. “It’s three minutes and six seconds of all gas, and no brakes. It’s heavy, it’s melodic, it’s energetic. It’s everything you’ve ever come to know about Wage War, cranked all the way up.”

In other news, Wage War will continue touring in support of its new album. The next leg of the band’s tour is scheduled to launch July 18 in Detroit, MI and to run through Aug. 19 in Tempe, AZ. The tour also features performances in cities, such as Nashville, TN; Green Bay, WI and Reading, PA.

The tour’s schedule is noted below.

WAGE WAR ON TOUR:
WITH THREE DAYS GRACE + ZERO 9:36:

7/18 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore
7/19 — East Moline, IL — The Rust Belt
7/21 — Clive, IA — Horizon Events Center
7/22 — Chesterfield, MO — The Factory
7/23 — Green Bay, WI — Capital Credit Union Park
7/25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
7/27 — Wallingford, CT — The Dome at Toyota Presents Oakdale
7/28 — Boston, MA — House of Blues
8/03 — Reading, PA — Theatre at Santander Arena
8/05 — Atlanta, GA — Tabernacle
8/06 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
8/07 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
8/09 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
8/11 — Austin, TX — Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
8/15 — Denver, CO — The Mission Ballroom
8/18 — Hollywood, CA — Hollywood Palladium
8/19 — Tempe, AZ — The Marquee Theatre

More information on Wage War’s new video and tour is available now along with all of Wage War’s latest tour dates, news and more at:

Websitehttps://wagewarband.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/wagewar

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/wagewar

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Wage War Debuts ‘Circle The Drain’ Acoustic Take; Announces New Live Dates

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Wage War premiered a stripped down take of its single, ‘Circle The Drain‘ Friday. The song is featured in the band’s latest album, Manic.

The stripped down approach is actually slightly similar to that of the original composition in its stylistic approach. However the lack of the layered vocals and electronics and distortion does give the song a certain new, added depth of emotion, presenting more of a sense of vulnerability.

The band offered the following statement about the new take of ‘Circle The Drain.’

“We’ve always loved taking our songs back to the basics, and ‘Circle the Drain (Stripped)’ is one of our favorites yet,” the statement reads. “We feel like the song really gets to breathe when you strip it down.”

In other news, Wage War has announced new live dates for this winter alongside Falling in Reverse and Hawthorne Heights. The dates are noted below.

WAGE WAR ON TOUR:
WITH FALLING IN REVERSE + HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS:

1/13 ­­— Atlanta, GA — The Tabernacle
1/14 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
1/15 — Cincinnati, OH  — ICON
1/17 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE 
1/18 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore
1/19 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore
1/21 — Boston, MA  — Tsongas Arena
1/22 — New York, NY — Hammerstein
1/24 — Detroit, MI  — The Fillmore
1/25 — Chicago, IL  — Aragon Ballroom
1/28 — Kansas City, MO — The Uptown Theatre
1/29 — Oklahoma City, OK  — Diamond Ballroom
1/30 — Dallas, TX — Southside Ballroom
2/1 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
2/4 — Los Angeles, CA  — The Palladium

More information on Wage War’s new acoustic take of ‘Circle The Drain’ and tour is available now along with all of Wage War’s latest tour dates, news and more at:

Websitehttps://wagewarband.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/wagewar

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/wagewar

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

August Burns Red Premieres “Live” Video For Its Single, ‘Paramount’

Courtesy: Fearless Records

August Burns Red premiered a new “live” performance of its single, ‘Paramount’ this week.

The band premiered the new live clip Thursday through its official YouTube channel. The news release announcing the video’s premiere did not specify at which venue the performance was captured. The song is featured in the band’s latest album, Guardians.

Additionally, the band did not note that information either in a prepared statement discussing the new video.

“We got to play ‘Paramount’ live for the first time on our recent fall tour,” the statement reads. “It quickly became one of our favorite songs to play each night and we thought it was be fun to capture the energy and vibe of the song live. We’re grateful to everyone who came out to these shows and helped to make this video happen!”

More information on August Burns Red’s new video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://augustburnsred.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/augustburnsred

Twitter: https://twitter.com/augustburnsred

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

As It Is Announces New Album Details; Premieres Album’s Lead Single, Video

Courtesy: Fearless Records

As It Is will tentatively release its new album this winter.

The band made the announcement Nov. 11 in a press release distributed to the media. The document states the band is scheduled to release its new album, I Went To Hell and Back Feb. 4 through Fearless Records.

In anticipation of the record’s release, the band premiered the album’s latest single, ‘I Miss 2003,’ and its companion video Nov. 11. Both are available to stream here. The song is the album’s fifth single behind ‘I Can’t Take It,’ ‘ILY, How Are You,’ ‘I Lie To Me,’ and ‘IDGAF.’

The song’s musical arrangement is a familiar emo pop style composition that shows influence from the band’s fellow Fearless Records label mates, Set It Off, while also showing similarity to other related acts.

The lyrical them the featured in the band’s new single is allegedly a tribute to the bands that were influential to the band, according to comments from the band.

Thematically, there was little left unsaid on the album, which is always a liberating feeling because no risk is off limits anymore,” the band said in a prepared statement about the song’s lyrical theme. “Why not write a love song about the bands that sparked a fire inside you? Why not decorate all the lyrics with band names and song titles? It was a joy to write, and in its own weird way, it felt like we were writing this in the 2000s.”

The statement continued, “So if you were there, we hope this song takes you back, and if you missed out, we hope this song makes you feel like you lived through it all with us.”

In other news, As It Is is scheduled to launch a new tour in support of its album Jan. 13 in Los Angeles, CA. The tour is scheduled to run through June 8 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK. Tickets are available here.

More information on As It Is’ new single, video, and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://asitisofficial.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asitisofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/asitisofficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Until I Wake Premieres New Single, ‘Octane,’ Companion Video

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Emocore band Until I Wake debuted premiered its latest single and video this month.

The band premiered its new single, ‘Octane‘ and the song’s video Nov. 12.  The song and video are the first from the band’s as yet untitled forthcoming album.  The album’s release date and more is all under consideration.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Octane’ is familiar territory for any emocore fan.  That is evident through the blend of clean vocals, screams, down-tuned guitars and heavy, rich drums and bass.

The song’s lyrical theme takes on the familiar topic of giving people so much but getting so little in return, according to a prepared statement from the band.

“‘Octane’ is basically about the after effect of putting too much of your faith in someone, only to constantly be let down,” the statement reads in part.  “‘Octane’ is a big ‘f*** you’ to the ones who don’t stick around and can’t keep up.”

The video for ‘Octane’ is a relatively familiar style presentation.  It features the band performing its new single in a warehouse setting.  A variety of camera angles and video effects is used throughout to help enhance the viewing experience and the energy in the song’s arrangement.

In other news, the band is scheduled to hit the road next spring in support of Atttack Attack’s headlining tour.  UIW will join Conquer Divide as support on the tour, which is scheduled to launch March 30 in Rochester, NY.  The tour is scheduled to run through April 10 in Greensboro, NC and to feature performances in cities, such as Richmond, VA; Baltimore, MD and Tampa, FL.

More information on Until I Wake’s new single, video, tour, and forthcoming album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/untiliwake

Twitter: https://twitter.com/untiliwake

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Ice Nine Kills’ Latest LP Is A Scary Good New Record

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Halloween is almost over, but horror, like evil, will never die.  Metalcore band Ice Nine Kills is an act that seems to live by that mantra, having released so many albums based on horror novels and movies throughout its life.  The band continued to prove that Oct. 15 when it released its long-awaited new album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood.  The wait for this record was well worth it, as this critic and any of the band’s fans will agree.  That is proven in part through the musical arrangements featured in this record.  They will be discussed shortly.  The movies represented in the new album add to the record’s appeal in their own way and will be discussed a little later.  The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later.  Each item noted does its own part to make INK’s new album successful.  All things considered, they make the album another successful offering from the band that is not just a great musical Halloween treat this year, but a great addition to this year’s field of new hard rock and metal albums.

Ice Nine Kills’ latest album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood is another successful new offering from the band that the band’s fans new and established alike will appreciate.  That is due in no small part to its featured musical arrangements.  The arrangements are important to the record’s success because of the mix of familiar and new sounds and styles that they exhibit.  Right from the album’s outset in the album’s title track, audiences get the band’s familiar melodic metalcore approach, complete with front man Spencer Charnas’ solid mix of clean vocals and screams and the band’s familiar choral element that has become such a trademark of the band’s songs.  From there though, the band changes things up in ‘A Rash Decision.’  The ominous piano line that opens the arrangement is familiar, but as the arrangement progresses, it very quickly turns to a decidedly Slipknot-esque composition with its heavy, driving guitars, screams, and pounding, solid time keeping.  This is an approach that the band has dabbled with in the past, but never to this extent.  ‘Assault & Batteries’ meanwhile takes audiences back to the sounds so familiar in The Silver Scream and even all the way back to the band’s even earlier hit song, ‘Communion of the Cursed.’   Listeners get even more of the noted Slipknot influence in ‘Funeral Derangements,’ which is one of the album’s many singles.  Perhaps the most notable of the album’s arrangements comes in the form of ‘Rainy Day’ (yes another of the album’s singles).  The incorporation of the electronics into the song conjure thoughts of songs from the likes of Gravity Kills and Spineshank.  That newer sound pairs with the arrangement’s more familiar metalcore elements to make it one of the album’s most notable musical works.  Audiences who want even more new approaches and sounds get that in the distinctly death metal style ‘Take Your Pick.’  Considering that this song features a guest appearance by Cannibal Corpse front man Corpsgrinder, the comparison there is immediate.  To a slightly lesser degree, audiences can also make a comparison to works from the likes of Whitechapel.  From there on out, audiences get plenty of familiar sounds and styles in every song that follows.  At the same time, the songs still boast their own identities, even with that familiarity noted.  Keeping all of this in mind, the mix of new and familiar from one arrangement to the next and even within certain songs makes for reason enough for audiences to hear this record.  Of course, the musical arrangements featured in INK’s new album are collectively just one part of what makes this album worth hearing.  The movies that are represented throughout the record make for their own interest.

The movies that INK chose to represent in its latest album are important to note because unlike so many cinematic sequels, they are not just re-hashings of the material from the original.  From the singles already released so far, audiences know that classic movies, such as Pet Sematary, American Psycho, Child’s Play and Resident Evil are represented here.  Also represented are seemingly the likes of Cabin in the Woods (‘A Rash Decision’), The Fly (‘F.L.Y.’), and even Psycho (‘The Shower Scene’) among others.  Hellraiser is seemingly represented here in ‘The Box’ as is The Evil Dead in ‘Ex-Mortis.’  Simply put, between the movies listed here and the others featured here, INK has opted to not just re-visit the movies visited in the songs from The Silver Scream and its initial sequel/spinoff, The Silver Scream: The Final Cut.  What’s more, the band also made sure to pick movies from across the horror spectrum and history.  Not only does this serve as respect for those movies, but it could very well serve as a starting point for a lifelong love for (and potentially obsession with) those movies for new horror fans.  To that end, that and everything else noted here shows why the movies chosen for this record are important to the album’s success.  Even with this in mind, there is still one more item to address here.  That item is the record’s sequencing.


The sequencing of The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood is important because it ensures the album’s energy remains just right from start to end.  The album starts off in ominous fashion, but doesn’t wait long before it really picks up.  From there, the energy barely shifts at any point.  When it does, it is subtle at best.  The result is that it does just as much to keep listeners engaged and entertained throughout the album as its content and the very cinematic history presented through the featured movies.  Keeping all of this in mind, there is no doubt that the sequencing of INK’s new album is just as important to note as the album’s content.  It all comes together to make the album its own welcome musical love letter to Hollywood’s horror history just as much as its predecessors.

Ice Nine Kills’ recently released album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrrorwood is another successful offering from the band.  It is a work that the band’s established and newer audiences alike will enjoy.  That is due in no small part to its featured musical arrangements.  The arrangements offer listeners a solid blend of familiar sounds and styles, and newer approaches.  The whole there makes for plenty of engagement and entertainment.  The movies that are represented throughout the album are of their own importance.  That is because they are not just repeats of the movies represented in the band’s most recent records.  They continue to show the band’s love for Hollywood’s rich history of horror while also continuing to potentially introduce audiences to that rich history.  The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements.  That is because it ensures that the record’s energy remains solid from start to end.  Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation.  All things considered, they make the album another successful offering from Ice Nine Kills and one more of this year’s top new hard rock and metal albums.

The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood is available now through Fearless Records. More information on Ice Nine Kills’ new album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Websitehttps://iceninekills.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/IceNineKills

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/iceninekills

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Ice Nine Kills Launches Another New Single, Video From Its Latest Album

Courtesy: Fearless Records

Ice Nine Kills offered audiences another preview of its new album over the weekend.

The band debuted its new single, ‘Funeral Derangements‘ and its video Saturday. The song is the fourth single from the band’s forthcoming album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood. The band premiered the album’s third single,  ‘Rainy Day‘ and its companion video approximately a month prior.

The premiere of ‘Rainy Day’ was preceded in August, by that of ‘Assault and Batteries,’ and its video, the second single and video from the record. The album’s lead single,  ‘Hip To Be Scared‘ and its video premiered July 9.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Funeral Derangements’ is everything that audiences have come to expect from INK. The vocal harmonies are there. So are the screams and heavy breakdowns, as well as the rich bass and drums. It leans in the direction of the sound and stylistic approach taken in ‘Communion of the Cursed’ by and large while still maintaining its own identity.

The song’s video is an homage to author Stephen King’s classic horror novel Pet Sematary. This is even mentioned by one of the officers in the video’s final scene. The video by the way, is NSFW because of all of the blood and overall darkness and violent content, so viewer discretion is advised.

The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood is scheduled for release Oct. 15 through Fearless Records. The album is technically the second “sequel” to the band’s 2018 album, The Silver Scream. That record was followed by the release of  The Silver ScreamThe Final Cut.

The Silver Scream and The Silver ScreamThe Final Cut produced the singles, ‘Thank God It’s Friday,’ ‘Stabbing in the Dark,’ ‘A Grave Mistake,‘ ‘The American Nightmare,’ ‘Savages,’ ‘Enjoy Your Slay‘ ‘A Grave Mistake,’ ‘Thank God It’s Friday,’ ‘Stabbing in the Dark‘ and a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’

The band followed up The Silver ScreamThe Final Cut with the release of its live recording, I Heard They Kill Live last year. The recording produced live performances of The Silver Scream‘s songs, ‘Rocking The Boat,’ and ‘Stabbing in the Dark.’

The track listing for The Silver Scream 2Welcome to Horrorwood is noted below.

Ice Nine Kills

The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood

Track Listing

1. Opening Night…

2. Welcome To Horrorwood

3. A Rash Decision 

4. Assault & Batteries

5. The Shower Scene

6. Funeral Derangements 

7. Rainy Day 

8. Hip To Be Scared (feat. Jacoby Shaddix) 

9. Take Your Pick (feat. Corpsegrinder) 

10. The Box (feat. Brandon Saller of Atreyue & Ryan Kirby of Fit For A King) 

11. F.L.Y. (feat. Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail) 

12. Wurst Vacation 

13. Ex-Mørtis

14. Farewell II Flesh 

More information on Ice Nine Kills’ new album, single, and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Websitehttps://iceninekills.com

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/IceNineKills

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/iceninekills

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