This is the 6th studio LP from Boston, Massachusetts melodic hardcore band Ice 9 Kills comprised of drummer Patrick Galante, bassist/co-frontman Joe Occhiuti, lead guitarist Joe Occhiuti & frontman Spencer Charnas. Their 2006 debut Last Chance to Make Amends followed by the 2010 sophomore effort Safe’s Just a Shadow as well as The Predator Becomes the Prey & Every Trick in the Book were all received moderately, coming off the opening installment of The Silver Scream trilogy for a sequel essentially saying Welcome to Horrorwood.
After the “Opening Night…” intro, the title track kicks things off with a symphonic death metal/pop punk satire of the film industry altogether whereas “A Rash Decision” draws inspiration from Cabin Fever. The 2nd single “Assault & Batteries” combines melodic metalcore, alternative metal, electro-industrial, industrial metal & symphonic metal for an ode to the Child’s Play franchise leading into “The Shower Scene” homaging one of the most iconic moments in cinema stemming from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
“Funeral Derangements” blends melodic metalcore with some secondary influences of deathcore paying tribute to Pet Sematary for the 4th single just before the preceding single “Rainy Day” experiments with alternative metal, industrial metal, melodic metalcore & electro-industrial giving flowers to the poorly received 2002 adaption of Resident Evil. “Hip to Be Scared” featuring Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix unites for a melodic metalcore, alt-metal & new wave lead single bases itself upon American Psycho while the 5th single “Take Your Pick” featuring Cannibal Corpse frontman George Fisher homages My Bloody Valentine.
We have Brandon Saller & Ryan Kirby of Atreyu & Fit for a King respectively joining Spencer on “The Box” to pay tribute to Hellraiser while “F.L.Y.” featuring Brandon Nielsen of Senses Fail gives teams up for a track inspired by The Fly. “Wurst Vacation” sings about vacationing in Europe with 3 friends similarly to the plot of Hostel but once “Ex-Mørtis” honors The Evil Dead‘s legacy spanning 4 decades, the last 2 songs “Farewell II Flesh” and “Meat & Greet” end The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood saluting both Candyman & The Silence of the Lambs.
I had no idea who Ice 9 Kills were until Majik Ninja Entertainment founders Twiztid had them featured on “Envy” not realizing at the time that it was the worst place anyone looking to deep dive into their discography could possibly begin & The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood surpasses it’s predecessor to become the saga’s most intriguing entry & the band’s finest album of their career. The melodic metalcore/symphonic alt-metal production’s certainly gotten bigger due to them having a bigger budget & they’re getting crazier with all the horror references.
Score: 3.5/5
