Ice Nine Kills / O2 Academy / Bristol

Back in old Bristol town for a show we’ve been looking forward to for some time, as Ice Nine Kills hit town. A gorgeous sunny walk down to the waterfront and the O2 Academy on nearby Frogmore Street. Early doors at 18:30 tonight and with four bands on the bill, an early start with the first support up on stage at 18:40. Hardly enough time to grab a beer 😊 Tonight’s show is truly an international affair, with four bands coming from very different corners of the globe.

The opening act was Defying Decay, and I wasn’t expecting this at all. Sounding very much like a hardcore band like Hate or Ingested, out walk a Korean alt-metal band from Bangkok all smartly dressed and the singer Jay Euarchukiati in suit.

You have to feel for the early supports, in this case seven musicians (singer, 2 guitars, bass, keys, drums & DJ) crammed on the edge of the stage with the main set covered up behind, but what space they had… they owned.

And I have to say, they were a very pleasant surprise and delivered an unforgettable performance. It was amazing to see the large early crowd lapping it up and bouncing around. Jay interacted with the audience effortlessly, and the energy in the room was electric.

Their style is a high energy mix of hardcore and alt-rock. The highlight of the set was towards the end, when Jay asked the crowd to join in in a cover, as they launched into The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. A brilliant version that went down an absolute storm.

A quick change and we were ready for Round 2, as US rockers Lansdowne hit the stage. Formed in Boston, MA in 2006 Lansdowne are Jon Ricci (Vocals), Shaun Lichtenstein (Lead Guitar / Vocals), Glenn Mungo (Drums), Josh Waterman (Guitar / Vocals), and Mike LaRoche (Bass).

Very much blue collar US rock, the set was high energy right from the off. Vocalist Jon struts the stage and owns it as he belts out the lyrics, under pinned by some exceptional guitar work from Shaun and Josh. The rhythm is tightknit from Glenn and Mike and the whole things pulls together effortlessly. The place is pretty much packed now, and it’s a hot night,. And we’re all dripping already a mix of the weather and the energy in the room. A n excellent set.

Another trip to the bar for some water to cool down as the set is prepared for round 3 !

And oh boy….. what a treat lay ahead !

I’d heard a lot about Australian band Skynd and have listened to them on Spotify loads, and they were a band I really wanted to see live. Formed of Skynd (vocals) and Father (bass & keys) and a drummer they are certainly a presence on stage !

Now I love a band with attitude and visual appeal. Anything like Batushka, Wednesday 13, CombiChrist, Mushroomhead…. Love it. Skynd take things to another higher level.

Father and the drummer are dressed in grimy robes and face masks, reminding me of Ghosts of Atlantis in their look. And Skynd ? Well, her movements were like an automaton, with a visual look like Harley Quinn dressed up for the captains dinner on the Mondoshawan space cruise ship in Fifth Element.

Their industrial dance / electronic sound delivers a themed set. The songs all have actual names that sound familiar, and then you realise they are serial killers or convicted murderers. They seek to explore the deepest and darkest of human secrets and desire through song. For an idea, think of the brilliant Wednesday 13 album “Necrophaze” and the track Zodiac.

It’s hauntingly brilliant stuff, with mesmerising visuals. The sound is incredible, moving from light and almost child-like at times (with vocals to match) twisting to deep and dark and utterly menacing.

The highlights of the set for me were Michelle Carter¸ the story of a girlfriend convicted of involuntary manslaughter who talked her boyfriend into committing suicide. Memorable for the lines “I love you, now die”. Columbine is another belter with it’s creepy “ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta” chorus. But for me, the best was Tyler Hadley, about the 17 year old who bludgeoned his mother and father to death high on ecstasy and went on to host a house party that night, summed up powerfully in the chorus lines “bang bang boogie boogie bang bang” sung in almost child-like Japanese / k-pop style.

Not everyone’s thing I know, but I thought they were simply outstanding. Their sound is utterly unique - there’s just nothing else out there like Skynd and I can’t wait for them to see them again as soon as I can.

Set List

Richard Ramirez

Michelle Carter

Robert Hansen

Columbine

Jim Jones

Edmund Kemper

Tyler Hadley

Gary Heidnik

I’m knackered already….. and after all that…. we STILL have a headliner to hear ! And what a headliner !!! If Alice Cooper is the king of shock-rock, the Ice Nine Kills are taking the genre of horror rock deep into the 21st century.

The lights go down, the stage set swirls with fake mist as Massachusetts metal heads, Ice Nine Kills take to the stages. The drumkit on a riser with the words Welcome to Horrorwood” round it, the title of their latest 2021 album. The lads all dressed immaculately in black dinner jackets and bow ties as they dive into Funeral Derangements with its heavy Slipknot like start, as singer Spencer Charnas emerged from the spoke with a long-handled shovel over his shoulder.

We duck and watch our heads in the pit as the shaft swings out over us. As second track Wurst Vacaction springs forth, Spencer comes back on in a brown butchers apron. This one is guttural and fierce. One of the crew is brought on to the stage and sat down back against the step riser at stage front. Spencer stands over him and brings a butchers knife down repeatedly, before raising two arms into the air, before nonchalantly discarding them.

In the next one, Spencer has donned a white lab coat and swings an axe as a guy wanders on in shirt with a beer, like he’s drunk and lost on a night our. Encouraged to lie down behind the riser, Spencer stands on it and raises the axe high before slicing his head off. Stepping down, he grabs the head and thrusts it towards the crowd to cheers and shouts.

I loved Hip to be Scared which on the album is performed with Jacoby Shaddix (from Papa Roach) which shows their range, with it’s slower, soft story-like introduction. Compare that to the full on audio assault of a track like Farewell to Flesh II.

It’s not all about the shock-horror, the musicianship is outstanding, and the crowd are eagerly singing along. Alongside the new material, we’re treated to some classics, the highlight being SAVAGES and Stabbed in the Dark from 2018’s “The Silver Scream”.

The balance between music and theatrics is just spot on, allowing the music to be the most important element.

I’ve been to loads of metal shows at the O2 in Bristol in the last year, and tonight is right up there at the top for atmosphere and energy. Amazing from start to finish.

Thai, US, and Aussie, all bringing something very different top the table. I certainly found a new favourite live experience in Skynd, and Ice Nine Kills didn’t just live up to expectations…… they surpassed them. A great night – scary, dark, thrilling and loud….. Just the way I like it 😊

Set List

Funeral Derangements

Wurst Vacation

Hip to Be Scared

Ex-Mørtis

It is the End

Communion of the Cursed

The American Nightmare

The Shower Scene

Assault & Batteries

A Grave Mistake

SAVAGES