Horror fans, the album of your dreams is finally here! Ice Nine Kills has released The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood; it’s the complete package for any horror fan, so let’s dive in head first. The lead track “Opening Night…” is probably the best intro to an album yet. “Warning! You are about to experience… Welcome To Horrorwood”. The title track starts off slow, yet it really throws you for a loop with the opening lyrics: “Ink fills the page // A classic killer completes the cast // If evils all the rage, cut to the close up, then fade to black // So sit back for the sequel of your dreams // Psychos crave more shocking scenes // Who cares if it bleeds beyond the screen?”
I’m not gonna spoil anything else about this song — just know you are in for a treat!
Song three is “A Rash Decision” and is about the movie Cabin Fever. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a film about college kids who go on a vacation into the woods and catch a skin-eating disease. The opening lyrics here really feel very crafted… you can tell Spencer Charnas and the rest of the Ice Nine Kills members really looked at the movie, possibly even writing the song while watching it. It opens with, “It’s underneath our skin // No medicine can stop the bleeding // Far from all we know // We’re caught without a prayer // It’s underneath our flesh and it won’t rest till we stop breathing // Far from all we know // There’s a fever in the air.” You definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of whatever this virus is. The following track “Assault & Batteries” is the second single from Welcome to Horrorwood and is about one of my absolute film favorites, Child’s Play. Again, if you’ve yet to see it, Child’s Play is a movie about a kids doll who comes to life and tries to kill him (and everyone he loves). It’s Andy Barclay’s 6th birthday and all he wants is a ‘Good Guy’ doll he saw while watching television… yet things aren’t always what they seem. So, if you get a doll for your little boy or girl this holiday season, make sure the doll isn’t talking and walking around without batteries! This song is accompanied by a brilliant music video that makes you feel like you are watching someone’s twisted version of the movie.
If you haven’t had enough thrills yet, song five “The Shower Scene” is about the well-known classic movie, Psycho. The opening lyrics here made me feel like I was in the movie: “Come on in // The weather’s dreadful // We always have a room to spare // Don’t mind mother, she is not well // The doctors say she’s not all there.” I definitely wouldn’t wanna live in the Bates Motel! This, of course, is heightened by the next song “Funeral Derangements” — a song based on the movie Pet Sematary. This is one of the heaviest songs on the album; if you like guttural growls, this song is for you! This song has an excellent chorus, too: “I’ll see you on the other side // But, I’d kill to bring you back tonight.” It’s definitely a standout track for sure and the fourth single Ice Nine Kills released before the album came out.
“Rainy Day” is about one of my other favorite movies — Resident Evil.
Resident Evil is a movie about a company known as ‘Umbrella’ that unleashed a zombie apocalypse on the world. I love when Ice Nine Kills mixes both heavy riffs with melodic intervals like the did for this one. “Rainy Day” is the third single put out before the album and, believe it or not, this song grew on me since its release! I learned to love it over time, especially with its amazing music video, featuring Ash Costello of New Year’s Day. And, speaking of previously released singles, “Hip To Be Scared” was actually our first taste of Welcome To Horrorwood. I was instantly a fan of this song right away, for who doesn’t love American Psycho? It’s one of my favorite songs on the album, by far, and the music video makes this song all the better.
Now towards the end of the album, “Take Your Pick” is based on My Bloody Valentine; if you are a fan of the movie or of the death metal band Cannibal Corpse, you are in for a treat! “The Box” up next, is a song about the movie Hellraiser, so turn this one up to 11 and “all hail the priest of hell // master of sin // buried in needles and pins”! The next track “F.L.Y.” is, I’m assuming about the movie The Fly, before the album brings along my favorite song of them all, “Wurst Vacation”, based off the shock horror movie staple Hostel.
Of course, Ice Nine Kills also like comedy horror movies to write songs to!
“Ex-Mørtis” is about Evil Dead, a movie that is both comedy and horror; it’s definitely a good one and remember, if you find the Book of the Dead, don’t utter the words “necronomicon ex-mørtis”! Or, just put the book in the ‘no-read’ pile. Ending the album is “Farewell II Flesh”, based off the film Candyman. What makes this song so great is that it follows track two’s formula — soft in the beginning, then heavy. I love the opening lyrics: “I felt the fatal touch of a forbidden lover // Soft with one hand, but stings with the other // Slave to a mob, ignorant and mad that bled all the good from my soul and only left the bad.” This song would be an excellent closing track for concerts! It’s definitely a strong track without giving too much away; it is with this song that the album gets a golden seal of approval.
This is a perfect album, filled to the brim with incredible moments that you can play all year-long (and not just Halloween time!!). It differs from 2018’s Silver Scream, while staying true to the franchise tradition that there’s always a sequel and this sequel has a refined melodic sensibility that makes it a cut above the rest. “Are you miss understood? Are you more bad than good? If so, welcome to Horrorwood, where anyone would kill for a call back”. Listen to this gem now or Spencer Charnas will find you and, remember, “stardom’s just an afterthought for all those stabbed in the backlot”.
Purchase or stream ‘The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood’ album:
Track listing:
- Opening Night…
- Welcome To Horrorwood
- A Rash Decision
- Assault & Batteries
- The Shower Scene
- Funeral Derangements
- Rainy Day
- Hip To Be Scared, feat. Jacoby Shaddix
- Take Your Pick, feat. Corpsegrinder
- The Box, feat. Brandon Saller & Ryan Kirby
- F.L.Y., feat. Buddy Nielsen
- Wurst Vacation
- Ex-Mørtis
- Farewell II Flesh
Ice Nine Kills – “Funeral Derangements”
Links: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website
Share this article
or
Disclaimer: All views presented in this album review are those of the reviewer and not necessarily those of Top Shelf Music.
Get music updates in your inbox
Wow great review and the videos are awesome. I am going to go buy it right now!!!