Ice Nine Kills - Safe Is Just a Shadow (2010)Release ID: 9832
Ice Nine Kills is a band that never really gets mentioned much in the metal community, and I can see why. They started as a pop punk/ska band recording a demo in 2002 that wasn't released until 2009 and their 2006 debut Last Chance to Make Amends. Then their 2007 EP The Burning marked the beginning of their current sound, though still not getting the deserving worldwide exposure. Fortunately, the acquired fans still enjoy that exceptional release in the modern screamo/post-hardcore scene.
With the lineup getting refreshed with the only remaining original member being main vocalist Spencer Charnas, you might think there would be another change of sound from that EP. Yes, but not drastically! The newer incarnation of Ice Nine Kills released their second and first major-label album Safe is Just a Shadow.
"Proximity Mines in the Complex" is one of my favorite songs of the album, and it's the beginning of the modern Ice Nine Kills style you know and love. Spencer Charnas' harsh vocals are now in higher prominence. This song is heavier than anything you would ever hear in their self-released debut and EP, almost impossibly heavier than anything I've heard. That marks the beginning of the band's new life as a metalcore band. I also enjoy "Buildings Burn, People Die" though not enough to be one of my favorites but enough to continue my love for this band. They really developed their sound into something new and modern. I appreciate the heavy riffs, pulverizing vocals, and amazing lyrics, all sounding relevant! "Chris Brown's Latest Hit" (referencing Chris Brown assaulting Rihanna the previous year) has soaring hooks in catchy choruses.
"Newton's Third Law of Knives to the Back" continues the post-hardcore/metalcore strategy of brutal long song titles, while the song itself sounds like a mix of songs from all Spencer Chamberlain-era Underoath albums at that time mixed into one song (another kick-A Spencer!). "So This is My Future" is what I think of the coronavirus situation as of this review, fearing a future of a world of plague and having to stay in our homes to survive. Epic metalcore song! Then we come to the epic 3-track album suite, starting with "Acceptance in the Waves" which is really amazing for the most part. The next part of the suite, "Red Sky Warning" has killer vocal harmonies especially in the right after the midway point. "The People Under The Stairs" is my favorite part of the suite, and another album favorite. It starts with a My Dying Bride-like synth-orchestral intro, but instead of gothic doom, you get blasted by the usual metalcore, in which the epic extreme sound makes otherwise generic verses glorious.
"The Greatest Story Ever Told" (re-recorded from The Burning) is not the greatest song ever heard, but it is a great favorite for me and other Ice Nine Kills fans with fun vocals and dark yet modern lyrics. Every IX fan would really sing along in any live show that has this song. This is a fun song to headbang to the rhythms and sing along the unique enchanting lyrics. Again, NOT the greatest song on earth, but one of the strongest songs in the band's history. "Evidence on Fire" has the last of the hype from this album, containing dark lyrics, melodic vocals, and heavy riffs. After that gripping closing song, listeners would definitely want more!
Fans of Ice Nine Kills' older pop punk/ska sound might end up covering their ears from the metal sound worth a Warped Tour they can't stand, but it's no problem for the heavier metalheads. With the inclusion of breakdowns and vocals that range from harsh screaming to clean whining, those not-so-brave punk fans might see them as a step backwards, whereas the metal fans see them as a leap forward. It looks like Ice Nine Kills gained exposure for this stylistic progression, so let's hope they continue to rise....
Favorites: "Proximity Mines in the Complex", "Newton's Third Law of Knives to the Back", "So This is My Future", "The People Under The Stairs", "The Greatest Story Ever Told"
