Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Ice Nine Kills - The Predator Becomes the Prey (2014)
I forgot to mention in my last review that Ice Nine Kills in another one of those bands I started listening to because of my usually alt-rock-loving brother. He recommended one of the band's music videos for me to watch and listen (I'll tell you which one it is in a later review). Well I didn't watch the video but I listen to the song and made me interested in this band, and I shared the rest of their discography with my brother. Thanks bro!
So after a couple albums and a couple EPs, Ice Nine Kills released another EP The Predator, then it becomes the prey... The Predator Becomes the Prey features a couple songs from the Predator EP and shines through some of their strongest material yet, until their next two theatrical albums.
The album bursts into heaviness right away with "The Power in Belief", summing up everything from the first two Ice Nine Kills before what's coming next. It has everything including a catchy chorus, heavy tone, and the best screaming vocals. Plus, there's a killer guitar solo that really levels up the metal in metalcore and keeps the tight structure beyond interesting. The band continues emphasizing their heavy side with the vicious "Let’s Bury The Hatchet...In Your Head". The first track taken from the Predator EP, "The Coffin is Moving" fits nicely as if was meant for this album, but the cheesy zombie chorus ("We are, we are the walking dead") could use more work.
"The Fastest Way To A Girl’s Heart Is Through Her Ribcage" continues the metalcore cliche of long titles, while the song itself is dark and theatrical. The lyrics are once again cheesy, this time spoofing Twilight in a seductive manner ("You’d be just as sexy bleeding"). "The Product Of Hate" was originally a standalone single released the previous year for charity for the Boston Marathon bombing and it really fits greatly. It's the bomb (sorry if it's too soon)! "Connect The Cuts" is probably the heaviest song the band could ever do, sounding closer to dangerous deathcore. Chaotic heaviness before the softer side... "Jonathan" is not totally soft, but it's more touching with lyrics about a friend of the band who suffered a disease that made him almost completely blind.
"What I Never Learned In Study Hall" is the second track from the Predator EP, and the third and last part of the "What I Learned in Study Hall" series of songs that started in Last Chance to Make Amends and The Burning EP. Unlike those other "Study Hall" songs, this one is a heavy pop punk song instead of acoustic. It has guest vocals by Tyler Carter of Issues and one of Ice Nine Kills' best hooks. The next two songs before the finale are my least favorite parts of the album while not deducting the 4.5 star rating, starting with "So Long Steven Long" (shout-out to journalist/crime-novelist Steven Long). That song is a little boring despite the brutal parts, and it probably should've stayed in the album's demo sessions. "What Lies Beneath" has a brief addictive riff before the screams get a little irritating that the instrumentation can do without. "My Life In Two" is an uplifting song reminiscent of Chasing Safety-era Underoath with a redeemed message screamed and a beautiful chorus ("I only promise I’m not giving up today").
In the attack of the metalcore clones, Ice Nine Kills shines with a great example of uniqueness metal fans want and metal bands need nowadays. The band would continue in a greater more theatrical direction, that would make metalcore fans say "A Day to Remember WHO?". Ice Nine Kills shall remain a great recent part of metalcore history....
Favorites: "The Power in Belief", "Let’s Bury The Hatchet...In Your Head", "The Product Of Hate", "What I Never Learned In Study Hall", "My Life in Two"