Ice 9 Kills have made a reputation for themselves due to an encyclopaedic information of horror and a aptitude for the theatrics (transfer over, Phantom Of The Opera). Now, they’ve some of the devoted – and bloodthirsty fan bases round.
It would’ve began in Salem, dwelling of the notorious witch trials, however frontman Spencer Charnas is presently within the decidedly-less-spooky setting of an airport departure lounge to speak to Hammer about the important thing issues he’s discovered about life (and loss of life) thus far, as he heads to one more horror conference in North Carolina.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A GUILTY PLEASURE
“Fuck anybody who appears down on a style of music, particularly punk, ska, stuff like that. Anybody who judges or says it’s a responsible pleasure is an asshole. I’d wish to see them write a tune that good! Ska and punk bands are nonetheless a few of my favorite music. That’s the music that I take heed to, much more so than heavy music. Bands like Goldfinger, Reel Huge Fish, Much less Than Jake, NOFX all knowledgeable every thing from my sense of melody to my songwriting; they actually crafted that.”
MEET YOUR HEROES
“Attending to collaborate with these bands has given me a few of my biggest moments of my profession. To have these bands that actually influenced me, to get their stamp of approval, and for them to assume Ice 9 Kills is cool – I can’t start to fathom it, actually!”
MUSIC IS IN MY BLOOD
“My Grandma’s turning 101 years previous! The final time we performed in New York Metropolis, a couple of yr in the past, she got here to the present and was rocking out. So I’ve obtained a very cool Grandma. My mother and father are music lovers, though they weren’t musical themselves. My dad beloved Queen, my mother launched me to musical theatre, so Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables and extra had a giant affect.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
“It’s actually troublesome to stability being in a band with being there for everybody. I try to name them on the best way to the airport every time, household is so essential. They’re not all the time going to be there. Ensuring that the folks you’re keen on know that you simply love them is important. Issues occur, inform folks that you simply care about them. Nothing else issues.”
DON’T MONETISE OR PROFIT FROM REAL MISERY
“There are such a lot of fictional horror tales you can work from; you don’t want to the touch actual tragedies. There needs to be nuance. It’s like these true crime podcasts, I believe, when it begins to sound exploitative, or disrespectful to the households that misplaced folks, it’s a must to put your self within the sneakers of the individuals who have this horrifying tragedy of their household.
“How would you’re feeling if folks have been exploiting that? On the identical time, although, historical past is historical past. Unhealthy issues occur, and typically these tales might be advised in a approach which can be cautionary tales or they’re tributes to the victims.”
AVOID PIGEONHOLES
“You actually should carve your personal path. Don’t fear about developments or what everyone else is doing. There are lots of bands that simply comply with the pack; they take a look at what’s standard, they usually wish to sound precisely like what’s standard now. That’s a recipe for both no success or very brief success. Go along with what your ardour is. Maintain folks on their toes!
“Everybody thinks we solely do horror, however we simply did a video primarily based on The Matrix for The Nice Unknown, and other people beloved it. Individuals are asking us to do extra action-themed ones, like Terminator. The chances are infinite, however after all, horror is our past love. Our followers belief us. We’re not going to promote out, however you all the time should evolve.”
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
“One of many wildest issues ever occurred at one among our reveals, approach again within the day we have been enjoying shitty golf equipment, and we have been in Panama Metropolis, Florida, which is type of a ghost city. It wasn’t even a dive bar, it was identical to somewhat group centre, and whereas we have been enjoying, a automobile drove into the center of the venue. I believe the man was attempting to kill his girlfriend or one thing, and the entire present simply erupted into chaos. I imply, a pickup truck simply drove by means of the fucking venue?! That was scary.”
YOU’RE NEVER TOO SUCCESSFUL TO BE KIND
“Attending to help and meet Metallica… every time I give it some thought, it seems like I’m going to get up from a dream! I do know it’s a cliché and sounds lame, however it’s the reality. They preferred that we have been somewhat totally different, somewhat daring, going out with chainsaws in the course of the day.
“James Hetfield stated after they began, folks thought they have been too metallic for the punk youngsters and too punk for the metalheads. I believe they revered our chutzpah, that we went on the market and didn’t give a fuck if all these bearded dudes in Slayer t-shirts didn’t have a clue who we have been. All of Metallica and their crew couldn’t have been extra accommodating.”
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WATCH WHERE YOU STAND…
“I used to be at an invite-only Grammy occasion two years in the past for Bon Jovi – I didn’t get to satisfy them, that’s not the story! – However I went over to say hiya to Bob Kraft, he’s the proprietor of the Patriots group in New England. He’s THE man, proper? I used to be speaking to him for some time, after which as I’m strolling away in the direction of the entrance of the auditorium, I really feel this hand on my again, type of pushing me. I hear this British accent, telling me ‘Transfer alongside now, boys, transfer alongside!’, I flip round, assuming it’s someone’s safety guard, however no… it was Sir Paul McCartney pushing me out of the best way! I hope he handed on his Midas contact.”
CELEBRATE THE NEXT GENERATION
“I watched a few of that Again To The Starting live performance, and man, Yungblud is a fucking star. I didn’t actually know something about him earlier than in addition to his Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly collab. He’s obtained the look, he’s obtained the voice, he’s obtained the charisma. We’re actually excited concerning the help bands coming with us on the tour as nicely. I’ve all the time needed to deliver Creeper on the highway with us.
“I simply assume they write nice songs. I like their aesthetic, I like their melodies. It jogs my memory of a throwback to the nice previous days of that horror type of punk vibe. I like the opposite band Will had, too, referred to as Salem, and never simply due to the title!”
THERE WAS NEVER A BACKUP PLAN
“I all the time needed to be a rockstar, I simply beloved it. The one different factor I needed to do was both be an actor, a director, or a author, so it’s good that with our cinematic music movies, I get to reside out that different ardour of mine. We’re making these high-concept movies which can be like films, and we’re tying within the storyline. It’s all connective tissue. You simply should go for it.”
BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST FAN
“As an artist, it’s really easy to be a perfectionist, however I’m genuinely very happy with what we’ve accomplished, significantly of the final two albums. I believe they’re far and away the perfect materials we’ve ever made! It’s all the time shocking to me when somebody says, ‘Oh, this different album was the perfect.’ I’m like, ‘Have you ever //heard// that album?’ I don’t wish to denigrate our older stuff, and clearly I don’t wish to offend those that like it… however simply listening again to what we have been doing 10 years in the past, in comparison with now, to me, it’s evening and day. The musicianship has improved. The lyrics are higher. I simply assume we discovered our personal area of interest.”
YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE
“I’m very, very grateful and grateful that I get to do what I like for a dwelling, and I can’t thank our group sufficient who’re actually serving to to appreciate our imaginative and prescient. You already know, I’m just one man, issues begin with me, and nothing will get previous the discharge with out my stamp of approval, however there are simply so many gifted those that work for us, and I’m very fortunate that the followers appear to all the time have our again. You need to please your self and love what you’re doing at the beginning.”
KNOW HOW TO HIDE THE BODIES…
“The most effective recommendation I may give anyone, or my youthful self, is that this: don’t dig a shallow grave with a view to get rid of a physique. It’s not the perfect thought for those who’re attempting to evade the authorities. You all the time wish to dissolve the physique in some type of chemical first, or you could possibly eat it. Clearly Jeffrey Dahmer had a style for the meat, however it’s not for me. That’s the perfect recommendation I can provide anybody, that and don’t get caught.”
The Nice Unknown is out now. Ice 9 Kills tour the UK with Creeper from December 8. Silver Scream Con UK takes place December 13-14, 2025 at The Cumberland Resort in London