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 one of the vital devoted – and bloodthirsty fan bases round.
It’d’ve began in Salem, residence of the notorious witch trials, however frontman Spencer Charnas is at the moment within the decidedly-less-spooky setting of an airport departure lounge to speak to Hammer about the important thing issues he’s realized about life (and dying) to this point, as he heads to one more horror conference in North Carolina.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A GUILTY PLEASURE
“Fuck anybody who seems 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 music that good! Ska and punk bands are nonetheless a few of my favorite music. That’s the music that I hearken to, much more so than heavy music. Bands like Goldfinger, Reel Huge Fish, Much less Than Jake, NOFX all knowledgeable every little 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 basically influenced me, to get their stamp of approval, and for them to suppose Ice 9 Kills is cool – I can’t start to fathom it, actually!”
MUSIC IS IN MY BLOOD
“My Grandma’s turning 101 years outdated! The final time we performed in New York Metropolis, a few 12 months in the past, she got here to the present and was rocking out. So I’ve acquired a extremely cool Grandma. My mother and father are music lovers, though they weren’t musical themselves. My dad liked Queen, my mother launched me to musical theatre, so Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables and extra had an enormous 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 way in which to the airport every time, household is so necessary. They’re not at all times going to be there. Ensuring that the folks you like know that you just love them is significant. Issues occur, inform folks that you just care about them. Nothing else issues.”
DON’T MONETISE OR PROFIT FROM REAL MISERY
“There are such a lot of fictional horror tales you could work from; you don’t want to the touch actual tragedies. There needs to be nuance. It’s like these true crime podcasts, I feel, when it begins to sound exploitative, or disrespectful to the households that misplaced folks, you need 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 had been exploiting that? On the identical time, although, historical past is historical past. Unhealthy issues occur, and generally these tales will be informed in a manner which might be cautionary tales or they’re tributes to the victims.”
AVOID PIGEONHOLES
“You actually need to carve your individual path. Don’t fear about developments or what all people else is doing. There are numerous bands that simply observe the pack; they take a look at what’s well-liked, and so they need to sound precisely like what’s well-liked now. That’s a recipe for both no success or very quick 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 liked it. Individuals are asking us to do extra action-themed ones, like Terminator. The chances are countless, however in fact, horror is our old flame. Our followers belief us. We’re not going to promote out, however you at all times need to evolve.”
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
“One of many wildest issues ever occurred at considered one of our exhibits, manner again within the day we had been enjoying shitty golf equipment, and we had been in Panama Metropolis, Florida, which is sort of a ghost city. It wasn’t even a dive bar, it was identical to somewhat group centre, and whereas we had been enjoying, a automobile drove into the center of the venue. I feel 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 via 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 looks like I’m going to get up from a dream! I do know it’s a cliché and sounds lame, nevertheless it’s the reality. They preferred that we had been somewhat totally different, somewhat daring, going out with chainsaws in the midst of the day.
“James Hetfield stated once they began, folks thought they had been too steel for the punk children and too punk for the metalheads. I feel 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 had 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 celebration two years in the past for Bon Jovi – I didn’t get to fulfill them, that’s not the story! – However I went over to say howdy to Bob Kraft, he’s the proprietor of the Patriots crew 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, sort of pushing me. I hear this British accent, telling me ‘Transfer alongside now, boys, transfer alongside!’, I flip round, assuming it’s anyone’s safety guard, however no… it was Sir Paul McCartney pushing me out of the way in which! 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 moreover his Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly collab. He’s acquired the look, he’s acquired the voice, he’s acquired the charisma. We’re actually excited concerning the help bands coming with us on the tour as properly. I’ve at all times needed to carry Creeper on the highway with us.
“I simply suppose they write nice songs. I really like their aesthetic, I really like their melodies. It jogs my memory of a throwback to the great outdated days of that horror sort of punk vibe. I really 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 at all times needed to be a rockstar, I simply liked 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 might be like films, and we’re tying within the storyline. It’s all connective tissue. You simply need to 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 finished, significantly of the final two albums. I feel they’re far and away the very best materials we’ve ever made! It’s at all times shocking to me when somebody says, ‘Oh, this different album was the very best.’ I’m like, ‘Have you ever //heard// that album?’ I don’t need to denigrate our older stuff, and clearly I don’t need to offend those who find it irresistible… however simply listening again to what we had been doing 10 years in the past, in comparison with now, to me, it’s night time and day. The musicianship has improved. The lyrics are higher. I simply suppose 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 really like for a dwelling, and I can’t thank our crew sufficient who’re actually serving to to appreciate our imaginative and prescient. You understand, 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 who work for us, and I’m very fortunate that the followers appear to at all times have our again. You must please your self and love what you’re doing at the start.”
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 eliminate a physique. It’s not the very best concept for those who’re attempting to evade the authorities. You at all times need to dissolve the physique in some form of chemical first, or you could possibly eat it. Clearly Jeffrey Dahmer had a style for the meat, nevertheless it’s not for me. That’s the very best 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