Ice Nine Kills

It is unusual for a band to be equally influenced by heavy hitting groups like As I lay Dying and He Is Legend, as
well as the epic balladry of musicals like Les Miserables and Phantom. Yet, on Ice Nine Kills’ latest release, The
Burning, the sound of earth-shattering drumming and lacerating guitar riffs on a song like The Greatest Story
Ever Told, share space with songs like What I Should Have Learned In Study Hall that gently move the listener
with little more than an acoustic guitar .
Ice Nine Kills, The band, named after the ultimate weapon of mass destruction from the Vonnegut novel, Cats
Cradle -will, like its namesake, awe you. The group seamlessly weaves soaring melodies with the raw emotion
and aggression of post hardcore and metal, creating in the process a refreshing sound that both soothes and
knocks-over the listener.
The band utilizes multi textured guitar hooks, a dual vocal attack, and a pummeling rhythm section which takes
the listener by the throat, and refuses to let go.
INK was founded by Jeremy Schwartz and Spencer Charnas in a small town on the Massachusetts coast. After a
few years of honing their chops, releasing demos, and playing the DIY touring circuit, the band caught the eye
of Mike Krilivsky, the owner of indie upstart label, Red Blue Records. “Mike’s passion and work ethic sold us im-
mediately on the label,” said Spencer. In late 2007, armed with a ferocious desire to make a name for themselves,
the band released their album, The Burning, a record that finally realized INK’s potential as a band. INK then hit
the road and has not looked back since. The band embarked on 4 full U.S Tours this past year and has opened
for such notable acts as Senses Fail, Paramore, Love Hate Hero, Before Their Eyes, and He Is Legend.
INK’s relentless touring schedule, combined with intelligent guerilla marketing tactics, has helped their lat-
est release, The Burning, pass the 20,000 CD’s sold mark in under 12 months. This was no easy task, especially
without national distribution. When the band was not pouring their hearts into intense live performances, one
of which resulted in a broken heel, they would be at malls, skateparks, other shows and festivals, spreading their
manically infectious music with ipods and headphones. “This past year we really tried to make every second
count with this band,” said Spencer. “In a day and age when alot of bands might chill backstage instead of meet-
ing their fans, kids found it really refreshing that we were out there on the streets and in the parking lots,
pushing something that we really believe in.”
Their hard work is definitely starting to pay off, and this is becoming apparent at their live shows, “It’s always an
amazing feeling to show up in a place you have never played before like Dallas TX, or Orlando FL, and have kids
scream your lyrics back to you. It makes the 10 hour night drives, sleeping on floors, and other hardships of be-
ing in a touring band all worthwhile,” Jeremy said in a recent interview.
With Alternative Press’s stamp of approval (a band you need to know- issue #240), a fanatical online following
(consistently landing them in the top 10 on both the Myspace and PureVolume charts), and a newly formed
partnership with The Artery Foundation (A Day To Remember, The Devil Wears Prada), Ice Nine Kills is look-
ing to do some serious damage in 2009.