ICE NINE KILLS AT HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM IN NEW YORK CITY
The Hammerstein Ballroom was transformed into a frenzied haven for metal enthusiasts November 27, 2023, as Ice Nine Kills headlined a night of audible carnage. “The Kiss Of Death Tour 2023” creeped its way into the Big Apple with special guests New Years Day and Swedish metalheads Avatar. The concert was an electrifying extravaganza, mixing diverse metal subgenres and delivering a night that left the audience injected with adrenaline and wanting more.
The night delivered a plethora of hard hitting heavy metal sounds and painted a picture with visuals of goth, horror, and even some circus side show oddities. New Years Day kicked off the night with a blistering set that ignited the crowd. Ash Costello's impressive stage presence paired with the band's contagious energy set the tone for the evening, rallying the audience with their powerful (and almost anthem like) tunes and raw, in sync, head banging performance!
Several years ago I was at a show and Avatar was one of the openers. For whatever the reason was that day, I really didn’t catch their performance, and what a huge mistake that was on my part! Avatar's performance was a spectacle of theatrics, vocal power, and musical expertise. This group is just pure genius. Their captivating presence and deliverance, led by Johannes Eckerström's magnetic presence, teleports the audience to a land where metal meets artistry. This band literally brings creativity and imagination to life. The songs they performed made it difficult for me to say which my favorite was, purely not being able to label just one as the favorite. The band's eclectic sound blends some groove metal and melodic death metal, to my favorite, good ole’ heavy metal. From Avatar’s unique and gazing appearance/presence, to that eclectic sound, they surely left one hell of an unforgettable mark on the evening.
However, it was Ice Nine Kills who seized the spotlight and owned the night with an unforgettable performance. First off, they included a bit from my all-time favorite video game series, Resident Evil! That is an instant win in my book! The massive amount of stage props and live human props was beyond clever and provided absolute nonstop entertainment. Ice Nine Kills gave the crowd exactly what they all want when coming to a show. The amazing music accompanied by the amazing stage presence and acting is what makes us as fans want to see music live! This band established their own exclusive way to keep their fans engaged and always wanting more. The band's ability to seamlessly blend metalcore with elements of horror and storytelling created an immersive and memorizing first experience for myself, and I’m sure many others. Spencer Charnas, along with his fellow co-stars, were all fascinating to watch as they displayed their gifted talents. INK commanded the stage with an intense and charismatic presence that locked the audience in a forward position, staring at the stage and enjoying every song that blasted them straight in their face.
From the haunting melodies of “Stabbing in the Dark” and “The Fastest Way to a Girl’s Heart Is Through Her Ribcage”, to the adrenaline-fueled rage of “The American Nightmare”, and completing this theatrical evening with the lovely tastes of “Welcome to Horrorwood”, Ice Nine Kills unleashed an arsenal of tracks that resonated with every metal fan in attendance (whether old or new). The lighting and stage production, complete with staged props and live actors, elevated the concert to a new level of mesmerizing entertainment. This my fellow metalheads is one tour you surely do not want to miss!