'Merry Axemas!' - New Video Game Level

Ice Nine Kills has a metal Christmas tune for the rest of us called "Merry Axemas" and you better believe there's an elaborate video for it too (below). The clip uses a classic video-game theme and this year, there is a new level for those who like to play. I am not too good at video games because that was never really my thing, but I do love the throwback video to the INK game and how the graphics are straight out of The Oregon Trail. Go enjoy, play and good luck!

Just in time for the Horrorday season! Play our official MERRY AXE-MAS video game at https://t.co/IshpUHiozj pic.twitter.com/6iWXa2b6BS

— ICE NINE KILLS (@ICENINEKILLS) December 21, 2022

'The Shower Scene' - Ice Nine Kills, New Video

Behold, yet another amazing video created by Ice Nine Kills. The clip is for "The Shower Scene" off The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood. If you have any doubt the passion and work this band puts into their projects, just click below to view on YouTube and look at the absolutely massive list of people it took to make this video. Yes, the music stops in the middle for the "movie" to proceed. Epic, indeed.

Click through Tweet to watch the video. The content is age-restricted, meaning no embeds on other sites allowed. Remember folks, Ice Nine Kills is a horror band.

Witness the beginning of the vile trial of the century... THE SHOWER SCENE is now playing… 🚿⚖️🩸🔪https://t.co/hox9LdyqkQ

STARRING: @therealjoebob @RickyDeanLogan @choptopmoseley @PoutyScouty @carebecc @Nadi_uh @_torias_secret_ pic.twitter.com/GgUqPB9cAT

— ICE NINE KILLS (@ICENINEKILLS) August 10, 2022

KISS, Judas Priest To Headline Aftershock Festival

First, is it poking the bear to name a festival held in California... Aftershock? Anyway, this fall's Aftershock festival will be headlined by Kiss, Judas Priest, Slipknot, My Chemical Romance, Foo Fighters, Shinedown and lots more. Other bands like Ice Nine Kills, Dirty Honey and Bullet for My Valentine will also perform. Tickets are available now. The fest takes place October 6, 7, 8, and 9 in Sacramento, California. A quick glance of tickets tells me that the 4-day GA pass is $460 with fees. VIP passes are also available.

Your 2022 lineup is HERE! 🤘 Don’t miss four jam-packed days at the West Coast's BIGGEST rock festival featuring @foofighters, @mychemicalromance, @slipknot, @kissonline and 85+ more of your favorite artists.

Passes are ON SALE NOW for $10 down at https://t.co/xUtaSaTEEX! pic.twitter.com/liyKL5e2yr

— AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL (@AFTERSHOCKSAC) February 23, 2022

This Show Excites Me - But I Won't Be Going

It's been awhile since a special package tour or one-off show has really excited me. Metallica, Ice Nine Kills and Greta Van Fleet playing together in Las Vegas definitely caught my attention. The show will be at Allegiant Stadium on Friday, February 25. Unfortunately the tickets are bonkers expensive. I'm talking the bottom level tickets are like $325 each, plus fees. There are no regular Ticketmaster seats left, just "verified resale" which means crazy high prices. Add in the cost of travel plus trying to avoid the current COVID surge (who knows how long it's going to last at this point), I won't be seeing this dream show live. If you are going, know I am so jealous and I demand a full rundown of the event.

Beyond honored to be opening for @Metallica on February 25th at @AllegiantStadm with @GretaVanFleet. We’ll see you Psychos in Vegas.. Tickets available at https://t.co/mvIRSRzIoy pic.twitter.com/swr4wYcv3w

— ICE NINE KILLS (@ICENINEKILLS) January 19, 2022

The Best Hard Rock Albums Of 2021

Overall, 2021 was a good year in heavy music. There were lots of releases, proving that Gene Simmons is definitely wrong about rock being dead. You just have to know where to find it these days. The following list are my favorite releases of 2021, in no real order. Hopefully you discover something new here. I bet we share a lot of favorites - a few videos are below. What do you think?

• The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood - Ice Nine Kills 

• Dirty Honey - Dirty Honey

• Mammoth WVH - Mammoth WVH 

• Smith/Kotzen - Smith/Kotzen

• For Those That Wish To Exist - Architects

• Senjutsu - Iron Maiden

• Bullet For My Valentine - Bullet For My Valentine

• Checkered Past - L.A. Guns

• Sacrifice - The Devil Wears Prada 

• The Gospel Truth - Gilby Clarke

• Detroit Stories - Alice Cooper

New Music Playlist - October 2021

Happy Halloween weekend, my friends! There is no better time to share the entire new Ice Nine Kills album Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2 than now. The entire album will be our new music playlist feature for the month.

Welcome to Horrorwood came out a couple weeks ago and it is definitely making waves in the metalcore world. Just check out the promo pics the band shared on social media earlier from a Metal Hammer cover story. Very fun stuff, just in time for the spooky season. The album is already in steady rotation for my (mostly) daily runs. I'm still building back my fitness after the broken shoulder debacle and heavy music helps me move my feet faster.

'Rainy Day' -- Ice Nine Kills, New Video

It's the 9th day of the month and Ice Nine Kills have dropped a new video. The clip is for the song "Rainy Day" and it is from the upcoming album The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood.

I really appreciate bands that go all in with their branding: the costumes, makeup, videos - all of it. Ice Nine Kills always stays true to their Halloween-themed branding and I love it. I am so excited for the new album - it is probably my most anticipated release of 2021.