We’re Not Fans of Ice Nine Kills – But New Single “The Laugh Track” Is a Masterpiece (Fan Reactions)
The latest single from Ice Nine Kills, The Laugh Track, has arrived with full theatrics and a cinematic homage to dark and gloomy Gotham, his number one villain Joker and big hooks. But how are fans really feeling? Here’s a snapshot of the reaction from forums, Reddit threads and user reviews.
On the upbeat side: many listeners are loving the spectacle. One fan wrote, “This song is so damn fun! This BAND is so damn fun and I love it. When I saw them last month the whole damn show was just one giant dance (mosh)…” Meanwhile, others applauded the premiere on radio: “Sirius XM Octane just did their world premier … it blew away my expectations.” These comments reflect the core audience who appreciate INK’s campy-horror theatricality, the catchy choruses and the show-element that the song brings.
Yet, not everyone is fully on board. Some long-time fans from the metal-scene side expressed mild disappointment: “I don’t think it’s a bad song… but I grew accustomed to the ‘harder’ sounds of theirs. Breakdown is good but a little short.” Another noted, “It could have benefited from a more heavy direction but it is still really good.” These reflect a desire for more rawness, less polish.
Then there’s the more critical strand: “Did this corn** ass band really make a song about the Joker this far in their career lmao.” For some purists, the problem isn’t the quality,it’s more the formula: theatrical band doing big pop-metal hooks, using comic IP. “We GET IT. It’s a good song. But some of us were here for the scene,” one wrote, pointing to the tension between legacy cred and spectacle.
From a press/critic standpoint, The Laugh Track is largely viewed positively. The UK rock outlet Rock Sound described it as a “deliciously dark single … paying homage to Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman.” The song’s gothic ambiance and twisted humour are commended. However, the critics tacitly acknowledge the very element fans complain about: the band walking that “tightrope between fun and serious” has its trade-offs.
In addition, all the media outlets are focusing exclusively on Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, comparing this video to that film, while forgetting or deliberately ignoring the fact that, aesthetically, Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas also resembles the Joker from Christopher Nolan’s 2007 Batman The Dark Knight. Or, at the very least, he’s a combination of Nicholson’s and Ledger’s Jokers.
What does this tell us? For the majority of fans and listeners, The Laugh Track succeeds in what it sets out to do: deliver a theatrical, high-concept, accessible metal track with horror-movie references and crowd hooks. But for a significant minority, especially from hard-metal/underground corners, the song signals a continued drift away from raw aggression towards spectacle.
As for us: no one at Junkyard is a big fan of Ice Nine Kills or metalcore music in general, but it has to be said that this is a true artistic masterpiece when it comes to the video for this song. It might even be the best music video we’ve seen in a long time. Sleaze metal bands and fans could learn a lot from this. Imagine what mixing something cinematic like this with the raw attitude of sleaze can bring to the genre?
This is the blueprint!
“The Laugh Track” is the band’s third new single which was released after the “A Work Of Art” and “The Great Unknown”. Ice Nine Kills is currently gearing up for the European leg of the tour, with the four shows in UK with Creeper and The Devil Wears Prada as special guests.
19/11 – Alcatraz, Milan (IT)
20/11 – Halle 662, Zurich (CH)
21/11 – Salle Pleyel, Paris (FR)
23/11 – Gasometer, Vienna (AU)
24/11 – Zenith, Munich (DE)
26/11 – A.B., Brussels (BE)
27/11 – Palladium, Cologne (DE)
28/11 – Sasazu, Prague (CZ)
30/11 – Haus Auensee, Leipzig (DE)
01/12 – Stodola, Warsaw (PL)
02/12 – Uber Eats Music Hall, Berlin (DE)
04/12 – Sporthalle, Hamburg (DE)
05/12 – 013, Tilburg (NL)
06/12 – Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt (DE)
08/12 – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (UK)
09/12 – Hydro, Glasgow (UK)
10/12 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (UK)
12/12 – Wembley Arena, London (UK)
Have a look at the full list of live dates below:
Sign Up For Regular Updates From Junkyard World
