Ice Nine Kills Tried Glam – And Got It All Wrong?
Ice Nine Kills’ attempt to step into the territory of hair, glam, and sleaze metal music, through the fictional band Grave Diggler, is certainly an unusual and bold move for a horror metal/metalcore band, but it raises a simple question: where does this version of hair metal actually belong?
Before we dive deeper let’s not forget, this is a genre that has its own history, but has also gone through a revolution, creating its modern identity. As big fans of glam metal, let’s take a look at what we actually got with the song Hell or High Slaughter.
The entire Ice Nine Kills lore will have to be set aside. Here, we are focusing exclusively on the music, aesthetics, video, and overall vibe.
Steel Panther Without a Bite
What immediately comes to mind for most listeners is probably the obvious comparison Steel Panther. Even Michael Starr appears in an interview connected to this musical attempt. Steel Panther is a band that completely dominates the territory of satire and parody, as we know it, and they do it with 100% commitment and dedication. On top of that, these are musicians who were actually part of that scene, like Michael Starr, who was the frontman of L.A. Guns.
It is obvious that Grave Diggler tries to tap into that Steel Panther vibe both visually and musically, but somehow misses the point. It’s not glam enough, not satirical enough and not fully parody either. As for songwriting, there’s not much to say. it’s just one song, and it simply can’t stand next to anything Steel Panther has done. We are talking levels here.
Completely Missed Scene
However, what about the already mentioned evolution of this genre that took place in the 2000s? Where does Grave Diggler stand compared to bands like Crashdïet, Hardcore Superstar, The Cruel Intentions, Suicide Bombers or Crazy Lixx, bands that delivered a much more authentic and impactful evolution of glam and sleaze metal than anything we can feel in the Grave Diggler track?
These bands brought a new millennium attitude to the genre filled grit, a street-level underground feel, and a completely new aesthetic (which, in many ways, shared similarities with the metalcore and emo aesthetics of the 2000s – because, well, they come from the same era).
On the other hand, we have a whole wave of new 2020s bands like VÄIN WILD or Stolen Prayer are bringing back that unique swagger to the genre. And as someone who supports a full return to 80s frequencies, they’re doing it rather successfully.
The problem with Ice Nine Kills, or rather Grave Diggler, is that they don’t fit into any of this. They completely miss the mark. It feels like glam viewed from the outside, rather than something rooted in a culture that has been alive for decades, which, in the end, is exactly what it is.
A Video Caught Between Eras
Even when it comes to the video itself, there are some inconsistencies. First, according to the lore, the band is from the 1980s. It’s supposed to be the fathers of the guys from Ice Nine Kills if we understand it correctly. So, 80s! But the girls in the video are anything but 80s. Every single one of them looks like they stepped out of the straight from OnlyFans in total Instagram aesthetics. OnlyFans didn’t exist in the 80s, as far as we know…
So if this is an 80s band, where is the world around them that should also feel and look like the 80s? Or, if this is supposed to be modern sleaze/glam, why lean so heavily into retro caricature?
Finally, there’s the musical aspect. Yes, it’s just one song, but even here you can clearly hear the modern metal vibe typical of Ice Nine Kills. This is especially noticeable in the solos, which don’t really sound 80s, as well as in the layered choruses. On the other hand, the song is catchy and has hooks, but not much beyond that.
So… What Is This Supposed to Be?
So, to sum it up, Hell or High Slaughter is not a disaster. But from the perspective of someone who is truly into this music, it’s unclear where this attempt actually belongs. It’s not authentic 80s glam, not full parody/satire, not modern sleaze. And in the end, definitely not full Ice Nine Kills either.
This track surely won’t replace what Crashdïet, The Cruel Intentions, or Confess who are all releasing albums this year. Or young and upcoming bands like VÄIN WILD who just released their debut banger. Nor will it replace what we expect to get from someone like Steel Panther.
All of this feels more like some kind of costume party. It’s not bad at its core. The band clearly had fun and yes, we know that it’s only a song for the upcoming film Ready Or Not 2… This approach will work for fans who see this as entertainment first, but from a scene perspective, it raises some questions. In the end, any true hair, glam, or sleaze metal fan will in 9 out of 10 times tell you – something here just isn’t quite right…
