Leave it to ICE NINE KILLS to blur the line between horror and heavy metal in the most unexpected way possible. The theatrical metalcore outfit have fully committed to an '80s hair metal transformation, releasing the track "Hell Or High Slaughter" under the alias GRAVE DIGGLER — a fictional Sunset Strip sleaze band created for the horror sequel "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come", which hit theaters on March 20.
The song is a total departure from ICE NINE KILLS' signature sound, trading their modern metalcore aggression for big hair, bigger choruses, and the kind of shamelessly catchy hooks that defined the late 1980s Los Angeles metal scene. Spencer Charnas and company throw themselves into the role with the same dedication they bring to their horror-themed concept albums, and the result is equal parts hilarious and genuinely impressive.
Adding to the spectacle, Michael Starr of STEEL PANTHER — themselves masters of the '80s metal parody — appears in an accompanying faux documentary that traces the fictional history of GRAVE DIGGLER, complete with fabricated band drama, fake reunion tours, and all the over-the-top excess the era demands.
The collaboration between ICE NINE KILLS and the "Ready or Not" franchise is a natural fit. The band has built their entire career around the intersection of horror cinema and heavy music, with albums themed around classic horror films earning them a devoted following. Stepping into the world of hair metal for a horror movie soundtrack is simply the latest creative twist in a career defined by them.
Whether "Hell Or High Slaughter" signals any broader stylistic exploration or remains a one-off cinematic novelty, it proves that ICE NINE KILLS remain one of metal's most creatively unpredictable acts.