ICE NINE KILLS are what happens when teens addicted to horror flicks, rock operas and caffeine start a metalcore band. When they aren't lacing manic breakdowns and hellhound howls in slasher synths—blast “The American Nightmare” to hear this—they're unleashing miniature symphonies like “The Nature of the Beast”, which piles darkly dancing wordplay on top of speeding hardcore drums. In addition to all the sonic carnage, ICE NINE KILLS—who also dabbled in ska and pop-punk in the early '00s—drop delicious hooks: “A Grave Mistake” is a piano-laced power ballad shot through with passionately crying choruses and air-guitar-worthy licks.