Ice Nine Kills Work of Art Tour Wembley OVO Arena
If you don’t know who Ice Nine Kills are then you are missing out. Trying to explain what genre they fit into isn’t always the easiest. With hardcore drops, screaming, melodics and sing along lyrics INK (Ice Nine Kills) on paper might seem like so many other metalcore bands in the alternative scene, so what makes them unique?
Well first off, their songs are based on movies, primarily iconic horror films like Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween, more recently they’ve included films like the Matrix in their inspiration. With lyrics like “Valentino couture mixed with violence and gore” and “The silence is circling. Like lambs to a slaughter” the band clearly know their source material well.
One search on YouTube will also show that they have a flare for the dramatic as they create short films for many of their song releases. If you have a chance check out the video for ‘Meat & Greet” playing homage to ‘Silence of the Lambs’ or their latest single 'Laughter Track' paying homage to the Clown Prince of Crime Joker.
So, to say I was excited to see how the band transferred their music to the stage was an understatement. Playing the at the OVO Wembley Arena in London on Friday 12th of December 2025 on the final gig of the Work of Art Tour INK did not disappoint.
A packed crowd filled out the arena in anticipation of what was clearly going to be a show. A warning displayed on stage that the following show was approved by the INK association for Psychotic audiences only was a sign of things to come.
Starting as they meant to go on with ‘Meat & Greet” as their opening number the curtain dropped and so did the hardcore. Hannibal Lector front and centre stage while frontman Spencer Charnas screamed his lungs out.
The performances on stage were not defined to just the opening of the bands gig as throughout the performance actors would appear on stage depicting scenes from the movies of their titular tracks.
From Resident Evils Jill Valentine battling zombies to Neo fighting Agent Smith and an appearance from Pennywise the theatrics on stage were impressive and made for a dramatic performance.
The band brought the energy that you’d expect after listening to them, strobing lights and pitch perfect vocals from all the members meant that the noise you’d come to love from INK was on full show. It was also a pleasant surprise that the band were joined by members of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones also hailing from Boston to provide Trumpet and Saxophones.
If you are a fan of INK, you’ll have seen plenty of videos of the show online so you’ll understand there is lots of blood, killings and of course ART the clown from the infamous Terrifier franchise, who proceeds to swing a flaming new born baby above his head during the track ‘Work of ART’.
Ice Nine Kills are the band your mother warned you about not listening to, but as an adult INK are the band I’m telling you; you need to listen to. For me they gave me everything I was expecting and more, a performance, great music and a night I won’t forget. I can with confidence say they are now in my top 5 live bands and if you get a chance to see them you won’t be disappointed!
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