Review Summary: True to its name, Every Trick in the Book skillfully utilizes all the tricks and trades of the genre, while still retaining that incredibly fun INK flair.
Ice Nine Kills is a constantly evolving entity. If you harken back to the bands first EPs up until now, INK are always trying to expand their horizons and try something new. With this release, Ice Nine Kills employs their usual combination of aggressive metalcore and catchy, infectious choruses along with a few tweaks. Ice Nine Kills took a different approach when writing lyrics, this time basing each song off a different piece of notable literature. If you are curious to which book each song is based off of, you can check out the tracklist at the bottom of the page.
The album starts out with the song “Nature of the Beast” which is based off the novel “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. The song is a testament to the more theatrical sound Ice Nine Kills are embracing. The song is craftily written and is a great tribute to Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” Lyrics such as “Where is the end? What have we done? We’re what we swore we’d not become, despite intent a noble heart still bleeds” highlight just one of INK’s creative lyrical take on classic pieces of literature.
Every Trick in the Book is an entertaining and engaging album throughout. The album hardly has a slow moment and is sure to be a favorite of INK fans new and old. Each song has it’s own identity and its incredibly fun to listen to INK’s interpretation of all the different novels covered. As is common with any INK album, the technicality and catchy riffwork on the album are one of its highlights. Fantastic leads, face melting riffs and some guitar solo’s sprinkled throughout help keep you fully invested throughout the albums entirety. Ice Nine Kill’s even slows it down with some ballad-esque songs in “Star Crossed Lovers” and “Tess-Timony.” Both are great changes in pace and help you catch your breathe before delving back into the chaos.
Spencer continues to improve vocally and as usual his range shines throughout the album. In previous efforts Spencer would handle all the cleans and most of the low guttural screams but this time around Spencer takes on mid and high screams, along with the usual vocal support from INK guitarist JD.
Ice Nine Kills embraces a more theatrical sound, adding haunting choral vocals, orchestration and piano keys interlaced throughout, while still staying true to the aggressive and melodic sound that all INK fans have become accustomed to. True to its name, Every Trick in the Book skillfully utilizes all the tricks and trades of the genre, while still retaining that incredibly fun INK flair. With more and more bands in the genre adapting more theatrical elements, INK certainly isn’t breaking any new ground. The unique lyrical approach, fantastic riffwork, and superb vocals from Spencer and JD are what make this Ice Nine Kills best and most engaging release yet.
Attribution: http://www.soundfiction.net/2015/12/02/album-review-ice-nine-kills-every-trick-in-the-book/
