Ice Nine Kills Go All In on Hell Or High Slaughter
If you’ve been listening to Ice Nine Kills since The Silver Scream, you already know subtlety isn’t their thing. They’ve always leaned into the theatrical side of metal, blending horror influences with big concepts and a lot of personality. When you look at everything they’ve previously done, Hell Or High Slaughter (Grave Diggler: Part 2) feels pretty on brand for the group.
The song was written for the latest horror film, Ready Or Not 2, and it even makes multiple appearances in the movie. Unlike their latest release, Twisting The Knife, which was written for the latest Scream installment, Hell or High Slaughter shows up twice. It first appears earlier in the movie and once again during the end credits.
Technically, though, the track isn’t presented as an Ice Nine Kills song. Instead, it’s credited to the fictional band Grave Diggler. A chaotic, over the top glam metal act that the band fully commits to. Grave Diggler is treated like a real band, presented as the parents of the current members of Ice Nine Kills. Presenting it this way makes the song feel less like a one off release and more like something pulled from a forgotten era, which honestly adds to the whole experience.
Musically, the song leans hard into those ‘80s, glam rock tones. The guitar riffs are crunchy and vibrant, the kind of soaring leads you’d expect from bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison. The drums hit big and snappy, the bass lines are punchy but not overbearing, and there’s a certain melodic flair in the chorus that screams “power ballad era.”
The accompanying music video is carefully styled to feel like it came right out of the ‘80s. Those insane visuals and screeching instrumentals give Hell or High Slaughter that nostalgic, larger than life energy. Every element—between the flashy guitar licks, dramatic hooks, and cheeky attitude—works together to make Grave Diggler feel like a relic of metal’s golden era.
Both the song and music video are only available on YouTube at the moment, so make sure to check it out below;
That’s what really makes Hell or High Slaughter stand out. It’s not just the sound or the visuals, it’s how fully committed everything feels. Ice Nine Kills doesn’t just hint at an idea and move on. They build it out completely, down to the smallest details. Grave Diggler feels intentional and oddly believable in its own chaotic way. I’ve even spoken to fans who hope the Grave Diggler movie is real, which kind of says everything. The movie being the mini documentary that was originally teased alongside the song’s release. There has been some buzz about the faux documentary actually being released, so it might be worth keeping an eye out.
This is where Ice Nine Kills really shines. They take these big, crazy ideas and just go all in on them, no hesitation. Hell or High Slaughter comes from a fictional band with a tongue in cheek backstory, but in no way does it feel like a gimmick. It’s a natural blend of what the band has been doing for years—blending music with storytelling. Whether it’s something like Grave Diggler or their usual horror inspired work, they keep finding ways to stand out. There really isn’t anyone else in the scene doing it quite like Ice Nine Kills.
