A fresh new single from Ice Nine Kills is always going to be an event not to miss, and now here it is. Released 9 October via Fearless Records, “The Laugh Track” pays homage to Batman ’89.
The Boston group—Spencer Charnas (vocals/guitars), Joe Occhiuti (bass/vocals), Dan Sugarman (guitar/vocals), Ricky Armellino (guitar/vocals), and Mike Cortada (drums)—are well known for their horror-inspired tracks. Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood reached number 18 on the US Billboard in 2021. Since then, the band has collaborated with the Terrifier franchise, releasing the song “A Work Of Art,” dedicated to Art the Clown himself. There are big expectations for “The Laugh Track,” inspired by none other than the infamous Joker.
“The Laugh Track” and The Joker have a lot in common, both being utterly stuffed with chaotic energy and dark humour. Charnas’ vocal style almost imitates The Joker’s iconic cackle, with the taunting speech directed toward the people of Gotham being the icing on the cake. The instrumental work is constantly changing but instantly catchy, and it wouldn’t sound out of place in a circus or funfair. “The Laugh Track” is all about embracing anarchy, and for us, anarchy is what Ice Nine Kills has delivered.
Just listening to this release through was great fun. There’s even a video to accompany the track, absolutely bursting with dark humour and iconic Joker imagery. Down to the last detail, Charnas looks the part as The Joker.
The short of it is that if you’re a Batman or Joker fan, it’s a terrific tribute to a legend of the big screen. If you’re not a fan, it’s still a brilliantly fun and well-constructed track. We absolutely can’t wait to see what Ice Nine Kills turn their creative hands to next.