Horror-metal titans Ice Nine Kills (INK) have officially entered the Fog. In a massive cross-media collision, the band has unleashed “Play Dead,” a ferocious new single and accompanying music video created in direct collaboration with Dead by Daylight, the world’s leading multiplayer horror game.
Written specifically to celebrate Dead by Daylight’s milestone 10th Anniversary, the track merges two massive, genre-obsessed universes built entirely on suspense, survival, and the thrill of the kill.
Check out everything you need to know about this brutal new crossover.
A Collision of Hooks and Horror
To ensure the track stayed authentically tethered to the game’s spine-chilling atmosphere, Ice Nine Kills mastermind Spencer Charnas joined forces with longtime Dead by Daylight composer Michel F. April. The result is a chaotic masterclass in metalcore, blending the game’s eerie, immersive energy with INK’s signature theatrical breakdowns and razor-sharp hooks.
“Ice Nine Kills has always lived somewhere between menace and mischief,” shares Charnas. “’Play Dead,’ our take on Dead by Daylight, is a collision of hooks, horror, and total chaos. As lifelong horror fans, we find it surreal and an absolute honor to have Ice Nine Kills’ music officially tied to Terrifier, Scream, Ready or Not, and now, the iconic survival horror game Dead by Daylight.”
Watch the Music Video (Featuring Some Very Familiar Faces)
True to Ice Nine Kills fashion, the cinematic music video doesn’t just deliver on gore—it expands the band’s ongoing lore with an unbelievable roster of guest stars.
Stepping into the INKverse for this visual nightmare are:
- Tony Hawk (Skateboarding legend and subculture icon)
- Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Idle Hands)
- Krsy Fox (Terrifier 3)
- The actual Dead by Daylight creative team
Represent the Band In-Game!
The collaboration doesn’t stop with headphones and screens. Alongside the single, Behaviour Interactive has launched an official in-game Ice Nine Kills Collection. Fans can now purchase unique DLC to represent the band directly inside the game’s ever-expanding trial grounds. Whether you’re fixing generators or hunting down survivors, you can do it in style.
The track continues an absolute golden run for the band, following hot on the heels of their first-ever #1 at Active Rock Radio with “Twisting The Knife” (from Scream 7).
“Play Dead” is available to stream now on all major platforms, and Part 1 of the official music video is live on YouTube. Are you ready to face the Entity? Let us know what you think of the track in the comments below!
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