You didn’t have to guess at the excitement for the Two Nights of Terror Spring Tour featuring Ice Nine Kills. Arriving at The Fillmore just 15 minutes after doors opened and seeing the line stretching around the Twins parking bay and further up the block, it was clear—this one was going to be unhinged.

It didn’t hurt that Spencer Charnas and company brought a perfect lineup of performers for the evening: the gothic madness of The Funeral Portrait, the sweet-and-sour snap of Melrose Avenue, and the unfiltered intensity of The Word Alive. Truly, what else could you ask for?

When Melrose Avenue took the stage, I’d bet they weren’t expecting a nearly full crowd already waiting for them. The poppy-metalcore Australians, tatted to the nines, delivered a set that defined the intensity of the evening. Vocalist Vlado Saric alternated between smooth, alluring vocals and throat-tearing screams, embodying the theme of duality that carried through the night. While their set was short, it was undeniably sweet. It didn’t take long for the crowd to sing along and scream their throats out, and Melrose Avenue departed the stage to roaring cheers after an all-too-brief performance.

Those cheers carried forward for Atlanta goth/emo rockers The Funeral Portrait. I’d been meaning to catch this band for some time, as their evocative imagery and live footage suggested a set worth seeing. Suffice it to say, their live energy exceeded expectations. Each member was constantly in motion, screaming their heads off and shouting into the crowd. When they weren’t screaming, they showcased their goofy side, grabbing each other’s heads, poking, and prodding one another. While it might sound mundane in writing, the energy they exuded created a vortex of good vibes that left the audience grinning from ear to ear.

The Word Alive were the bomb that truly set the stage for Ice Nine Kills. While Melrose Avenue blended heavy and light, and The Funeral Portrait offered a more emotionally intense set, The Word Alive came out and absolutely decimated The Fillmore. Vocalist Tyler Smith sounded like he was shredding his vocal cords as he screamed the ending to “The Word Alive Is Dead…,” leading straight into a filthy breakdown. That’s when the endless wave of crowd surfing began, with Smith shouting, “Don’t you dare let anyone down for the rest of the night!” That raw intensity was a spark, instantly making the entire room feel crazier, warmer, and more tightly packed.

After a short changeover and intro video, the main event began. With theatrical flair, Spencer Charnas entered center stage through mountains of haze as dueling monitors set up the first song—“Welcome to Horrorwood” (following “Opening Night” to set the scene). Fans familiar with Ice Nine Kills’ live shows knew the chaos that was about to unfold, but as a first-timer, I was (at least a little) surprised when fictionalized versions of Jason and Freddy took the stage alongside Charnas, who bounced around with boundless energy.

Every single song featured some kind of spectacle, with a personal favorite being the dual chainsaw wielders flanking Charnas midway through the set. The band is a unique force in the space, and they take their live show very seriously. That effort shows—it’s completely unforgettable and can only be described as ‘pandemonium.’ Their set covered the entirety of their latest release, Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2, with a few bonus encores to cap off the night.

This was a totally unforgettable show, and I’m already looking forward to catching Ice Nine Kills again very soon.