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Ice Nine Kills Drops Play Dead in Collaboration With Dead by Daylight for 10th-Anniversary Celebration
On June 14 2026, Ice Nine Kills dropped the single “Play Dead” and its accompanying music video, a direct response to Dead by Daylight’s 10th‑anniversary celebration. The release coincided with the multiplayer horror title’s anniversary livestream, where the band’s new track was announced as part of a broader partnership that extends into the game itself. By offering an in‑game Ice Nine Kills collection, players can now don the band’s branding during matches, turning the music and the game into a unified experience. The timing underscores the band’s ongoing strategy of linking its sonic identity to high‑profile horror properties.
The collaboration was forged with Dead by Daylight’s long‑time composer Michel F. April, whose atmospheric score has defined the game’s tense atmosphere. Frontman Spencer Charnas said the song was written “to feel like a real extension of that universe, not just inspired by it, but genuinely part of it.” The music video showcases appearances by skateboard legend Tony Hawk, actor Devon Sawa, horror‑film producer Krsy Fox, and a cameo from the game’s creator Dingbar Tarbani, adding layers of cross‑media appeal.
Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight now boasts more than 70 million players worldwide, and its 10th‑anniversary livestream highlighted the partnership as a natural fit. Head of Partnerships Mat Côté remarked, “We’ve always been big fans of their music, and their creativity and deep connection to horror culture made this collab feel incredibly natural.” The in‑game collection features unique downloadable content that lets players showcase Ice Nine Kills’ logo and themed items during matches, blurring the line between fan engagement and gameplay.
Ice Nine Kills has a track record of tying its music to major horror projects. The recent single “Twisting The Knife (feat. Mckenna Grace)” became the band’s first track to reach No. 1 on Active Rock Radio and served as the official song for Paramount’s Scream 7, which opened with the franchise’s biggest domestic weekend. Earlier releases such as “Hell or High Slaughter (Grave Diggler: Pt. 2)” expanded the band’s own horror lore, while tracks have appeared in films like A Work of Art and the closing credits of Terrifier 3. The new single continues this trend, following the band’s official contribution to A Work of Art and its music for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, where Charnas will voice a character.
Beyond the game partnership, Ice Nine Kills announced a September tour of Australia that will support German metalcore band Electric Callboy on a national arena run. The tour follows the release of their latest studio album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, which peaked at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Signed to Fearless Records, the band has released six full‑length albums since adopting a metalcore sound in 2010, and its name references the fictional substance ice‑nine from Kurt Vonnegut’s 1963 novel Cat’s Cradle, reflecting its long‑standing fascination with horror and science fiction.
The “Play Dead” music video blends the band’s signature horror‑core aesthetic with the eerie atmosphere of Dead by Daylight. Its narrative continues the band’s established lore and features cameos from genre icons Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, Terry Kiser, Catherine Corcoran, and Bill Mosely, while Tony Hawk’s appearance underscores the intersection of music, gaming, and subculture. The single streams on all major platforms and can be purchased through the band’s official website; the in‑game collection is available via the Ice Nine Kills DLC. In tying its music to one of the most popular survival‑horror games, Ice Nine Kills solidifies its relevance in both the music and gaming arenas and lays groundwork for future cross‑media collaborations.
The collaboration was forged with Dead by Daylight’s long‑time composer Michel F. April, whose atmospheric score has defined the game’s tense atmosphere. Frontman Spencer Charnas said the song was written “to feel like a real extension of that universe, not just inspired by it, but genuinely part of it.” The music video showcases appearances by skateboard legend Tony Hawk, actor Devon Sawa, horror‑film producer Krsy Fox, and a cameo from the game’s creator Dingbar Tarbani, adding layers of cross‑media appeal.
Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight now boasts more than 70 million players worldwide, and its 10th‑anniversary livestream highlighted the partnership as a natural fit. Head of Partnerships Mat Côté remarked, “We’ve always been big fans of their music, and their creativity and deep connection to horror culture made this collab feel incredibly natural.” The in‑game collection features unique downloadable content that lets players showcase Ice Nine Kills’ logo and themed items during matches, blurring the line between fan engagement and gameplay.
Ice Nine Kills has a track record of tying its music to major horror projects. The recent single “Twisting The Knife (feat. Mckenna Grace)” became the band’s first track to reach No. 1 on Active Rock Radio and served as the official song for Paramount’s Scream 7, which opened with the franchise’s biggest domestic weekend. Earlier releases such as “Hell or High Slaughter (Grave Diggler: Pt. 2)” expanded the band’s own horror lore, while tracks have appeared in films like A Work of Art and the closing credits of Terrifier 3. The new single continues this trend, following the band’s official contribution to A Work of Art and its music for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, where Charnas will voice a character.
Beyond the game partnership, Ice Nine Kills announced a September tour of Australia that will support German metalcore band Electric Callboy on a national arena run. The tour follows the release of their latest studio album, The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood, which peaked at number 18 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Signed to Fearless Records, the band has released six full‑length albums since adopting a metalcore sound in 2010, and its name references the fictional substance ice‑nine from Kurt Vonnegut’s 1963 novel Cat’s Cradle, reflecting its long‑standing fascination with horror and science fiction.
The “Play Dead” music video blends the band’s signature horror‑core aesthetic with the eerie atmosphere of Dead by Daylight. Its narrative continues the band’s established lore and features cameos from genre icons Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, Terry Kiser, Catherine Corcoran, and Bill Mosely, while Tony Hawk’s appearance underscores the intersection of music, gaming, and subculture. The single streams on all major platforms and can be purchased through the band’s official website; the in‑game collection is available via the Ice Nine Kills DLC. In tying its music to one of the most popular survival‑horror games, Ice Nine Kills solidifies its relevance in both the music and gaming arenas and lays groundwork for future cross‑media collaborations.