CHECK THE SCORE: Ice Nine Kills Featuring Mckenna Grace Slash Into ‘Scream 7’ With “Twisting the Knife” Featuring Mckenna Grace

By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com

Horror and metal just collided in the most deliciously brutal way possible.

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Ice Nine Kills officially entered the canon of one of horror’s most iconic franchises with the release of “Twisting the Knife,” featured in the upcoming Scream 7. And if that wasn’t enough, cast member Mckenna Grace joins the band on the track, marking one of the most high-impact crossovers between modern metal and horror cinema we’ve seen in years.

This isn’t just a soundtrack drop. This is a full-circle horror moment.

A Tribute to Wes Craven and the DNA of Scream

Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas didn’t hide what this collaboration means. “Twisting the Knife” is their tribute to the late Wes Craven and the Scream legacy that shaped his love for horror.

Charnas shared that Scream was the first horror film he saw in theaters, and its mix of pop culture savvy, humor, and brutality became foundational to both his identity and the band’s creative direction. From Halloween and Friday the 13th to Kevin Williamson’s sharp meta commentary, the DNA of Scream has long been embedded in INK’s theatrical horror aesthetic.

Even more surreal, the band has developed real relationships with franchise legends like Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, Rose McGowan, and Jamie Kennedy over the years. The collaboration announcement itself happened at Wembley Arena, complete with Ghostface and Rose McGowan appearing during the reveal. That is peak horror-rock theater.

Charnas even revealed that Mckenna recorded her vocals in his home studio, in the same room where he keeps a screen-used rubber knife prop from the original Scream. For horror fans, that detail alone feels sacred.

Mckenna Grace Steps Into Her Horror Rock Era

For Mckenna Grace, this wasn’t just another feature. It was personal.

A longtime Ice Nine Kills fan, Grace described the experience as special and creatively freeing. Inspired by Amy Lee’s powerful vocals, she and the band aimed to channel Sidney Prescott’s emotional journey while honoring the tone of the Scream universe. Her performance adds an unexpected but welcome edge, blending her alt-pop sensibilities with INK’s cinematic metal intensity.

Grace continues to balance an expanding music career with major film roles, including her appearance in Scream 7. Now, she gets to exist in both worlds at once.

The Music Video Expands the INKverse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sMdT9pkvKE

The official music video doesn’t just support the single. It expands the ever-growing INKverse.

The voice of Ghostface himself, Roger L. Jackson, reprises his iconic role. The story continues from 2025’s “The Laugh Track,” which featured Matthew Lillard playing himself, and escalates the meta horror even further. David Arquette appears as himself, alongside Johnny Brennan of The Jerky Boys, adding another layer of genre-blending absurdity.

If you’ve followed Ice Nine Kills over the last several years, you already know they don’t just release songs. They build universes.

A Career-Defining Moment

The single was first teased during Ice Nine Kills’ massive headlining show at London’s OVO Arena Wembley, where the band staged the onstage “death” of Rose McGowan before cutting to a live video call from Ghostface. It was theatrical, chaotic, and completely on brand.

This comes after 2.5 years supporting Metallica on their global stadium tour, multiple sold-out headline runs, and a string of horror-themed singles including “A Work of Art” for Terrifier 3 and “The Laugh Track,” their Joker-inspired breakout hit.

Twenty years after their debut album, Ice Nine Kills are not just surviving in heavy music. They’re dominating it through immersive storytelling, cinematic world-building, and an unapologetic love for horror culture.

The Nightmare Continues

Alongside the single release, the band launched a limited edition “Nightmare on The Knife” merch drop, riffing on their monthly “Nightmare on the 9th” releases. For collectors and horror fans, this is another piece of the experience.

“Twisting the Knife” is now streaming on all major platforms, and you can catch it slashing through the end credits of Scream 7 when the film hits theaters Friday, February 27.

Horror fans, metalheads, and Scream loyalists alike, this is one of those rare crossovers that feels earned. Not corporate. Not forced. Just pure fandom colliding at full volume.

And honestly? It fits the Scream legacy perfectly.

Catch Scream 7 exclusively in theaters February 27.