Ash & Ice

Ash & Ice is the fifth studio album by indie rock band the Kills, released on June 3, 2016, through Domino.[1][2] The album was recorded in a rented house in Los Angeles and at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. It was produced by Jamie Hince and co-produced by John O'Mahoney.[3][4] It was promoted by the singles "Doing It to Death" and "Heart of a Dog".

Ash & Ice
Studio album by
the Kills
ReleasedJune 3, 2016 (2016-06-03)
Studio
  • Key Club Recording Co. Mobile (Los Angeles)
  • Electric Lady (New York City)
Length50:42
LabelDomino
ProducerJamie Hince
The Kills chronology
Blood Pressures
(2011)		 Ash & Ice
(2016)		 God Games
(2023)
Singles from Ash & Ice
  1. "Doing It to Death"
    Released: March 1, 2016
  2. "Heart of a Dog"
    Released: April 18, 2016
  3. "Siberian Nights"
    Released: May 24, 2016
  4. "Impossible Tracks"
    Released: September 13, 2016

Formats and packaging

The album was made available as a CD – with a 20-page booklet with lyrics and album artwork – and as digital download.[5]

A limited-edition double LP was also made available. The LPs are coloured in blue and pink and packaged into a wide spine jacket with a gold foil imprint. The release also includes two fold-out posters, two printed inner sleeves and an exclusive lyric zine, with the first 250 orders signed by the band.[6]

Promotion

The lead single from the album, "Doing It to Death", was released on March 1, 2016.[1] It was accompanied by a music video directed by Wendy Morgan.[7] The second single from the album, "Heart of a Dog", and an accompanying music video directed by Sophie Muller, were released on April 18, 2016.[8] "Siberian Nights" was released as the third single on May 24, 2016. A music video promoting the song was directed by American actor Giovanni Ribisi.[9][10][11][12]

In support of the album, the band toured the United States from March to June 2016. The Kills also performed in Mexico City on March 16, in Amsterdam, Paris, London, Toronto and Vancouver in May 2016, and at the Isle of Wight Festival in June. In July, played at the U-Park Festival in Kyiv, Ukraine, and at the Park Live Festival in Moscow, Russia, as well as the Off Festival in Katowice, Poland, in August before returning to the U.S. in September and then back to Europe through October and November.[4] They performed "Whirling Eye" on The Late Late Show with James Corden on the October 21, 2016, episode.[13]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Consequence of SoundC−[16]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[17]
Exclaim!7/10[18]
The Guardian[19]
musicOMH[20]
NME4/5[21]
Pitchfork6.2/10[22]
Spin6/10[23]

Ash & Ice received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews.[14] Writing for Exclaim!, Laura Sciarpelletti praised the band's "bare bones power technique".[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by the Kills, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Doing It to Death" 4:07
2."Heart of a Dog" 3:46
3."Hard Habit to Break" 3:52
4."Bitter Fruit" 4:14
5."Days of Why and How" 4:32
6."Let It Drop" 3:15
7."Hum for Your Buzz" 3:17
8."Siberian Nights"
4:53
9."That Love" 2:33
10."Impossible Tracks" 3:41
11."Black Tar" 3:52
12."Echo Home" 5:06
13."Whirling Eye" 3:34

Sample credits
  • "Heart of a Dog" contains a sample of "Wildfire" performed by Sbtrkt featuring Little Dragon
  • "Days of Why and How" contains a sample of "Is There Any Love" performed by Trevor Dandy
  • "Let It Drop" contains a sample from "IMC" performed by Spank Rock
  • "Siberian Nights" uses elements from "UFO" written by Renee Scroggins
  • "Impossible Tracks" contains a sample of "I Thank the Lord" performed by the Mighty Voices of Wonder

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ash & Ice.[24]

The Kills

Additional musicians

Technical
  • Jamie Hince – production
  • John O'Mahoney – co-production
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing[lower-alpha 1] (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
  • Joe Visciano – engineering for mix (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
  • Brandon Bost – mixing assistance (tracks 2, 4–9, 11–13)
  • Tchad Blake – mixing[lower-alpha 2] (tracks 1, 3, 10)
  • Phil Joly – engineering
  • Barry McCready – recording assistance
  • Bill Skibbe – engineering
  • Vanessa Silberman – recording assistance
  • Jon Gilbert – recording assistance
  • Kurt Uenala – drum editing, additional production
  • Brian Lucey – mastering[lower-alpha 3]

Artwork
  • Alison Mosshart – interior artwork, photographs
  • Jamie Hince – photographs
  • Brian Roettinger – design

Charts
Chart performance for Ash & Ice
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 21
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 15
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 16
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] 61
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30] 51
French Albums (SNEP)[31] 11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 25
Irish Albums (IRMA)[33] 84
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[34] 11
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[35] 33
Scottish Albums (OCC)[36] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 14
UK Albums (OCC)[38] 18
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[39] 3
US Billboard 200[40] 45
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[41] 4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[42] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[43] 7

Notes
  1. Mixed at Electric Lady Studios (New York City)
  2. Mixed at Full Mongrel Studios (Wales)
  3. Mastered at Magic Garden Mastering (Columbus, Ohio)

References
  1. Carley, Brennan (March 1, 2016). "The Kills Announce New Album, 'Ash & Ice,' With the Snarling 'Doing It To Death'". Spin. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  2. Mansfield, Mollie (March 1, 2016). "The Kills return with fifth album 'Ash & Ice' – watch 'Doing It To Death' video". NME. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  3. Minsker, Evan (March 1, 2016). "The Kills Announce New Album Ash & Ice, Share "Doing It to Death" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  4. "The Kills announce new album 'Ash & Ice', offer up 'Doing It To Death'". DIY. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  5. "CD". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  6. "Deluxe LP and zine". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  7. "The Kills – Doing It To Death (Official Video)". March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016 – via YouTube.
  8. Carley, Brennan (April 18, 2016). "The Kills Prep for 'Ash & Ice' With New Single, 'Heart Of A Dog'". Spin. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  9. Havenson, Lyndsey (May 24, 2016). "The Kills share new song/video for "Siberian Nights" — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  10. Spanos, Brittany (May 24, 2016). "Watch the Kills' Chilling 'Siberian Nights' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  11. Minsker, Evan (May 25, 2016). "Watch the Kills' "Siberian Nights" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  12. Carley, Brennan (May 24, 2016). "Wolves Dash Through the Darkness in the Kills' New 'Siberian Nights' Video". Spin. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  13. The Late Late Show with James Corden (October 21, 2016). "The Kills: Whirling Eye". Retrieved October 23, 2016 – via YouTube.
  14. "Reviews for Ash & Ice by The Kills". Metacritic. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  15. Phares, Heather. "Ash & Ice – The Kills". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  16. Mayo, Amanda Roscoe (May 31, 2016). "The Kills – Ash & Ice". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  17. Brown, Eric Renner (June 3, 2016). "The Kills' Ash & Ice". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  18. Sciarpelletti, Laura (June 1, 2016). "The Kills – Ash and Ice". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
  19. Jonze, Tim (June 2, 2016). "The Kills: Ash & Ice review – the same old riffs, but a spark remains". The Guardian. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  20. Baber, Andy (June 13, 2016). "The Kills – Ash & Ice". musicOMH. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  21. Daly, Rhian (June 1, 2016). "The Kills – 'Ash & Ice' Review". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  22. Berman, Stuart (June 7, 2016). "The Kills: Ash & Ice Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  23. Gaca, Anna (June 14, 2016). "Review: The Kills' 'Ash & Ice' Has Too Much Ballast to Weather the Storm". Spin. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  24. Ash & Ice (liner notes). The Kills. Domino Recording Company. 2016. WIGCD289.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "Australiancharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  26. "Austriancharts.at – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  27. "Ultratop.be – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  28. "Ultratop.be – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  29. "The Kills Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  30. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  31. "Lescharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  32. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Kills – Ash & Ice" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  33. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 23, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  34. "Charts.nz – The Kills – Ash & Ice". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  35. "Portuguesecharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  36. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  37. "Swisscharts.com – The Kills – Ash & Ice". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  38. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  39. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  40. "The Kills Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  41. "The Kills Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  42. "The Kills Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  43. "The Kills Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
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