IC3PEAK isn’t your average electronic duo. The Russian group, known for their spooky audiovisuals and politically charged lyrics, has gained a fanbase that stretches well beyond electronic music circles—including a significant following among metalheads.
With distorted vocals, aggressive beats, and a dark aesthetic, IC3PEAK has landed on metal playlists, drawn attention from heavy music fans, and even collaborated with metal artists like Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon. But does that make them metal? Let’s dig into it.
A Sound That Defies Labels
IC3PEAK is typically labeled as electronic, witch house, or industrial, but their sound carries undeniable metal influences. Tracks like ‘Dead But Pretty’ feature crushing, guitar-like synths, guttural screams, and production techniques that give off metalcore breakdowns—sudden tempo shifts, explosive bursts of energy, and an overall raw intensity.
Beyond the music itself, their aesthetic is steeped in metal culture. Black clothing, corpse-paint-inspired makeup, and horror visuals draw clear parallels to black metal and gothic metal. And their rebellious, anti-establishment stance? That’s a core pillar of metal, too. IC3PEAK has faced censorship and police intervention in Russia, much like how early metal bands were targeted for their provocative lyrics and imagery.
Collaborations And Metal Recognition
One of the biggest indicators of IC3PEAK’s crossover into metal is their collaboration with Oli Sykes on ‘Kiss of Death.’ As the frontman of Bring Me The Horizon, Sykes rarely ventures outside metal and heavy rock, making this partnership a notable moment. On top of that, IC3PEAK frequently appears on metal-heavy playlists, and fans have covered their songs in distinctively metal styles.
Some of their tracks also lean heavily into dark, oppressive sounds. ‘Dead But Pretty’ and ‘Vampir’ stand out for their sheer intensity, while ‘Марш (Marching)’ brings a militant, industrial force that feels right at home in extreme metal spheres. Even ‘Грустная Сука (Sad Bitch),’ though not traditionally metal, carries a haunting atmosphere and screamed vocals that push it into metal-adjacent territory.
So, after all, IC3PEAK may not fit neatly into the genre, but they resonate deeply with metal fans. Whether they’re officially ‘metal’ or not, they certainly belong in the conversation.
