What makes You Can't Kill Us by Icon for Hire notable?

You Can't Kill Us received positive reviews from critics, highlighting its energetic production and lyrical depth, which resonated with fans during a time when the band was under pressure to redefine themselves. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, showcasing the band's continued relevance in the emo scene. Released on November 25, 2016, You Can't Kill Us is Icon for Hire's third studio album and marks a return after a four-year hiatus following their self-titled album. At this point in their career, the band had solidified their identity within the emo genre while facing shifts in their lineup and sound. This album reflects their determination to evolve while staying true to their roots.

Who is You Can't Kill Us for?

You Can't Kill Us works well if you're into steady emotional release throughout, an anthemic sing-along experience and consistent mid-tempo flow.

How many songs are on You Can't Kill Us?

You Can't Kill Us has 13 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

Released 10 years ago

You Can't Kill Us

Icon for Hire · 2016

44 min · 13 tracks · emo

An explosive blend of emo rock and electronic elements, underscored by raw emotional vulnerability and powerful anthemic choruses.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Demons — This track stands out for its haunting exploration of inner struggles, combining driving rhythms with introspective lyrics that capture the essence of personal battles.
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Happy Hurts — The juxtaposition of upbeat instrumentation with darkly reflective lyrics creates a compelling tension that embodies the album's thematic dichotomy between joy and pain.
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You Can’t Kill Us — As the title track, it serves as a rallying cry, blending defiance with empowerment and marking a pivotal statement about resilience amidst adversity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

48 /100

Foothills

Higher than 19% of albums we've rated

The album combines energetic emo rock with electronic elements, showcasing strong choruses but lacks deep lyrical complexity.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with driving rhythms and layered electronic elements, while the second half shifts to more introspective themes.
Several songs incorporate call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the anthemic quality of the choruses.
The album closes with a title track that revisits motifs from earlier songs, creating a sense of circularity in its narrative.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady emotional release throughout
an anthemic sing-along experience
consistent mid-tempo flow
for cathartic workouts

Maybe skip if you

prefer quick, upbeat tracks
dislike emotionally charged lyrics

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on November 25, 2016, You Can't Kill Us is Icon for Hire's third studio album and marks a return after a four-year hiatus following their self-titled album. At this point in their career, the band had solidified their identity within the emo genre while facing shifts in their lineup and sound. This album reflects their determination to evolve while staying true to their roots.
Stylistic neighbors: Paramore· Tonight Alive· We Are the In Crowd