Band: Motionless In White
Release: Infamous (Album)
Release Date: 12/11/12
Motionless In White have been gradually turning more and more heads this year, just one look at their striking image made many want to check them out. While the band’s previous album 2010’s ‘Creatures’ was far from bad it however unfortunately didn’t stack up to the band’s built up persona. For the most part sounding very similar to the US metalcore sound many are pumping out the band did however there was enough buried within the album to show a lot of potential. Plus lets not forget they conjured up those early high school days of discovering metal, and the rumours that circulated the class rooms such as Slipknot urban legends, some true (they sniff a dead crow in a jar and then puke in their masks) some not so true (every night I bring a live goat on stage and chop it’s head off). This mystique made bands such as Slipknot and Marilyn Manson appealing but at the same time a bit frightening and that danger only made them more appealing, Motionless In White are the first band in a long time to revel in controversy.
Saying that the band’s new album is a realisation of their potential is a huge understatement as ‘Infamous’ is a gigantic step up for the band. Being an incredibly diverse album the band don’t neglect their metalcore roots with the likes of album opener ‘Black Damask’ and ‘Burned At Both Ends’, however they’ve amped the heaviness way up to deliver something that’s going to see a fair share of broken bones when played live. However the band have also embraced many of the previously mentioned late 90s/early 2000s shock rock influences on this album to create a wealth of bangers. Front man Chris Motionless has clearly embraced his love of Marilyn Manson such as on the eerie ‘Sinematic’ while ‘The Divine Infection’ is a stomping rock club anthem in the making, which Manson would give a security guard’s head brushing testicle to have on one of his latest albums.
The band have also harnessed their electronic elements to much greater effect on this album. While on the band’s previous effort there were times when they had default rave synths thrown in the mix, the electronics now provide a valuable component to their music. ‘If It’s Dead We’ll Kill It’ harnesses that goth tinged atmospherics of Cradle Of Filth or Dimmu Borgir perfectly within a (slightly) more accessible framework. While ‘Underdog’ has a retro industrial dance beat that is more reminiscent of Rob Zombie than LMFAO. Finally the band’s lyrics often provide a sense of defiance be it “You’d like to think that we’ve been beaten, but we’re here to stay” on ‘Devil’s Night’ or “You’ll never break this, because I’m something that you’re not” on title track ‘Infamous’, the band create a sense of hope for the hopeless. Rock/metal/punk etc has long been the go to genre for many who have felt isolated or different and with these lyrics Motionless In White have a never give up attitude. While we’ve all had break ups there’s only so many songs you can hear about your girlfriend dumping you and ‘Infamous’ stares in the face of adversity and shoots it a middle finger, something very important in a rock band and something to be applauded.
With ‘Infamous’ Motionless In White can become exactly that, dangerous, exciting and filling a void that has needed to be filled for a long time. The band have harnessed influences that many of us love but have been afraid to admit (don’t pretend you didn’t rock up to school feeling like a bad ass in your “People=Shit” hoody) and combined them with a modern sound to create something fresh and current. At this rate Motionless In White could quite easily become the Daily Mail’s new whipping boys and in turn your favourite new band.
9/10
Reviewer: Gavin Lloyd
