
Artist: Motionless In White
Album: Infamous
Genre: Industrial Metalcore
Label: Fearless
Just over two years have passed since Motionless In White burst onto the national scene with their Fearless Records debut, Creatures. At the time, the Scranton, Pennsylvania metalcore act had already amassed a large following of dedicated fans from heavy touring in support of When Love Met Destruction, but it was their debut on the Billboard 200 album chart that really got heads turning. Not since the heyday of Marilyn Manson had such a strongly image-driven band with a message beyond simple positivity in the light of hard times struck a chord with America’s youth, and in the twenty-five months since release week that following has only grown. Now, in the midst of their Fall headlining tour following a successful run on this Summer’s Warped Tour, Motionless In White step into new territory and more ferocity than ever with the release of their new album, Infamous.
There comes a time in the rise of any band with an image as recognizable as Motionless In White when you hit a creative point that may lead to a disconnect with certain longterm fans. The choice of progression over stagnant existence should seem like a simple one, but throw a metaphorical rock in the current alt-scene and you will hit a number of bands pigeonholed by a sound they will spend the rest of their careers trying to recapture because cold feet got the best of their creativity early on. Motionless In White are not that kind of band, and they prove just how few shits they give about your self-appointed definition of their sound throughout Infamous. The theatrics and industrial elements hinted at on even the most generic metalcore moments of Creatures have been amplified to unexpected heights, opening an entire new realm of rock experimentation for vocalist Chris Cerulli to weave his tales of love, hate, vengeance, and everything in between through. It’s undeniably different, yet firmly rooted in everything the band has created up to this point, and has already sparked a discussion amongst fans that will likely never be resolved.
Though it took me a dozen listens to believe it myself, Infamous is without a doubt Motionless In White’s strongest, most cohesive effort to date. Every step taken in a new direction was the right choice to make in terms of continued musical evolution, and the resulting overall progression is bound to take MIW to bigger and better places. If you’re a longtime fan who feels somehow cheated, listen again. This band is going places and it is all because of the connection they have been able to form with listeners around the world. They are aware of the importance of their message and take nothing more serious than the perfection of the music that accompanies it. This is the result of two years of listening to a world filled with fans sharing their stories, and it is definitely a tale that deserves to be heard.
I could not be more excited to see what happens to the world once the masses have heard what Motionless In White has to say.
Score: 8/10
Review written by: James Shotwell (Twitter)
James Shotwell
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