Motionless In White - Graveyard Shift (Album Review)

Motionless in White - Graveyard Shift
Released: 5th May 2017

Lineup

Chris Motionless - All Vocals
Ricky Horror - Guitar
Ryan Sitkowski - Guitar
Devin "Ghost" Sola - Bass
Vinny Mauro - Drums

Motionless in White online

Facebook: Motionless in White
Twitter: @MIWband
Website: www.motionlessinwhite.net

How seriously do you take your metal?

Do you chuckle to yourself and shake your head when you see kids these days walk past in Asking Alexandria shirts? Denounce any genre ending in -core? Or find that Rings of Saturn would be better if they stopped being so self-indulgent and writing ridiculous lyrics?

If you answered yes to any of the above – maybe go ahead and give Motionless In White’s new album, Graveyard Shift, a huge miss. Like, we’re talking stratospheric. Don’t even scroll past it in Spotify. If you fit those descriptions, you probably already know this.

But – you would be missing one of the most fun metal albums of recent times. Before Graveyard Shift, I could count the number of MIW songs I knew on one finger – this is no acolyte’s review. However, upon listening to this album, I immediately came around to their way of thinking. Almost satirical, they’ve written both a love letter to their various genres, while ruthlessly tearing conventions. Four on the floor bangers interspersed with ridiculous lyrics such as "I want to fuck your face with a switchblade" straddle the lines between standard genre fare and the shock-factor of Rings of Saturn or Infant Annihilator.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DpKFLG8p3Y&w=853&h=480]

Their style has a theatricality to it which again will either engender fans, or turn them off permanently. Once more – if you’re reading this, you probably already know which you are. Do you like the idea of Chris Cerulli’s vaguely Broadyway-esque vocal deliveries tickling your eardrums? Marilyn Manson style calls in between raw screams? Over produced synths with -core guitars? Anyone familiar with producer Drew Fulk’s work will probably recognise his production stylings here too (for better or worse – I’m staying positive).

While lead single 'LOUD (Fuck It)' indicates the tone of the album, give 'Soft' a listen for the track that best spans their most brutal affectations with the more chorus-y aspects of the album. Brutal chugs punctuated by calls of "you’re mine, motherfucker" give way to an anthemic "if you’re so wise, then why are you so soft?" chorus, as the band bounces from their extremes in what is likely to be their most popular track.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsFTwSydmcI&w=853&h=480]

Or better, yet, jump straight to '570', released almost 10 months ago (so you may well be familiar with it), for a 4:31 barrage of brutality.

Whether you enjoy this album depends on what you look for in music. If you’ve played an Attila album and not thrown your phone across the room – this is like a better version of that.

If the only album you listen to is Black Sabbath's Self Titled album, then don’t play your games with this one.

Rating: 6/10
Graveyard Shift is Out Now
Review by Michael Parente

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Na3sECLYI8&w=853&h=480]