Motionless in White have finally released their first debut studio album, although having being together for just over six years, they have started to make an impact. The Pennsylvanian band has pushed the boundaries with this release, expelling not only their maturity but also the boundaries of screamo into something enjoyable. They have kept firmly in touch with their original sound; ‘Creatures’ is theatrical and ready to bring the house down.
The album combines a mixture of gothic and screamo, broken down with harmonious vocals, killer riffs and that all so important chorus. It’s about time we saw this band do something serious, and it has worked well.
Motionless in White are no longer the band overlooked, but are sitting in the front row, ready to take down any wall.
The album kicks of with; ‘Immaculate Misconception’, it is heavy and dark, but the lyrics breakdown into anger, showing that they are back and they mean business. It’s the American version of Asking Alexandria; dark, mysterious but so much to give.
Next is, ‘We Only Come Out At Night’, the dark and sinister style used throughout this track darkens the rest of the album. The synthesizers add a different vibe to the album; it is slightly cool with a little bit of a darker meaning; it is a like a smoother Marilyn Manson.
The album is a mixture of settings and story telling - differentiations of made-up horror movies. It moves from dark at the start, to then quite mysterious and creepy, to then end on something sinister and evil. Although depicted as a gothic, screamo band, ‘Creatures’ does expand onto hardcore-punk. It is different, unusual in fact, to hear a band such as these, with such a wide range of sounds. This album is their diamond in the rough, it has pulled them out of the pit, but there needs to be more originality for them to go further.
‘London in Terror’ is very similar to ‘Abigail’ (released in 2010), its combination of mixed vocals is mind numbing. The vocals begin light, but are then trounced by this heavy daunting vocal; it’s like a combination of overpowered synths and Marilyn Manson on a bad day. ‘Abigail’ begins heavy and daunting but it starts to come together with the mixture of vocals. However, lead vocals appear far too strong at times and overwhelm the track, but you can see the maturity with this song. Motionless in White have changed their attitude towards music, they’re still the same guys, but they’ve stepped it up a level. ‘Creatures’ is the same track that every other band in this genre produces, yes; it a step up but there is no originality.
‘Cobwebs’ and ‘Com Pt.2’ are the two tracks that provide that insight into the hardcore sound. These tracks aren’t so dark, but easy to listen and move to, it is an interesting contrast between the other tracks on ‘Creatures’. The album cries out as a haunted Halloween film, definitely depicting the horror attitude that it exhibits. Continuing onto ‘Count Choculitis’, it is like a marching song. The guitar riffs are exciting and refreshing, it is a change from everything else on the album. Although the track begins quite sinisterly, it mellows and sounds softer, like a peaceful ending to a horror movie. ‘City Lights’ is the delicate song on the album, it flourishing; different from everything else. It is an album themed around horror and ‘Puppets (The First Show)’ and ‘Scissorhands’ are tracks that echo this theme well.
‘Undead Ahead’, this is a track that grabs you from the very first second. Keep this track on loud and bop your head along, it is most definitely a crowd pleaser. ‘Dragula’, a cover of the Rob Zombie’s original song, it is a great rendition of an all time classic.
‘Creatures’ is a step outside the box, a great release from the Pennsylvanian band. It offers something that the band has been unable to deliver in previous releases. In a genre that is overflowing with the same sound, they have proven themselves.
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The album combines a mixture of gothic and screamo, broken down with harmonious vocals, killer riffs and that all so important chorus. It’s about time we saw this band do something serious, and it has worked well.
