At one point or another, almost everyone will suffer from heartache and the despair that usually accompanies it. It’s not pretty, but it’s a relatively common occurrence. Motionless in White is a band that frequently tries to convey these feelings and reactions to them through their music. After two EPs and a full-length that are chock-full of lyrics pertaining to these feelings, as well as other lyrical themes, Motionless in White is set to release their second full-length album, Infamous.
When I first discovered Motionless in White’s When Love Met Destruction EP a few years ago, I was experiencing a degree of heartbreak and loneliness akin to the band’s lyrical themes. I found that I could really relate to the lyrics and I quickly became a big Motionless in White fan. Their previous album, Creatures, resonated with me in a similar way and was one of my favorite albums of 2010. Fast forward to 2012 and Motionless in White’s latest effort, Infamous. Infamous does not have quite the same impact as the band’s previous efforts and it does share a name with the abysmal Abandon All Ships record that came out earlier this year, but it is a respectable effort nonetheless.
One of the most notable differences between Infamous and other Motionless in White releases is the heavy nu metal and industrial influences that are present on the former. Several tracks off of Infamous will undoubtedly evoke Marilyn Manson comparisons, although you’d have to be kidding yourself if you said it wasn’t blatantly obvious that Chris “Motionless” Cerulli is a big fan of Manson. Some of the nu metal influences are a little too heavy and the album probably would have benefited if they were reigned in a bit.
The emotional lyrical themes are still present, as seen on tracks such as “Sinematic” and “Puppets 2,” as are the lyrics related to horror, but Motionless in White also decided to incorporate lyrical themes pertaining to social commentary. While I feel the message is well-done, it’s generally relegated to the weaker tracks (“A-M-E-R-I-C-A,” for example).
After discussing the nu metal and industrial influences and the lyrical themes, the only thing left to discuss are the tracks that have a “classic” Motionless in White feel to them. These tracks are, coincidentally, the best tracks on the album. “Black Damask,” “Devil’s Night,” “Burned at Both Ends,” and “If it’s Dead, We’ll Kill It,” to name a few, are very solid metalcore jams which would not be out of place if they were included alongside Creatures tracks. While it’s a shame Motionless in White didn’t put more emphasis on the metalcore aspect of their music with Infamous, the few “classic” tracks we did get are outstanding.
Motionless in White’s Infamous is, to put it simply, a mixed bag. There are several very good metalcore tracks, but the nu metal and industrial influences can become overbearing. I enjoy “The Divine Infection,” which has a heavy industrial influence, but that alone is the only non-metalcore track from the album that stands out. After “If it’s Dead, We’ll Kill It,” Infamous basically devolves into a 90s industrial romp and it is at this point that I find myself losing interest. Still, you have to give the guys in Motionless in White credit for putting out the music that they want to release. If you were a big fan of Creatures, you might be slightly off-put by Infamous, but there are several very good tracks that are definitely worth listening to.
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