Album: Motionless In White – Reincarnate

Released on 15^th September

Fearless Records

4/10

Motionless In White seem to have become one of the US’s biggest exports in heavy music over the last few years, totting up huge record sales with their last two releases Creatures (2010) and Infamous (2012). Needless to say, there were some considerable expectations from Motionless this time around, expectations which have fallen flat on their faces.

Prior to the release of the record, frontman Chris Cerulli (stage name Chris Motionless) promised a roller-coaster record encompassing the raw brutality of Creatures coupled with the more experimental components of Infamous. Instead, the listener is treated to just under an hour of industrial barminess and Wednesday 13-esque disarray, a direction that doesn’t do justice to the potential of Scranton’s finest.

The record commences with ‘Death March’ and a foreboding bassdrum that drones on quite well, creating an atmosphere Motionless champion brilliantly. Unfortunately Chris Cerulli’s new vocal range comes in… “This is a new world order and it’s changing the game, so step right up to go down in flames, I want your sons, want your daughters, all creatures of the night so wave your flag if you’re ready to fight.” Sounds like hip hop to me. The song then starts to sound like a creepy nursery rhyme. You get the picture. Let’s move on.

We will forgive Motionless for their initial discrepancy, and rightfully so because track 2, title track and lead single, is the best piece of music they have ever churned out. It’s not world changing, nor does it bring anything new to the table, but it does scare the crap out of you and is catchy as hell. The listener is in for a genuine treat here, breakdowns and guttural vocals galore, this is the Motionless we need to see more of. A music video has just been released on Fearless records, a fine choice for a lead single.

Track 3 is going to be of great interest to any hardcore Motionless fans, the final part of the three part ‘Puppets’ series about someone the band clearly despise. Another track reminiscent of Creatures, it isn’t half bad, although the inclusion of Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Filth was a questionable choice.

Just as the record begins to gain momentum it seems to fall flat on its face and never really recovers. We hear a few monster breakdowns and heavy guitars that are testament to Chris’s promise, but on the whole Reincarnate is a boring record which just lacks any real substance and a is strange direction for the band. We hope to see their energetic and theatrical live shows will be maintained in the months to come.