Music Review: Motionless in White, Decades

There’s a lot that can be said about a band that’s been around for two decades. Motionless In White has been called many things over the years: some good, some bad, some ugly. But there’s one thing they can’t be called and that’s stagnant. The Scranton, PA metalcore group released their highly anticipated seventh studio album, aptly titled Decades, in celebration of the band’s 20 year anniversary.

The album is a 14 track musical journey that spans the group’s career which makes it impossible to put it  in any one genre, just the way Motionless likes it. The collection features music reminiscent of albums past, but also somehow manages to usher in a new era.

The title track gives shades of “Soft” with the driving riffs and a steady groove while “log_in//crash_out” sounds like it could have seamlessly fit on Scoring The End Of The World.

The previously released single R.I.P. featuring Skylar Grey serves as a palette cleanser with a soft, flowing goth sound before launching into “Fight Like Hell”, which the group recently dedicated to WWE star and Motionless In White fan, Rhea Ripley.

The second half of the album shifts dramatically, leaning heavily into the synthwave and EDM influences that have permeated more recent tracks such as “Nothing Ever After”, a popular collaboration with Illenium.  “Blood Pact” and “Count Back From Zero”, give night club rather than metal show vibes. “Love At First Bite” is primarily synth and is speculated by fans to be a companion piece to the band’s Michael Jackson inspired single, “Werewolf”, making it a track that could fit during the end credits of an 80s horror movie.

The production value of the album is the best the group has had, largely in part to longtime friend and collaborator, Justin deBlieck. He knows how to highlight the group’s strengths including soaring choruses and intricate guitar riffs including pinch harmonics. Backed by Justin Morrow’s driving bass, the band sounds tight and in their prime. Chris Motionless’s vocals have steadily improved over the last three albums and on Decades he’s at the top of his game with the production team knowing when to let Motionless loose with guttural screams and when to guide him through more emotional moments.

With the album being front loaded with the heavier tracks and the second winding its way into 80s pop (quite literally with their cover of “Sunglasses At Night”), it would not be surprising if this album is divisive among the fanbase known as Creatures. However, with their propensity to build on the sound of the album before it, it makes sense Decades takes the direction it does, making it a true Motionless In White album and a solid addition to their discography.

Motionless In White has taken their Sweat And Blood show on the road. You can get tickets here: https://www.motionlessinwhite.net/tour