I am writing this article to speak this into existence. In an interview on “THE MEET AND GREET WITH BEEZ!” show on the dwpresents Twitch channel, Chris Motionless revealed that he would love to collaborate with Ghostmane. The Motionless In White frontman initial claims that it would be “a weird one”, but this isn’t quite as odd of a collaboration as one would think. Ghostmane has progressively experimented with a more industrial or nu-metal sound since his last record “ANTI-ICON”. Featuring fast-paced rapping, low voice soft-spoken versing, and high screams, “ANTI-ICON” is a dark and brooding record that perfectly matches Motionless In White’s aesthetic. Check out “ANTI-ICON” below and hear it for yourself.
Motionless In White X Ghostmane X Spiritbox
While it would be really cool to hear Chris Motionless on a Ghostmane track or Ghostmane on a Motionless In White track, a tour is a perfectly fine collaboration too. When asked who he would like to tour with, the Motionless In White frontman stated that “everybody is into Spiritbox right now”, and selected the promising up-and-coming band to open for the imaginary Ghostmane tour. I am a huge fan of Motionless In White’s tracks with features. I believe they are one of the bands that utilize them best. With that said, I would love to hear a track with Ghostmane or Courtney LaPlante (or both!) in the near future.
Shoutout To “The Meet And Greet With Beez”
Additionally, I highly recommend following dwpresents on Twitch. This fantastic interview with Chris Motionless was part of a brand new – literally, this is the first episode ever – show, “THE MEET AND GREET WITH BEEZ!“. Please go show them your support if you loved what was discussed within this article. Chris Motionless joins the show at 15:29 for those interested in watching the segment for yourself.
Need More Motionless In White In Your Life?
Need more Motionless In White in your life? Check out their brand new song “Timebomb” – as well as my reaction to the track – by clicking on the article below.
Looking for a one-stop playlist for all the hottest modern metal hits? Check out our Official Modern Metal Spotify Playlist down below. “Timebomb” has been fittingly positioned at the top of the playlist!
What do you think of a Motionless In White and Ghostmane collaboration? Let us know in the comments.
Following two short days of teasing, Motionless In White explode onto the scene with their “heavy as fuck” standalone single “Timebomb”. The track was highly-anticipated by fans – such as myself – and we were not disappointed. The track features both rapid riffage and low-tuned chugs, giving every fan of heavy music something to headbang to. The song shows Motionless In White venture into a whole new avenue of sound for the band. The “Disguise” band forgoes the horror and gothic vibes for a more confident and hopeful song with a modern metalcore style. “Timebomb” is more inline with the encouraging “570” than most of the band’s heavier tracks such as “Soft” or recent single “Thoughts & Prayers“.
Despite the track being incredibly different from most of their material, the song was met with much praise from the fanbase. Some thought the track sounds like nothing the band has ever tried before, while others made comparisons to the heavier tracks found on the band’s sophomore record “Infamous”. I previously made the connection to the band’s track “570” and I also think it follows the sound of previous single “Creatures X: From Beyond The Grave” as well. Follow along with the article for more in-depth information regarding the explosive new Motionless In White song, “Timebomb”.
FFO: Breaking Benjamin, Wage War, Killswitch Engage, Bullet For My Valentine
While “Timebomb” did not receive a traditional music video with footage of the band, it did get anexciting visualizer video. The suspenseful video was directed and created by OhrangeCo (Logan Beaver). The band’s own Ricky Olson contributed with the editing and coloring of the video, and additional footage was supplied by Tiltshift Visual and my old pal Gabor Toth. I think the video is great and it does a great job at conveying the tone of the track. The talented team was able to put together a unique and worthy music video despite ignoring the conventional trends of the genre. This is impressive in its own right, and it’s nice seeing Ricky assist in the production of another music video.
Timebomb Is An Absolute Banger
“Timebomb” is the definition of a banger. The track comes in quick, hits hard, and has an additive chorus to match. The track had a ton of hype to live up to, and it is safe to say it blew those expectations out of the water. The song is a wild ride that never stops, and it even features a full breakdown and a heavy outro. The pre-chorus and second chorus features more of the fan-favorite singing of Ricky Olson. Additionally, the song showcases one of Chris Motionless’ most expressive and flexible performance to date.
“Timebomb” is the perfect song to feature more of Ricky’s singing. With some assistance with the singing, the track will sound huge during a live performance. Fortunately, the band is going on tour next month, so the track released at the perfect time. I am confident the crowd will be rowdy when Timebomb goes off.
The Bridge Between The Quarantine Experiments And The 2022 Album
Shockingly enough, while Timebomb is one of the best metalcore tracks of 2021, it will not be on the upcoming Motionless In White album. In a video, Chris Motionless explained that the song was released to hold fans over until the new album releases in early 2022. The purpose of the track is to bridge the end of the 2020 Quarantine Experiments and the release of this upcoming record.
While “Timebomb” may not represent the upcoming record, it is a certified banger that is sure to have its own place within the band’s discography. I find this refreshing, as the band is maintaining a consistent stream of content even between records. 2019 had Disguise, 2020 had the 2020 Quarantine Experiments and Creatures X, 2021 has “Timebomb”, and 2022 will house a brand new full-length record. Not to mention the band put on -not one – but two livestreams within the last two years. Motionless In White fans may just be the luckiest fans in the world.
Metal Shell Reacts to Motionless In White | Timebomb
Want to see what I thought about the track in real-time? I recorded my initial reaction to “Timebomb” during the premiere of the track. Please check out the video below to see how “Timebomb” kept me headbanging the entire time!
Metal Shell Reacts to Motionless In White | Timebomb
Need More Motionless In White In Your Life?
Need more Motionless In White even after the banger that is “Timebomb”? I recommend you revisit – what I consider to be – the top 10 underrated Motionless In White songs. These songs deserve more love, and it is our job to give them that love.
Additionally, I recommend checking out the products of Motionless In White’s 2020 Quarantine Experiments. The lockdown allowed the band to tap into their experimental side and exercise a ton of creativity. What better way to enjoy the bridge between these experiments and the upcoming record than to revisit the other side of the bridge?
Looking for a one-stop playlist for all the hottest recent metal hits? Check out our Official Modern Metal Spotify Playlist down below. “Timebomb” has been fittingly positioned at the top of the playlist!
What did you think of “Timebomb”? Are you excited for the upcoming Motionless In White record? Share your thoughts down in the comments.
Motionless In White are not playing games. After initially teasing the release of a “heavy as fuck” track in August, fans eagerly anticipated the reveal. Now that band have started the teasing with an exciting new trailer for “Timebomb“. The teaser included a short audio clip featuring fast-paced guitar similar to their crushing track “570” and epic orchestral elements. The band seems to be preparing to live up to the hype, because the track is sounding heavy already. If you want to jump in line early, below is the link to the official visualizer video for Timebomb.
The teaser has effectively sent the Motionless In White fandom spiraling into chaos. If you are remotely part of Motionless In White Twitter, you haven’t seen anything on your feed other than excited Creatures. The video starts off showing a timebomb with a timer counting down from 8:30. However, towards the end of the teaser, the Timebomb is shown with a countdown of 08:20:21. This doesn’t mean the bomb is going off in eight hours, 20 minutes, and 21 seconds. No, this is just the band’s clever way of revealing the release date of the highly-anticipated track. Timebomb arrives this Friday, August 20th, 2021.
The sound of Timebomb
The short teaser actually gives us plenty of hits regarding the sound of Timebomb. The preview starts with face-paced guitar similar to the sound of the confident and encouraging “570“. This is followed by a transition into a heavier build up from both the guitars and drums. I feel like a “blegh” or “fuck!” callout is sure to follow. What is new entirely though is the orchestral elements featured in the trailer. Epic and haunting choir voices are heard throughout the teaser. I have a feeling that a whole new type of Motionless In White track is on the horizon.
To add to the endless evidence of the track being “heavy as fuck“, the song is reportedly played in the drop #F tuning. For those who aren’t aware, this one hell of a heavy tuning. Check out the video by Nik Nocturnal down below if you want some examples of other tracks that utilize this tuning.
Heaviest Riffs: Drop F – Nik Nocturnal
Back to the familiarities with 570, I couldn’t be more excited to hear a similar guitar tone going on. 570 is one of my favorite Motionless In White tracks of all time, and I always felt like the band should have dabbled more in that sound. Fun fact! I was an extra in the 570 music video. It was a great memory that I will keep with me forever. I have a strong feeling that this track will not disappoint, and that it will be the heavy banger we all have been waiting for. Will the track be Thoughts & Prayers level of heavy? Only time will tell, but I am willing to bet on yes!
Need More Motionless In White In Your Life?
Can’t wait for Timebomb to drop? Do you need more Motionless In White in your life? Pass the time by checking out my list of the top 10 underrated Motionless In White songs. These songs deserve more love, and it is our job to give them that love.
Additionally, I recommend checking out the products of Motionless In White’s 2020 Quarantine Experiments. The lockdown allowed the band to tap into their experimental side and exercise a ton of creativity. You’ll definitely be ready for the next Motionless In White single after this.
Looking for a one-stop playlist for all the hottest recent metal hits? Check out our Official Modern Metal Spotify Playlist down below. I have a strong feeling that Timebomb is going to make the cut.
Are you excited for the release of Timebomb by Motionless In White? Share you excitement with us down in the comments.
Motionless In White are one of those bands that have incredible deep cuts that never quite get the attention they deserve. This is all due to the consistency within the band’s discography. From Creatures to Disguise, the band never misses; even the experimental and non-single tracks are phenomenal. As the band prepares to release their highly-anticipated “heavy as fuck” new track next month, we are taking some time to listen to – and enjoy of course – some underrated Motionless In White songs.
The following list of qualities regarding the track must be true to be featured on this list.
The track cannot…
have been a single.
be a mainstay on the band’s current setlist.
currently be on the band’s top 10 on Spotify
be a top streamed track from its respective record
Let’s jump right in. Here are 10 underrated Motionless In White songs that deserve more love.
Top 10 Underrated Motionless In White Songs
Count Choculitis
Count Choculitis – Motioness In White
Count Choculitis sounds like a heavier track from Breaking Benjamin’s Dear Agony album. Considering that record is one of my favorite records of all time, this is a great thing. This was one of the songs that first got me into the band. A friend from high school showed me the song – along side honorary mention Cobwebs, which only doesn’t make this list due to it technically being released as a promotional single – and I was hooked. Before getting into Motionless In White and other metalcore bands from 2009, I was more of a hard rock fan. Count Choculitis is heavy, accessible, and perhaps even the reason I dove further into the scene.
Burned At Both Ends
Burned At Both Ends – Motionless In White
Granted this track isn’t quite as underrated as it used to be – thanks to a wide increase in fan interest – but Burned At Both Ends is still underrated nonetheless. The track has an impressive amount of plays on Spotify compared to the rest of the non-singles from the Infamous record, but the fact that this song isn’t a setlist mainstay rest my case. Burned At Both Ends definitely deserves more love. The track is heavy and thrashy and was a pleasant surprise on the controversial album. The vocal delivery and punishing instrumentals makes this track memorable, unique, and an iconic track.
Puppets 2 (The Rain)
Puppets 2 (The Rain) – Motionless In White
I can’t even believe I am writing this right now. Puppets 2 (The Rain) is incredibly underrated. The track is nearly never played live – and out of every song from Infamous – has the least amount of plays on Spotify. Chris Motionless delivers some of his most devastating vocals to date on this vengeful track. The dark verses of the track are juxtaposed with the melodic greatness of Bjorn “Speed” Strid’s incredible chorus.
This track is huge. I am surprised it wasn’t a lead single or one of the band’s most popular tracks ever. The track is so heavy that it hardly needed the brutal breakdown at the end of the track. Followed by a mosh call where Motionless screams “move!”, one of the bands biggest breakdowns of their career crashed down hard on the listener’s ears. Puppets 2 is one hell of an underrated track, and I would love to hear it live someday.
Synthetic Love
Synthetic Love – Motionless In White
Synthetic Love is a fantastic track. I love when Motionless In White experiment with their darker synth lead sound. The heavy side of the band will always have a place in my heart, but my heart has plenty of room for the many sounds of the Scranton band. The lead riff is catchy, crunchy, and fun. This song is a mainstay on my gym playlist due to the confident energy conveyed throughout the track.
The chorus is huge and chant worthy, substituting the traditional metalcore choruses of Creatures for a more hard rock influenced one. The song doesn’t have too much screaming on it, but the growls that Motionless does let out sound fantastic. I think this song deserves more love, and I think the chorus would be huge live. It sounds like a stadium-rock anthem. Perhaps we will hear it again once Motionless In White gets their first stadium tour?
Underdog
Underdog – Motionless In White
Earlier I mentioned that the Infamous record is controversial. Seeing how five of the 10 tracks on this list are from the album, I am sure this is apparent by now. The album got a bad rep upon release, but thanks to the fantastic mixing and mastering on the deluxe edition, Infamous is now my second favorite Motionless In White album. When the “black sheep” album is still a great record, you know you’re talking about a great band. Underdog is one of my favorite tracks on the band. It has a lighthearted and motivating chorus that Motionless In White haven’t experimented with much since. It reminds me of synthpop or a huge 80’s chorus.
The chugging of the guitar after each chorus brings the heavy energy back, Underdog really brings it all. Ending with a crushing – yet oddly motivating – breakdown full of extreme high and low screams makes this track one of the most underrated Motionless In White songs.
This track is also (potentially) the start of the “underdog series” of tracks. According to Chris Motionless, not every track contained within this grouping has been revealed. The known tracks include Unstoppable, Untouchable, and Brand New Numb. This one’s for the underdogs!
Sick From The Melt
Sick From The Melt (Feat. Trevor Friedrich) – Motionless In White
Infamous is anything but infamous to me. Sick From The Melt is one of the best Motionless In White songs of all time. The track is underrated in terms of numbers and outsider knowledge, but fans beg for it – along side fellow Infamous bonus track Fatal – to be played live all the time. The chorus is huge and the breakdown is even bigger. The band took the complaints from fans of Creatures and created a heavy track that combined the mature, developed, and experimental sound of Infamous with the energy and tempo of Creatures. The track really has it all, and it deserves much more love. The perfect bonus track for a perfect remastered deluxe edition. Sick From The Melt makes me melt and I am not sick of it at all.
Everybody Sells Cocaine
Everybody Sells Cocaine – Motionless In White
The single potential with Everybody Sells Cocaine is huge. The influence AFI and Davey Havok had on Motionless in evident in this track. It sounds Miss Murder got sent to 2014 and got a metalcore makeover. This track has always stuck with me ever since the monumental Reincarnate album hit. The track ended up getting lost amongst the other hits of the album – likely due to the fact that it was such a major release, and remains the band’s best selling record – but it will always deserve so much more. Everybody Sells Cocaine excels most with the chorus, as it is contagious and is delivered like a hit.
The track is played live every now and then, but I had not been blessed by its appearance on a setlist whenever I attend a Motionless In White show. Like Synthetic Love and Underdog before it, I feel like this is a huge anthemic track that deserves more attention and a greater presence within the band’s livesets. The fact that the band can put out a huge sounding track like this and it gets swept under the rug shows the giant catalog of great tracks behind them.
Wasp
Wasp – Motionless In White
Wasp is an interesting one. The track is a haunting and somber track with a run time of just over seven minutes. The synths and piano led track is poetic, sexy, and mesmerizing. It starts off sounding like a track for Call of Duty’s Zombies and turns into a song that could lullaby any Motionless In White fan to sleep. Falling asleep listening to Motionless In White sounds confusing to anyone who listens to anything else the band has put out, but Wasp is an exception. This is the definition of experimentation and the band pulled it off amazingly. Reincarnate was an ambitious album, and Wasp is the product of these efforts. With a run time of seven minutes, I can understand why the band doesn’t play the track live. Perhaps it could make its way to a headlining show’s set one of these days. I sure wouldn’t mind!
Carry The Torch
Carry The Torch – Motionless In White
Carry The Torch somehow has the least amount of plays out of every single track on Reincarnate, and this includes the experimental Final Dictvm. This definitely satisfies the requirements to be considering incredibly underrated. The track is a love letter to Chris Motionless’ favorite band, Bleeding Through. Motionless runs with these influences and creates a track sure to make the band proud. The track is heavy, unique, and carries a hint of hope and dedication with it. Ending Reincarnate with Carry The Torch was a great move, as the track finishes off the album in a powerful way.
The track isn’t brought up that often, at least not since Reincarnate released. Motionless In White used the track as the intro to their Warped Tour 2016 set (I wish they played it, I got my hopes up that day), but Carry The Torch hasn’t had much attention since. If the band ever plays a set full of deep cuts, I hope to see this track make the list.
Untouchable
Untouchable – Motionless In White
The final spot on this list came down between Queen for Queen and Untouchable. While both tracks sound like huge rock hits and both are from Graveyard Shirt, one is a tad more underrated than the other. After deep consideration, the arena-rock banger Untouchable takes the spot. This song sounds huge – obviously considering the arena-rock description I mentioned earlier – and I am shocked this track never 1. became a single, and 2. never got a live music video showing off a massive crowd. The track sounds like it was made for a huge live showcase. While the track does make it onto the band’s setlist from time-to-time, the fact that it isn’t a setlist mainstay shows that it is underrated in its own right. When a track sounds this big, really any lack of attention can make it seem underrated.
This concludes our top 10 list of underrated Motionless In White songs. That was tough! There were several songs worthy of honorable mentions that can be found below, and even more deserving tracks not listed as well. I recommend taking a deep dive into the band’s discography if this article inspired you to listen to some of the band’s lesser known tracks. Please check out the honorable mentions down below.
Honorable Mentions:
Cobwebs
Cobwebs – while incredibly underrated and also the song that got me into the band – was initially released as a promotional single for the Creatures album. Due to this, the song is not eligible under my established criteria for “underrated”.
Hatefuck
Hatefuck – Motionless In White
Hatefuck is heavy, nasty, vile, and obscene. The energy this track brings is wild, and it would be great to see it played live again. However, Motionless In White have plenty of underrated tracks – especially from Infamous – and it just doesn’t quite back the list.
Fatal
Fatal – Motionless In White
Fatal could definitely use some more love from the band (and from casual fans), but it isn’t necessarily underrated by fans. Motionless In White fans scream for Fatal to be played live under nearly every tour announcement. Due to this love from the fanbase, the track isn’t left as underrated as many others on this list.
Unstoppable
Unstoppable – Motionless In White
I remember hearing Unstoppable for the first time. The track sounded huge. I remember thinking “Motionless In White are going to be touring with Breaking Benjamin any day now! I can’t wait to hear this on the radio!”. However, the track never really went too far after that. Like Cobwebs, Unstoppable is not eligible for this list due to its status as a promotional single, but the track could definitely use some more love.
Queen For Queen
Queen for Queen – Motionless In White
Did I mention Breaking Benjamin and radio rock a minute ago? Queen for Queen takes everything I just said about Unstoppable and kicks it up to 100. I am genuinely surprised to this day that the track was never a single, and never completely dominated SiriusXM Octane. This track came so close to making this list. However, considering Graveyard Shift is a very successful record that fans often play start-to-finish, I didn’t want to add two songs from the album onto this list. So while Queen for Queen is technically underrated by my standards, it gets plenty of love in its own right.
Soft
Soft – Motionless In White
Thankfully, Thoughts & Prayers ended up getting a music video last second, securing the track as a popular single within the Motionless In White discography. Unfortunately, the track’s predecessor, Soft, did not get this treatment. I recall Motionless talking about making a music video for Soft back in the Graveyard Shift era, but I suppose it just never ended up happening. Fortunately though, Soft is still played live at nearly every Motionless In White concert. The track always gets the energy going and makes for a rowdy time. Due to the massive live presence this song has – and the love amongst the fanbase – I did not feel that it is truly as underrated as other tracks on this list.
Hourglass
Hourglass came really close to making it onto the list. Like Queen for Queen, the track is underrated due to its huge potential to be a single. Graveyard Shift is such a stacked album, that plenty of incredible songs got a bit lost in the sauce amongst casual listeners. Fortunately, fans like myself could never forget about hourglass. The track is underrated for sure, but not compared to the tracks that made the list.
Closing Thoughts (And Prayers)
What did you think of this list of underrated Motionless In White songs? Post your own top 10 list in the comments and let’s compare!
Stay tuned for the next Motionless In White track reportedly releasing next month. It is supposed to be a heavy one!
Want to listen to underrated Motionless In White songs without that pesky hit singles popping up? Check out Metal Shell’s Motionless In White Deep Cuts playlist below.
On July 20th, 2017, the world lost a legend. Chester Bennington passed away four years ago today, but his presence is as strong as ever. With fans around the world dedicated to making Chester proud, his legacy and influence is sure to live on forever. Nearly every modern band look up to Chester and Linkin Park, so it is no surprise that many current frontmen are huge fans. After Chester’s passing many bands have performed tributes to the icon. Seeing these performances create a bittersweet moment; one that makes it feel like Chester is still there. Here are 10 emotional tributes to Chester Bennington that make my heart happy.
Godsmack – Crawling
Godsmack – Crawling
Growing up in the 90’s, feeling deep emotion while listening to Godsmack was never something I thought I would ever feel. While it is true that Godsmack have mellowed out in recent years, I still never saw this one coming. During a live cover of Crawling, Vocalist Sully Erna delivers an impressive, powerful, and emotional performance.
The performance takes place after a touching speech regarding the loss of talented voices in music. Erna reveals that this is a last-minute decision and the band didn’t even really rehearse for the cover. Perhaps it is because the decision comes from the heart, but despite the lack of preparation, this performance is fantastic. The emotion and power in the chorus really makes it for me. This is the one tribute I never heard previously (before compiling content for this article), but I know I will be returning to this one whenever I think of Chester. I ended up adding 11 tributes to this list because this one was too good to skip. Consider this one a little bonus in Chester’s honor.
Papa Roach – Forever and In The End
Towards the end of Papa Roach’s popular emotional track Forever, the band incorporates a fitting tribute to Chester Bennington. The transition is seamless and fits so well, it is almost as if the track was meant to show respect to Chester. While the song was originally written about divorce, the emotion and feeling of loss translates well to the subject of losing a friend. Following the emotional performance, singer Jacoby Shaddix gives a speech regarding mental illness, including substance abuse. The emotional frontman then encourages the audience to show love to each other. This is truly an act that would make Chester proud.
Corey Taylor Dedicates Through The Glass To Chester
Corey Taylor – Through The Glass
Before playing Through the Glass, Corey Taylor weeps and explains the track was one of Chester’s favorite Stone Sour songs. The rockstar then dedicates the song to Chester, in what is an incredibly vulnerable and candid performance. This tribute is especially heartwarming, as the typically aggressive Slipknot frontman is feeling the deep emotion that has affected us all following the loss of Chester. Slipknot and Linkin Park were brothers in the 2000’s rock scene and beyond, and this bond is a huge factor that contributes to the emotional delivery in the performance.
Motionless In White – One Step Closer
One Step Closer – Motionless In White
There are plenty of candid and improvised performances within this list of heartwarming tributes, but Motionless In White’s performance is definitely the most unprepared. This performance of One Step Closer takes place only one day following the death of Chester Bennington.
The band typically plays a cover at some point during their live set. This was the perfect opportunity to pay tribute Chester, a hero of singer Chris Motionless and the bands. Motionless is known for his great stage presence and speeches, but this one is exceptionally touching and comforting. Before performing the nu-metal anthem One Step Closer, Motionless explains that many fans of the band are feeling the same emotions, and he suggests that they reach out and help each other. Having such an intelligent and emotionally conscious speech only a day following the incident shows the integrity of the frontman.
To add to this tribute, the performance itself is devastating. Rather than performing a touching song, Motionless In White give tribute to Linkin Park in a way that would make Chester proud in a whole other way. Without practice or planning, the band nails One Step Closer in a way that directly proves the influence Chester had on Motionless In White. This is true for many other bands in the metalcore scene as well.
Linkin Park Feat. Jeremy McKinnon – A Place For My Head
Linkin Park Feat. Jeremy McKinnon – A Place For My Head
While this performance of A Place For My Head is definitely one of the least “emotional” performances on this list, it is definitely one of the sickest. There is a ton of comfort in hearing a Linkin Park song performed in a way that does true justice to the original nu-metal banger. Like Motionless In White’s cover of One Step Closer, this performance of A Place For My Head goes hard. Is there possibly a more fitting way to honor one of Linkin Park’s heaviest songs ever than to bring back Jeremy McKinnon for a vocal feature?
The performance is from the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington concert, an emotional tribute show that took place at the Hollywood Bowl and was livestreamed online. A Place For My Head is one of my favorite Linkin Park songs ever, so my mind was blown when I saw Jeremy McKinnon walk out during the initial livestream back in 2017.
The A Day To Remember frontman previously lent his lungs to the song during Linkin Park’s surprise performance at the Van’sWarped Tour on June 22nd, 2014. McKinnon was brought back for Linkin Park’s 2017 Chester Bennington Tribute show at the Hollywood Bowl. The best part of this performance is that Jeremy McKinnon didn’t just bring his all to the delivery; the homesick singer showed tribute to Chester by mimicking both his mannerisms and improvisations in a live setting. Towards the end of the heavy performance, McKinnon shouts “stay away from me mother fucker”, just as Chester always did. There is a ton of love and inspiration poured into this by McKinnon, and seeing this performance makes my heart happy.
Linkin Park Feat. Oli Sykes and Zedd – Crawling
Linkin Park Feat. Oli Sykes – Crawling
It is public knowledge that Linkin Park were a huge influence to Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes. The Sempiternal frontman has previously said that seeing the band live as a kid directly influenced his decision to become a musician. Chester has previously said kind things about Oli Sykes on stage, and he definitely approved of his band and career. Oli Sykes has now been passed the torch, but not due the happiest of circumstances. Despite this, the frontman has evolved his band in a huge way, with many even citing Bring Me The Horizon as “the Linkin park of this generation” and “the biggest band in the scene”.
While Linkin Park will always be incredibly original, and Chester Bennington cannot be replaced by any means, it is touching to see how far Oli Sykes has gone, and how much influence Linkin Park has had on the development of the band. While Bring Me The Horizon’s 2015 record That’s The Spirit first showed a Linkin Park inspired shift in sound, even the band’s more recent tracks such as 2020’s Teardrops and 1X1 show strong Linkin Park similarities (especially the Meteora era). Bring Me The Horizon remains a fresh band that consistently sets the trends and pushes the envelop, if this sounds familiar that’s because Linkin Park was definitely that band of the 20’s.
Linkin Park Feat. Jonathan Davis – One Step Closer
Linkin Park and Jonathan Davis have had a long friendship, and fans are no stranger to his connection with One Step Closer. The Korn frontman originally was featured on 1Stp Klosr from the Hybrid Theory remix album Reanimation. Davis comes in during the glitchy bridge repeating a catchy melodic segment until exploding out with his famous croons layed above Chester’s iconic screams. Davis brought everything full circle by contributing to the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington tribute show.
The version of One Step Closer performed at the tribute show was the traditional version, which lacks Jonathan’s added bridge. This faithful performance has Davis filling in for Chester’s parts in the original track. Instead of singing his parts during the breakdown, Jonathan screams his heart out for his fallen friend. It is only fitting that a fellow nu-metal iconic such as Davis would come on stage for one of the biggest nu-metal anthems of all time.
Korn additionally dedicated a whole encore set to Chester during a live show. This performance can be viewed below.
Sum 41 Feat. Mike Shinoda – Faint
Sum 41 Feat. Mike Shioda – Faint
This tribute is a bit backwards. Instead of Linkin Park recruiting another vocalist in tribute of Chester, Sum 41 brought Mike Shinoda on stage during their performance at the 2018 Reading Festival. The performance is high energy, a ton of fun, and a fitting tribute during a monumental festival performance. Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley is one of the most praised guest vocalists by Linkin Park fans, with many hoping they collaborate more in the future. No one can replace Chester, but fans can’t help but compliment on how well Whibley’s vocal performance fits in with Linkin Park’s earlier material.
It would be cool to see a studio version of this cover be released. Perhaps even a full Chester Bennington tribute album to raise proceeds for the One More Light Fund! This would be a great way for bands new or old to give tribute to the late icon, and also raise profits for a fitting cause, all in Chester’s name. Check out what Sum 41 has to say about the performance, Chester, and the Linkin Park family below.
It was such a blast to perform this song which is one my favorites, but also nerve racking at the same time. With no rehearsal and practicing in a hotel room a few nights before all I wanted to do was to come in with the utmost respect and try my best to honor the music, Chester, Mike and the Linkin Park band and LP family. No one will ever come close to Chester and that’s not what it was about for any of us. It was purely about the love of the music.
Disturbed – Hold on to Memories
Disturbed is typically known for their heavy riffs and deep vocals, but today the band is here to make us cry. Disturbed dedicates their track Holding On To Memories to heroes like Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell who left the world far too early. The track is described with purpose to “honor those no longer with us, and a celebration of their life and the light they brought to those closest to them”. The official live video for the track showcases touching photos of the band and its members with loved ones they miss dearly. At 3:52 a touching photo of Draiman and Bennington is shown, which is sure to make any fan emotional. This video and the song are real tearjerkers, especially on a day like July 20th. Check out the video above, and cherish the memories of Chester and any other lost loves ones while you do.
Additionally, Disturbed dedicated their track Watch You Burn to vocalists that left the world far too soon. Before the video Draiman conducts a study proving that mental health is not only an issue with rockstars and entertainment personalities. The Down With The Sickness singer asks fans to raise their hand if they have (or know anyone personally) who have struggled with their mental health. Nearly everyone raises their hand, including the whole band themselves. The video is touching, and it is great to see huge bands like Disturbed use their platform to educate the world on the topic of mental health.
Mike Shinoda – One More Light
This one is absolutely heart wrenching. Fans and fellow musicians can feel and express their emotions regarding the loss of Chester Bennington, but no one knows the pain more than his friends and family. Mike Shinoda was more than a bandmate to Chester. The two were brothers for nearly two decades. The genuine sadness and sorrow in Shinoda’s voice as he sings the saddest and most emotional Linkin Park song ever is sure to cause your gut to sink.
The performance is devastating, yet heartwarming. This is what a true catharsis is like. The band put on the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington tribute show for this exact reason. It was important to get on stage again and give tribute, not just for their friend Chester, but for themselves too. Shinoda and the band were able to mourn with their beloved fans in an intimate way. The performance above carries a ton of emotional weight following the recent death of Chester at the time, while the video below is a more polished performance from two years later.
An Entire Stadium Full of Fans – In The End
Mike Shinoda and the Crowd – In The End
We mentioned a catharsis earlier, but this one is just out of this world. Linkin Park chose not to recruite a friend to sing Chester’s parts during Linkin Park’s performance of In The End at the Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington. Instead the band opted to allow the fans to fill the Hollywood Bowl with their voices to show tribute to their beloved singer. After a heartwarming and comforting speech regarding the performance, fans, and Chester’s death, Shinoda asks the fans to sing so loud that Chester hears them. I am not the most religious person, but I would like to think that they succeeded, and somewhere out there Chester is proud.
Take Care of Your Mental Health And Make Chester Proud
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please call 800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. We are all in this together, feel free to reach out to anyone apart of the Metal Shell family regarding any difficulties in life. We are all in this together. The music scene is a community and we are all in this together.
If mental health awareness and suicide prevention is a cause you care deeply about, please consider donating to The One More Light Fund. This fund was created to help individual’s struggling with their mental health in Chester’s name
Take some time to pay tribute to Chester today in your own way. I recommend watching some live performances featuring Chester, such as Live in Texas or from Rock in Rio 2012. Videos from each can be found below.
Live in Texas – Linkin Park
A Place For My Head (Rock in Rio 2012) – Linkin Park
Last but not least, here is a picture of my buddy and I visiting the Chester Bennington Mural in Los Angeles, CA. Rest in peace Chester, we miss you very much. I promise to make you proud.
Motionless In White have officially gone platinum! We aren’t talking album sales though. Frontman Chris Motionless sports a new platinum look in the gory new video for Thoughts & Prayers. The metal singer puts the usual black gothic look behind for this video and fans are obsessed. Nearly every comment on the music video points out the Voice’s singer’s new hairdo. The video has more going on than just a change of hair though.
Thoughts & Prayers – Motionless In White
Ricky Horror’s Directorial Debut
Guitarist Ricky “Horror” Olson once again steps out of their comfort zone for the Thoughts & Prayers music video. Previously Horror tried new things by lending his vocals for several recent Motionless In White tracks. These tracks include Undead Head 2: Tale of the Midnight Ride, Creatures X: To The Grave, and the synthwave version of the hit track Voices. This time Horror worked both in front and behind the camera.
Sitting in the director’s chair, Ricky worked to bring the Disguise era to a crushing end. The music video is very creative, bloody, and fitting for the band. The track was a standout song and a fan favorite from the last album. It is great to see Thoughts & Prayers finally get a music video. However, some fans were disappointed the new music video wasn’t for a new song. Fortunately, come August all prayers will be answered. Frontman Chris Motionless previously stated that a “heavy as fuck” new track will arrive in August. You get what you pray for after all.
A Religious Cult Gone Wrong
The music video portrays Motionless as some sort of religious cult leader. He leads a group of cultists played by fans of the band, and convinces them to act in some sort of ritual. The music video starts off simple enough, until the breakdown occurs. At this point strobe lights start flashing and the cultists are all killed by the now demonic cult leader. Motionless dances throughout the breakdown in a scene that will likely be forever iconic to fans. Meanwhile the band are coverage top to bottom with blood. This could be the band’s goriest music video to date. I have a feeling fans of the band will not be complaining about this.
Thoughts & Prayers Is An Instant Classic
Some fans are even finding similarities to the Joker within the frontman’s performance. This wouldn’t be the first time these resemblances are made. In the music video for 2017’s Loud (Fuck It), Motionless directly references the clown prince of crime. Despite fans expecting a new track, the video was met with wide acclaim. The Thoughts & Prayers video already has over 700,000 views in less than a week. This is very impressive for a two year old song to achieve. This marks a successful directorial debut for Horror, and a fantastic end for the Disguise era.
What did you think of the video for Thoughts & Prayers? Are you excited for the potential new Motionless In White song this August? Let us know in the comments.
Motionless In White recently completed what they call their 2020 Quarantine Experiments. Fans may be wondering where the band is going next. Fortunately, we have our answer. While the band made the best out of the quarantine period by experimenting with their sound, the Scranton band were also hard at word on new original music. Many fans will be excited to hear that the follow up to 2019’s Disguise will feature all of the anger frontman Chris Motionless had to contain throughout the quarantine.
‘The Next Track Will Be Heavy As Fuck’
In a 2020 interview, Motionless shares “I realized how internally angry I am at missing the shows and the tours that we’re missing because everything I’m working on kind of has this really aggressive edge”. It is safe to say that most fans share the singer’s frustration. The 570 vocalist recently reassured a questioning fan (Bully Maguire!?) that their next track will indeed be “heavy as fuck”. The track is reportingly releasing this August.
Motionless In White Are No Strangers To Heavy Material
Motionless In White are no strangers to heavy music, but the heavy tracks might hit harder than ever with the upcoming record. The anger and frustration is coming from a place that is relatable to nearly everyone, as the whole world went through the pandemic. It sounds like Motionless was able to capture this moment through the band’s music. When music is used as a means of stress-relief and catharsis (no pun intended), it is important to let it all out and let your emotions run wild. It is hard to imagine that Motionless did not release all of this contained anger onto this record. While we know for sure the next track is heavy, it sounds like there will be plenty more heavy tracks found on the record.
Emotionally Heavy Vs. Angry Heavy
I am sure I speak for everyone when I say “bring on the heavy Motionless In White!’, but if you are also a fan of their softer material (I sure am), you’re still in luck. The band’s last two records were exceptionally effective in finding a perfect balance between heavy and ballads. Their 2017 album Graveyard shift juxtaposed tracks like the Slipknot-esque Soft and the anthemic Untouchable together, and their 2019 album Disguise featured the double-bass heavy Thoughts & Prayers and the emotional rock hit Another Life. The band is not going to completely lose this mixture they have crafted.
Motionless confirms this by explaining “I know our fans really enjoy our songs like ‘Another Life’ and the more laid-back or emotional tracks, which there will be those as well, but everything I’m doing myself lately has kind of been heavier. And I’m just, like, ‘Where is all this coming from?’ I know I’m a quietly, or somewhat quietly, angry person, but it’s really coming out in the stuff I’ve been working on. So we’ll see what happens. I know there’s gonna be a mix, like there always is.” It sounds like we will be receiving a diverse album as always, but the heavy stuff may just be more prominent this time around. One thing is for sure, a heavy album will be appropriate following the return of in-person concerts. I am sure everyone is ready to get out there and get in the mosh pits.
The band recently played a livestream concert to put an end to the quarantine period once and for all. You can check out our kind review below.
Motionless In White just put on a stupendous show at the Pennhurst Asylum for their Deadstream #2. The concert was available for live streaming on June 9th and will run until the weekend. The venue was a perfect spot for the band aesthetically. The band is famous for putting their all into their set pieces, costumes, and cosmetics. The band recently concluded what they call their 2020 Quarantine Experiments, and the livestream was a great way to celebrate. If there was ever a time to do a live stream event, it is now. While venues are starting to open their doors, fans cannot expect to get the same experience out of the band at a normal, everyday venue.
The Pennhurst Asylum
Motionless In White did not stream from some no-name vacant warehouse for their livestream. The band decided to make this event a dream come true by performing at the hauntingly infamous Pennhurst Asylum. The asylum functioned from 1908 through 1987 until it was shut down due to cruelty towards patients. While the asylum is vacant from the living, countless horror stories allude to spiritual residents still occupying the premises. This may sound horrifying to some, but to Motionless In White it is a dream come true.
The band is not shy to mention their love for horror and all things spooky, and most of their fans tend to share the same opinion. The band went all out with their stage set up, adding plenty of spooky props to their set. The most noticeable being Chris Motionless’ new mic stand. The thing is a spinning skeleton for crying out loud! It was a good call booking such an iconic location for a worldwide livestream.
The Setlist
Thoughts & Prayers – Motionless In White
The setlist was incredibly strong and well crafted. The band came out quick with hit singles such as Disguise and Reincarnate. This left plenty of room for the heavy songs to come in and hit like a truck. Headache, Soft, and Thoughts & Prayers were performed all within the first half of the set. This was an absolute riot and I can see this setlist playing out perfectly in a live setting.
Catharsis – Motionless In White
Additionally, the band played a trilogy of softer songs that allowed for a dance break as opposed to some more aggressive moshing. These songs included the band’s cover of The Killers’ Somebody Told Me, Catharsis, and the rarely played track Sinematic. There were many surprises such as the Scranton band playing Contemptress, If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It, Black Damask (The Fog), and the previously mentioned Sinematic. These songs are rarely played, and when they are, it is often only at select dates. The band constantly switches around their setlist in order to keep things fresh and exciting. Honestly, more bands should do this while touring. The full setlist can be found below.
Disguise
Reincarnate
/c0de
Headache
Contemptress
Soft
Thoughts & Prayers
Voices
If It’s Dead, We’ll Kill It
Somebody Told Me
Catharsis
Sinematic
Black Damask (The Fog)
Another Life
Eternally Yours
The Performance
Motionless In White have progressively evolved their sound as time has passed. This is especially true in a live setting. The band is now one of the best live bands in the metalcore scene. Vocalist Chris Motionless seems to get better every passing year. Both his singing and screaming vocals have never been better. This is evident in live performances of both the band’s new and old material. If there was ever any doubt, the Deadstream #2 surely blew those away.
Additionally, the band is more perfectly knit than ever before. Most of the band contributes vocals at one point or another, only adding to the quality of their live performances. Guitarist Ricky “Horror” Olsen has been progressively taking on more singing roles as time passes, and Bassist Justin Morrow (Ex. Ice Nine Kills) has been lending his lungs to backing vocals since joining the band in 2019. Even lead Guitarist Ryan Sitkowski performs some backing vocals. These collaborative efforts have the band sounding better than ever live, and the professionalism is perfect testament for the maturity of the band. If the Deadstream #2 taught us anything, it is that Motionless In White put on one hell of a show. Fortunately concerts are starting to pop up again, and we will all likely be seeing the band live in person real soon. We give the performance an impressive 10/10 shells.
Final Verdict: 10/10 Shells
Did you watch the Deadstream #2? What did you think of Motionless In White’s performance? Let us know in the comments.
Motionless In White have concluded their “2020 Quarantine Experiments” with the release of Voices: Synthwave Edition. Other lockdown experiments consisted of covers, remixes, orchestrated versions of two songs, and a track inspired by their first album, Creatures. The new track is an 80’s inspired synthwave version of their hit track Voices. This may be a bit shocking, as the band is typically known for their dark sound and aesthetic. However, dark pop dance music is not new by any means and the band proves it works. The original version of the track was a huge success on rock radio, peaking at #28 on the US mainstream rock charts. With over 38,000,000 plays on Spotify and nearly 40,000,000 views on the music video, it was only natural for Voices to receive some love during these experiments.
Voices: Synthwave Edition
Voices: Synthwave Edition – Motionless In White
The track opens up with a slow-burning loop that sounds similar to Breaking Benjamin’s Diary of Jane. Slowly ghostly beats similar to their track Wasp kicks in. It creates a haunting mood that works perfectly for an gothic synth-pop track. I never knew I needed a synthwave version of Voices, but the intro already has me glad it came. To match the lowered aggressiveness of the track, guitarist Ricky Horror sings the second verse and bridge in his calming and soft voice. The duality between Horror’s and Chris Motionless’ voices (pun totally intended) works well on this track. Motionless’ punchy chorus is still present in this version, but remixed to match the new somber tone of the track. The original version of the track can be heard below.
Voices – Motionless In White
Overall the synthwave version of the track is fun and will definitely be added to some of my chill or work related playlists. Some fans are impatient for new music, but I believe that Motionless In White expressed their creativity in a productive and unique way during the lockdown.
The Other 2020 Quarantine Experiments
Another Life: Eternally Yours: Motion Picture Collection
Another You: Motion Picture Collection (feat. Kerli) – Motionless In White
Two of the best new renditions to come from the Scranton band’s quarantine experiments are the orchestrated versions of Another Life and Eternally Yours. Both tracks were already emotional tracks, but these versions further showcase the lyrical beauty contained within these tracks. Motionless shows off previously unseen talent within his voice, hitting high notes and singing in a soft voice that has not been shown off in any of the band’s previous material. This has exciting implications for the band’s future material.
Eternally Yours: Motion Picture Collections (ft. Crystal Joilena) – Motionless In White
Another Life: Motion Picture Collection features vocals from Kerli who brings haunting belting to the end of the second verse. Eternally Yours: Motion Picture Collection features Crystal Joilena, who performs where Motionless’ screams were previously featured on the original track. She nails her parts and adds more beauty to the track. As a huge fan of the 2017 Graveyard Shift single, this version brings a new breath of life and meaning to a great track (the original is still my favorite though).
Creatures X: To The Grave
Motionless In White made fans happily headbang by celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the debut album, Creatures, with a heavy new single inspired by the sound from that record. Within the track Motionless confidently screams “Ten years! Ten More!” leaving fans anticipating the future of the band, while admiring their history.
Creatures X: To The Grave – Motionless In White
Horror once again gets to showcase his vocal abilities on the track. For the first time on a main track, he sings on the chorus. This is likely to simulate the band’s early sound with a higher voice singing on the choruses. It works great, and it was a smart decision by the band. Motionless sings at the end of the chorus, and the duality works well here just as it does in Voices: Synthwave Edition. In the first verse, Motionless expresses his gratitude to fans by screaming “forever grateful that you made your hearts our home”. Last but definitely not least, the track features a classic breakdown guaranteed to make Creatures fans ecstatic. Creatures X is a fantastic throwback track.
Motionless In White Frontman, Chris “Motionless” Cerulli
Motionless In White brought Halloween to the world during a nationwide pandemic thanks to their Deadstream on October 28th, 2020. During the livestream, the band played Creatures X: To The Grave live for the first (and only) time. Despite the event being pay-per-view, the band released the live version of the track on Youtube. You can check it out below.
Creatures X: To The Grave (Live from the Deadstream, October 28th, 2020) – Motionless In White
The band will be streaming another live event, the Deadstream #2, on June 9th. The event will be filmed at the infamous Pennhurst Asylum in the metalcore band’s home state, Pennsylvania. You can grab a ticket here:
Somebody Told Me (The Killers Cover)
If someone told me (pun only noticed upon editing this article) in 2010 that Motionless In White would go on to cover the Killers, I would have doubted them immensely. However, as the band continued to grow and experiment with their sound, this seemed less and less shocking. In fact, the cover works out fantastically. This is not a heavy on the track, as there are only a few short screams featured after the bridge and at the end of the track. Instead the band opted to make a faithful rendition that reflects the sound of their previous 2020 Quarantine Experiments. The synthpop vibe of the original The Killers track works well with the poppier side of Motionless In White.
Somebody Told Me – Motionless In White
Motionless explained that the band heard the track playing while out eating one day. They joked that they should do a cover of the track and that joke soon became reality. The pandemic gave the band time to experiment in a way they likely never could have while maintaining a busy touring schedule. As someone who can’t get enough of Motionless In White, I am glad that the band kept releasing experimental material throughout the pandemic. The cover was a success, garnering an impressive 8,300,000 listens on Spotify as of writing. The track is currently their fourth most popular song on the music streaming service.
Another Life – Caleb Shomo Remix
Another Life (Caleb Shomo Remix) – Motionless In White
The first 2020 Quarantine Experiment released was a remix of the hit track Another Life by Beartooth’s own, Caleb Shomo (who the band put on an awesome co-headliner with just before the 2020 quarantine began). This experiment was my least favorite, but it is still worth a few listens. The track is catchy and once again the beats interplaying with Motionless’ vocals remind me of their song Wasp. This track only reminds me of how much I would enjoy to see the band revisit that sound and flesh it out. Perhaps the next album will juxtapose the heavy material with synthpop inspired catchy tracks. We could really get the best of both worlds on the next record if that is the case.
All of the previously mentioned experiments can be listened to through the band’s The Quarantine Experiments playlist on Spotify (except Creatures X: To The Grave is missing from the playlist for some reason).
Motionless In White weren’t the only ones that let the 80’s inspiration flow during the quarantine. Eskimo Callboy released Hypa Hypa which featured several hilarious music videos. Check out our previous article discussing MMXX: Hypa Hypa Edition here.
Which of Motionless In White’s 2020 Quarantine Experiments is your favorite? Do you hope the band taps into their creative side again for another project? Do you hope to see these experiments bleed into future full length albums? Let us know in the comments.
