Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Motionless in White - Graveyard Shift (2017)
Any of the more serious, heavier metalheads may consider Sepultura's Machine Messiah as THE metal album of 2017. That's an interesting opinion, but I'm not quite aware of Sepultura. There are other metal albums that I think have potential as the best of 2017, one of them being this album from a band I know more of, Motionless in White.
From the album cover alone, Graveyard Shift looks promising to be an amazing hard-hitting album (at least that's what I think), and I was right! There's more of this sonic captivating sound of the band to please my ears. Another thing to note is, one of the songs here features Korn's Jonathan Davis. Adding him in was a genius move, and his guest appearance never disappoints, despite me never having the interest in exploring his main band.
"Rats" already has the album's right tone, insane modern metal to make your ears bleed in pleasure. One of the best album-starters, and one of the most well-mastered in metal! "Queen for Queen" has intense rhythm, like a heavier darker Linkin Park. "Necessary Evil" is that song featuring Jonathan Davis, and Korn fans will get a great kick out of that masterpiece of a song. "Soft" is anything but soft. It's a more hardcore song, especially in the vocals that reach death growling, sounding closer to Slipknot. This song is worth headbanging to at loud volume.
"Untouchable" is another perfect industrial metal song. The incredible rhythm hits you hard, while being a more melodic song. "Not My Type: Dead as F*** 2" has my type of alternative/industrial/metalcore, heading towards Rob Zombie-like territory, p*ssing off neighbors if you turn it up high. "The Ladder" is not really a song I can get used to. It's thrashier with more of the growling vocals of metalcore, but it sounds out of place in this album. This might work better in their debut album Creatures, maybe? "Voices" is an incredible track, sounding a bit like earlier Linkin Park, specifically their hit "Somewhere I Belong", without ripping off. Motionless in White is quite an exceptional band with their technique of similar but not too similar.
"LOUD (F*** It)" is another fun track, though sounding too much like Limp Bizkit. "570" once again has the heavier vocals and faster riffing, though relaxes slightly in some parts. All in all, another song I enjoy! "Hourglass" continues the industrial nu metal experience from earlier in the album. "Eternally Yours" is the perfect compelling finale with alt-metalcore fire before calming down for a final outro to pleasantly end this album.
Graveyard Shift is another sonic achievement from this band. The dynamic really work with the volume. Maybe improve a couple of the songs to make it perfect, but the rest of this offering is amazing as it is!
Favorites: "Rats", "Necessary Evil", "Untouchable", "Voices", "570", "Eternally Yours"