Why you should listen to Motionless in White
Motionless in White is an American band from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2004, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Chris “Motionless” Cerulli, lead guitarists Ryan Sitkowski and Ricky “Horror” Olsen, drummer Vinny Mauro, and bassist Justin Marrow. The band fits into a mundane gothic metalcore genre and is widely known for its dark and moody sound, heavily inspired by artists like Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Korn, Slipknot, and others.
Some fans detest Motionless in White, labeling them nothing more than an ‘emo’ band whose merch is mostly seen in Hot Topic. I do, however, want to shed some light on Motionless in White’s best songs and albums as their music is heavy and dynamic, fitting perfectly with their audience and musical predecessors.
Some of my favorite Motionless in White songs have to be “Immaculate Misconception,” “A-M-E-R-I-C-A” (ft. Michael “Vampire” Orlando), and “Headache.” The music video for “Immaculate Misconception,” the first song on their debut album, Creatures (2010), makes the song much richer, as well. Chris Motionless’ message with this song and music video was very simple: “Open your mind before your mouth.” Bands like Motionless in White have been criticized and demonized for their music choice and physical appearance, but where Motionless differs is his intent. He’s simply calling out those who use God’s name in vain, using it as a means to harm others emotionally or physically for being different. Furthermore, Motionless tells fans affected by these misconceptions that they are not alone, encouraging them to remain unaffected by this mass hate.
The song “Headache” is about the reality and struggles of dealing with a mental illness with the difficulty of self-acceptance. It is an internal monologue of the voices in your head and how difficult it is to keep fighting with thoughts that antagonize you every step of the way. The lyrics “Shut up, shut up, shut up” is an expression of frustration of not being able to phase out degrading thoughts, while “I know that I’m gonna be fine” suggests that the person struggling with their mental health journey will eventually confront what is affecting them and come out of the experience safely. Disguise (2019), which “Headache” is on, is my favorite album for a reason; it is not afraid to discuss harrowing topics that affect the self, and I find their way of communicating this to their audience so liberating.
Last but not least, “A-M-E-R-I-C-A” is about the current state of the country. “A-M-E-R-I-C-A” was released in 2012, and most fans would say this song still rings true even today. The song lays out the typical stereotypes about corrupt politicians, pop stars, and Hollywood, as well as the growing wealth gap, and loosely mentions excessive punishment for petty crimes. Through this, Motionless in White calls out these stereotypes and how they are making us, the public, into ignorant individuals who glorify crimes for our entertainment. The people on “Capitol Hill” are profiting while citizens are struggling, completely unfazed.
Motionless in White is currently working on their seventh album, and I am definitely not the only person who is head over heels for this upcoming release. If you can’t get past their lyrics, I recommend drowning out the vocalist and focusing on the instrumentals; they never disappoint. Although gothic metalcore is not the most popular music genre, I hope more people will fall in love with Motionless in White and bands with similar tastes…you won’t know until you try them!