Evolution is a mystery, and the evolution of Scranton, PA’s Motionless in White is one that has defied the odds. Their brand of theatrical, industrial-tinged metalcore has brought in notes of nu metal, deathcore, and even the odd synthwave flourish to make for an enduring act in the heavy music game. While I still can’t figure out where all these accusations of “Motionless went EDM” came from when they’ve had a keyboard player for most of their tenure, never mind the synthwave versions of songs like “Voices” and “Werewolf,” but the band’s newest effort Decades continues to branch out from the band’s established sound. While yes, four consecutive number one singles can’t really be wrong, the album as a whole is something else entirely.
The four singles from the album - “Afraid Of The Dark,” “Playing God,” “R.I.P.,” and “Fight Like Hell” - more or less set the parameters of the album, the four corners of the sandbox that Chris and Co. play within. “Afraid Of The Dark” is an anthem of undying passion with a poignant closing line: “If you mean it, you’ll make it.” “Playing God,” featuring Corey Taylor in one of the wildest vocal team-ups of the year, with a crushing breakdown and one of the most quoted, if misheard, callouts to ever be howled:
We see you, corn dog.
“R.I.P.” is the power ballad on par with past efforts such as “Masterpiece” and “Another Life,” with Skylar Grey lending her haunting vocals and songwriting prowess to the proceedings. “Fight Like Hell,” the ode to the band’s muse and multiple-time WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, is as nu metal as the band has ever sounded, be it the original version or the Outlier-assisted version that is included as a bonus track. That said, all due respect, but the original article may be the stronger cut, though points to Outlier for scoring the feature and getting the bag.
While it wasn’t a single, the band’s cover of Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses At Night” continued in the grand tradition of their takes on classics like The Killers’ “Somebody Told Me,” taking the song and making it their own. The guitars are there in the mix, but they’re dialed back enough to make the cover accessible, as shown by the bevy of goth clubs embracing it and playing it in recent weeks.
All of this to say that Decades shouldn’t be too jarring for longtime fans, which makes the EDM discourse even stranger, frankly. Did they lean a bit heavier into the electronic elements this time around? Debatable, but it’s been in their DNA from the beginning. Some of their biggest tracks, including “America” and “Cyberhex,” have had prominent keys and synths. Not everything is “Thoughts & Prayers” or “Immaculate Misconception,” though for those looking for such, the title track may do it for you.
The sleeper hit of the disc might be “All That I’ve Ever Known,” something that feels straight out of the mid-2000s. It’s as if Linkin Park went a bit darker and heavier, and it feels like it could have been released as a single if it were by any other band. Because it’s just enough of a departure from Motionless’ usual M.O., it is probably best as a B-side, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hit hard. It’s bouncy, energetic, and could whip up a crowd if the band gave it a chance, beat drop be damned.
The difficulty in recommending Decades is really only for newer fans of the band. This is enough of a change of pace from their usual fare that it may not be the best representation of what got them here, all that took them “twenty fucking years to learn,” if you will. That’s not to say this isn’t a good album, quite the opposite is true. But a world where someone who, as is the case in this modern age of TikTok brainrot, may only be familiar with the singles, they may not vibe with the rest of the album, or worse, they may not click with how much variety is on display here.
There’s almost too much happening on Decades, but what does work on the album works like gangbusters. With that in mind, it is a celebration of twenty years, and in that respect, it more than succeeds, incorporating references to the past while expanding their repertoire into something that can take them even further into modern metal’s stratosphere.
Decades is out now via Roadrunner Records.
