Review Summary: "I've finally let you go and left the past to die..."
....an ironic line that coincidentally sums up how this metalcore suit from Scranton, Pennsylvania is perceived. Frontman Chris "Motionless" Cerulli founded this hardcore quartet turned quintet with Angelo Parente, Frank Polumbo and Kyle White, the latter three of whom have since left the group. The group has discography dating back a decade, though their full-length Fearless Records debut didn't surface until 2010. "Creatures" serves as a way of returning the favor to fans who had supported this group since their days as a lessor-known act. A bit raw and leaving potential untapped, "Creatures" was a solid debut nonetheless for Motionless in White. 2012's "Infamous" took the group's sound and threw it over a cliff. Novices hearing the album for the first time would swear it's a Marilyn Manson album. Past discography aside, we now have "Reincarnate", a hopeful turnaround for the boys from Scranton, PA....
The album opens with "Death March", which establishes the aggressive tone Chris Cerulli had promised in promotion of this record, though the Manson influence still is apparent. The title track and lead-off single is one of the few standouts on the album, yet lyrically, seems like a re-hash of 2010's "Immaculate Misconception." The group sounds like they are not being totally transcendent and are going different places throughout the album. The heavy influence from Manson, Slipknot and AFI is as consistent as their attempts to carve out a more unique sound. Both are right down the middle.
"Puppets 3 (The Grand Finale)" sees Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth drop on in to lend a helping hand. Certainly, Dani Filth's deep deathcore gutturals are not exactly typical of MIW's work, though it does add some dimension and depth to a somewhat lackluster track that not only ends the Puppets trilogy dating back to "Creatures", but also includes some ironic lyrics. ("I've finally let you go and left the past to die") Such lyrics are ironic in the sense that this album attempts to have the band rid themselves of the "copycat" label that "Infamous" had earned them. However, from this point on, the band's potential starts to shine. "Unstoppable" is another example of familiar Motionless, lyrically, with Cerulli promising his enemy or enemies (possibly the haters and critics) a war.
"Everybody Sells Cocaine", an amusing enough title, is a little more simplistic, though it manages to surpass the cookie-cutter sound of their previous release. Maria Brink from In This Moment drops in on "Contemptress." This track starts off pretty sound instrument-wise, until Cerulli comes in with autotone and synthesizers for the opening lines. When Cerulli and Brink collaborate and real vocals come in, the track has a bit of saving grace to it. Another ironic title, "Break the Cycle" could have one pondering if the band will break the theoretical cycle to finally produce a unique album, which at this point, they have somewhat accomplished. Another one of the album's harder hitters, "Break the Cycle" is in fact a standout track, with Cerulli showing satisfactory balance of cleans and uncleans.
"Generation Lost" starts off as a song Warped Tour fans would love to start a mosh pit to. The song, however, continues the album's trend of use of synthesizers and sound effects. A blend of piano music and static caps off the start to "Dark Passenger", which lyrically is as clichéd as their older work. "Wasp" marks a return of the Manson-like sound, as it sounds nothing like the nine tracks that come before it. The seven minute track is the album's most repetitive by far. "Dead as ***" opens similarly to "Reincarnate" instrumentally. Though, vocally, Cerulli, has now produced two songs on the record that mimic Manson. (the other being "Wasp")
"Final Dicvtm" is in fact the final victim of the Manson copycat label the group garnered two years prior. Coincidentally enough, Tim Skold, a former member of Marilyn Manson drops in for this track, which is one track you want to skip a minute into it. The 13-track LP closes with "Carry the Torch", another fitting title as it ends the album with a simplistic, less aggressive vibe. When the heavy riffs and other instrumentation kick in, it's full speed ahead as Cerulli comes off as a bit poetic in the pre-chorus. Cerulli goes on to sing of "preserving this legacy", which fans should hope Motionless in White strive to do.
Overall, this album has strong points, but it will take at least another LP for this group to distinguish themselves from their peers. The potential is there. Now it's simply a matter of translating that into action.
