Live Review: Motionless In White - Glasgow
Support: Brand of Sacrifice, Fit For A King
19th February 2024
Words & Photos: Laura Muraska-Ross
This is one gig I was looking forward to, and not because I am a super fan of Motionless in White but because I have heard so much about them over the years and I was curious to see what all the fuss was about.
After a slight issue with my pass to get in, which was quickly sorted out by the team at the o2 Academy box office, I made my way past the huge line of people queuing to get in and entered one of my favourite venues in Glasgow for what I anticipated was going to be a great night!
As I entered I had to run straight to the pit for the first band, Brand of Sacrifice taking to the stage. Just as as I got my camera out, lead vocalist Kyle Anderson let out his almighty screaming vocals to their first song of the set and I knew this was going to be good.
I had thought the crowd would have been bigger, although I feel this was no reflection on the band and simply just due to the queues outside and people having to travel through Glasgow to get to the venue, perhaps not quite making it on time for the first support act.
However, the crowd that were already gathered on the main floor definitely made the most of it, and didn’t let the Canadian metal-core artists down with mosh pits forming in the centre of the crowd for most of their songs. I admit, I had never heard of the band until this night, but I was happy to mosh along to their songs which included ‘Exodus’ and ‘Animal’
The only way I can think to describe this band is like a hybrid of ‘Cradle of Filth’ and ‘Wage War’. I loved how some of their songs opened with instrumentals that wouldn’t go a-miss in soundtracks for movies like The Dark Knight, leading up to super heavy drops that just took you on a journey with them. I would definitely go see them live again if they ever come back to Scotland.
After a short wait, the second support act of the night, Fit for a King took to the stage. Again, not a band I had really heard much of, however, it was obvious from the crowd reception that I was in the minority on that front. The venue was now starting to get completely packed, as more and more people were cramming into take their spaces for the main act coming on, but Fit for a King made sure to get them warmed up nicely. Crowd surfing and head-banging was in abundance as the band from Texas, US played their set.
Bassist Ryan ‘Tuck’ O’Leary was very entertaining to watch and photograph with his high split jumps and spinning of his bass guitar around his neck, he knew how to put on a show. Lead vocals came from Ryan Kirby who jumped around and paced back and forward across the stage, making sure that everyone in the crowd could see him while
he performed. I would recommend this band to anyone that likes bands such as Asking Alexandria, Bleed from Within and Devil Wears Prada. They are definitely a lot more mainstream metal in terms of their sound compared to the first support act but fitting in style to the main act. I thoroughly enjoyed their set and have added them to my playlist,, another band I would happily go see again.
There was a little bit of a wait between Fit for a King finishing and Motionless in White, but the crowd were absolutely amped, singing along to every song that came over the speakers while they waited. Almost all of the front row was made up of people with their faces painted like the American metal-core rockers from Scranton, Pennsylvania (yes the same Scranton where the US version of ‘The Office’ was based).
As the lights went dark around 9.30pm the O2 Academy erupted with screams as the band walked on stage. Singer Chris ‘motionless’ Cerulli reminded me of an early 00’s version of Marlyn Manson, with his tall slender stature, slicked back hair which he tucked behind his ears and a formal fitted coat which set off his all black outfit! I immediately felt his presence in a way you should with a good frontman!
Opening the Glasgow set of their ‘Touring the end of the World Tour’ with their song ‘Meltdown’ I could feel the excitement from the crowd who instantly started singing every word, while crowd surfer after crowd surfer kept coming in steady streams, keeping security in the pit on their toes. I was trying to avoid feet coming towards the back of my head while I tried to capture photos of the band.
Normally gig photography you get used to bands saving most of their entertainment for later in their show, such as confetti canons, flames and so on. However, I was completely taken back when I saw Cherry Bombs heavy metal dance troupe through my camera lens, take to the stage during the first song! Bringing with them, fire, acrobats and angle grinders galore. Making for a very entertaining performance.
They continued to join the band on stage throughout their set, bringing different elements to the overall production which was just breathtaking to watch. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Cherry Bombs, their founder and director is Alicia Taylor who is married to Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor.
There was a lot going on and I can definitely say they gave their adoring fans their money’s worth in terms of entertainment. I don’t know what the band would have been like without all of the bells and whistles, as I have nothing to compare it to, due to this being my first time seeing them live. I can only give my opinion based on this performance, but I was kept intrigued throughout. I like how the band mix a sort of underground industrial element to their music, making most of their songs very easy to dance and move to, they were giving me elements of bands from my teens like Spineshank, Nine Inch Nails and Static-X.
I think I always avoided giving Motionless in White a listen, due to their emo look being a complete contrast to their sound, but I was blown away by them and can’t recommend them enough if you ever get a chance to catch them live.
The American artists, much to my surprise didn’t have an encore they chose instead to play a full on set of hit after hit it seemed (personally I don’t know any of their songs in depth, but got this impression from the audience) and they ended their set on a song called ‘Eternally Yours’. The UK leg of their tour ends in London at the Brixton Academy before they head off, for one show in Finland and fly back over to America ahead of the summer festival season.
The overall night as a whole was very enjoyable, both as a spectator discovering new bands for the first time and from a professional point of view. I was entertained from start to finish which always makes this job easier and reminds me why I do it in the first place.
Photo Credits: Laura Muraska-Ross
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