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ALBUM REVIEW: "Graveyard Shift" by Motionless In White

   I've never really enjoyed what Motionless In White do, because they've been wedged between industrial beats, gothic murkiness and generic breakdown-laden metalcore for so long without really nailing any of those sides of their sound. Listening to their music was really jarring and I've never really cared all that much for any of their records. Graveyard Shift was a real surprise for me, then, being a perfect concoction of the two worlds they have been trying to bring together on their previous efforts. It's like Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails and Korn had an illegitimate child, born with eyeliner and leather (the Jonathan Davis feature on Necessary Evil is a knowing nod to this influence). There is a surprising energy and cohesiveness to these songs, and it is by far the best album from them so far; so much so I had to double check I was indeed listening to Motionless In White on Spotify. Everything the band have offered to this point are here, but refined and tweaked to the point that they just work in a way I haven't heard on any of the other MIW albums. There is no sense of "screw it, play another breakdown" or "we haven't had some industrial noise in a few songs so here you go"; the songs progress naturally and are surprisingly catchy, heavy and interesting (bar a few stinkers towards the end, especially 570 that sounds like it belongs on Creatures). They finally hit the balance they've been working towards, and it's dark, murky, and stylish as hell - it only took them four albums to work it out.

   Favourite Songs: Rats, Necessary Evil, and LOUD (F**k It) 

    Least Favourite Song: 570

   Rating: B

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