Three gigs in three nights. At my age? Well, last night’s was sitty-downy so I had some energy saved up despite being up till 3am writing that review, so after a brief issue with the guest list (resolved swiftly by the lovely Jazmin and MiW’s tour manager), I made my way into the venue.
Due to the huuuuge queues, openers Brand of Sacrifice were already on the go by the time I got in and were calling for crowdsurfers. Not one to let a band down, I wandered to the front, got hoiked over the barrier, exited stage right and bumped into our photographer Angela. We both very much enjoyed the Torontonians’ set, which proved to be hectic, lively, and very well received.
While deathcore can get a little samey, this absolutely couldn’t be said about the thirty minutes and 6-7 songs we witnessed. Frontman Kyle Anderson knows how to hold a crowd in his hand, and when he said “pit” they pitted, “jump” they jumped, “crowdsurf” and… well, I stand as an example. The songs were easy to get into, the sound was great and the audience – around 3/4 of the capacity crowd at a guess – were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Can you ask more of an opening band?
After locating Louise (one of our writers) in the crowd, we awaited the arrival of Fit For A King, a band who have played these shores a few times in the past. Kristal raved about their performance ing The Amity Affliction in 2023, and I can see why. Like BoS before them, the band weren’t there to act as , they were there to act as headliners… who just happened to have another band on after them.
Fit For A King really impressed. The multiple band on vocals allowed for a superb sound and variety to their metalcore repertoire. They barely stood still, prowling the stage like absolute pros. Honestly, anyone walking in and seeing the crowd going mad would have assumed this was the main event of the evening. Huge pits, floods of surfers and huge numbers singing the lyrics back at them, this is a band who could well come back and headline sometime soon. Maybe not quite this venue, but somewhere sizeable.
I was near the front as their set drew to a close (after quite literally bumping into Carly, another of the MT crew!) and the lady in front of me started to bounce and scream as the band announced what was to be their second last song, “When Everything Means Nothing”. I can see why. What an absolute belter of a song. There was no competition when I was adding tonight’s show to our “bands we’ve seen this year” Spotify playlist. That was the song being added from this band.
One more track and that was them, finishing far too soon. Definitely a band I’m looking up.
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So. How do you warm up a horde of metal fans for a gothic metalcore show? Obviously you play a bunch of classic dance anthems. Hey, it worked. I recognised most if not all of them, and the crowd were belting out Cher’s “Believe” as if the lady herself was on stage singing it. As the lights went down, a brief piece of Darude’s “Sandstorm” (which was released before 90% of the audience was even conceived) rounded things off before Motionless in White walked on stage to a huge cheer.
As with many of the recent gigs I’ve been to, I went in blind. I have heard of the band, but couldn’t name a single song. I’m here to review a show, and not knowing the music helps me be a little less biased. I don’t have any favourite songs that I’m going to obviously like. I want to see if a band can make me into a fan.
That is what Motionless in White did tonight.
Great stage presence, hammering tunes, an audience who were completely enraptured, humour… and that stage show. Bloody hell. Backed by The Cherry Bombs, a “heavy metal dance troupe” founded by Corey Taylor’s wife Alicia, this was a carnival. Within 20 seconds we have fire on the stage, and by song two we had women showering the stage with sparks as they ran angle grinders over metal placed strapped to their bellies. To repeat… this was by the second song.
The whole evening was an amazing spectacle. Marring it was the atrocious sound for the first couple of songs. Not an uncommon issue at the Academy, the bass was turned up way too far so that every note that could even remotely be called “low” caused bowels to melt and totally wiped out any other sound the band were making, including the vocals. The last time I it being this bad was for Hatebreed when they opened for Machine Head. Thankfully it was mostly resolved a few songs in, but I still wonder why it happens gig after gig at this venue, especially when the sound was crystal clear for both s.
Not the band’s fault, obviously, and the audience who were into the music let it all blast over / through them when they weren’t regaling Cerulli and friends with the traditional “Here we…” chant. His words to the audience as the show progressed, thanking them for allowing the band to play bigger and bigger venues, had a genuine ring of sincerity to them.
I absolutely loved being part of this show. Watching the hand-waving, being held aloft by many safe hands, being told my beard is awesome (it is, I know), and the sheer extravaganza taking place on the stage in front of me. There was no encore tonight, MiW preferring to use all of their time actually playing songs and engaging with the fans, and we got nigh on 90 minutes of quality gothy metalcore.
The audience was wild, active, yet looked out for each other. A huge pit opened up and remained so for most of the night, fans ed water from the barrier overhead to make sure the people further in were supplied, crowdsurfers were treated with respect and the smaller people near the barrier were looked after. I’m only aware of one exception, some dick who tried to get a setlist off a 14 year old girl at the end of the show after it had been handed to her. If that was you, fuck you, you’re pathetic little shit. A shame, but there’s always one fly in the ointment.
Kudos also to the AMG staff who looked after everyone in the venue. Definitely there to make sure we all had a good time!
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Photos by Skull Lens Photography!
[…] a badge of honour! Oh, and “hello” to Jack who I saw on the way out, who I met at the recent Motionless in White gig. Nice to see you again, […]