Motions – Debut S/T Album Review

Release Date: April 28 2023

Label: Independent 

Genre: Post Metal

Track List 

01 – Six One Hundred
02 – Dead Seeds
03 – Vivid
04 – Triplicate Space
05 – All Together All Alone
06 – Fade In
07 – Permanent Ghost
08 – Faceless
09 – Redeemer
10 – ATAC
11 – Godless Moon

Stop shouting at me…. is a phrase I imagine many children, siblings and others who simply don’t want to hear anymore from their aggressor any more have uttered countless times over the years. It’s also the first thing that sprang to mind when listening to the debut album from Motions.  

Motions are a 4 piece post-metal outfit from Teesside. Blending the heavy with the ambient and the aggressive with the melodic, Motions’ sound is geared to trigger and elicit pure emotion, according to their own bio. Well emotions were well and truly triggered upon listening to opening track Six One Hundred. Interesting guitar work, slow, rumbling bass, steady pace on the drums then….. S C R E E E E C C H H H ! 

Fuck Me …. ouch! That’ll teach me to turn it up to pick up on the subtle nuances of the music. Subtle this is not. Whilst as the band themselves state, the guitar tone is at once warm and crushing, whilst heavy bass lines and pounding drums come together to create an original, fresh yet familiar sound that blends the familiar with the progressive new, the vocals switch from ear-bleedingly harsh to solid rock levels with perfect harmonies.

The style of music is without a doubt, highly in vogue at the moment. It’s just when you’re not expecting it that it catches unawares and proceeds to peel layers off your ear drums like someone preparing the onions to go into a fiery curry. 

Unsurprisingly, with such intensity powering through the speakers, the songs have a focus on humanity’s darkest flaws, containing lyrics are both deeply personal and authentically observational. In this day and age, it’s therefore no surprise that all of the darkness, angst and frustration manifests itself so well in the vocal delivery. 

The 11 tracks on offer cover topics ranging from grief to fears of parenthood. Whilst other songs are a mediation on the neglect, abuse and addiction their lead vocalist witnessed working as a Safeguarding Lead in an underprivileged town. Whilst undeniably heavy, cathartic and raw, motions have embraced crossing over into different genres.

Check out latest single ‘dead seeds’ which features Dan Cook from Raging Speedhorn, and Krsy Fox, formerly of LA based band Knee High Fox. :

The band cite multiple influences and artists that sit alongside their own output and if you’re a fan of Deftones, Will Haven, Helmet, Devil Sold His Soul then you’ve come to the right place. You’ll definitely hear flashes of The Devil Wears Prada, Architects, BMTH and Converge as well. As with those bands, the trick is to balance the dark with the light. Crushing intensity has to be tempered with light and hope and Motions just about manage that to prevent the album from being overwhelmingly intense. 

Other songs on the record about the fears associated with parenthood, and harm coming to our most precious loved ones. The agony of loss, and social anxieties are also explored. Motions’ songs are an attempt to make sense of the human condition. The album is a cathartic outpouring of emotion, an exploration of anguish.

A tough listen at times and one that definitely needs to be investigated when you’re in the right mood. Those moods could easily reflect what’s happening in the lyrical content. A release, an escape, a means by which you can relate to something that just makes things easier albeit for a moment. Alternatively it could simply be repressed anger which, if not channelled and soothed through listening to this album could lead you down the wrong path. Better to channel, clam down and breathe than do something you’ll regret. For that we have Motions to thank in the process. 

Score 7/10

Reviewed by: Adrian Hextall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In support of the album motions have partnered with Press on Vinyl and Fairsound Music to release a limited edition run of blood-red vinyl. They need to reach 70-pre orders in 30 days to achieve this. Anyone who pre-orders the vinyl will get 20% off the next HVE NO RGRTS clothing purchase.