The apparition of Motionless In White at Brixton Academy in London as part of their Touring The End Of The World EU/UK Tour was an evening filled with theatrics, werewolves, cheerleaders and heavy metal! Opening acts Brand of Sacrifice and Fit for a King added an extra layer of brutality to the event.
Regrettably, we were unable to catch Brand Of Sacrifice due to being in the queue that wrapped around the entire exterior of Brixton Academy. However, the heavy heavy sounds reverberating through the walls definitely seemed like an exhilarating experience that surely got the crowd hyped up. By the time we made it inside, the atmosphere was electric with excitement.
Next up on the lineup was Fit For A King, a heavy-hitting support act that perfectly resonated with the audience. They took control right from the start, announcing, “We are Fit For A King all the way from the United States,” as they kicked off their set with ‘Backbreaker’. Clean vocals filled the venue during ‘When Everything Means Nothing’; there’s something special about a metalcore track that juxtaposes serene and passionate singing with intense brutal screams. It’s music that truly evokes emotion.
Bassist Ryan O’Leary was clearly relishing every moment, spinning around while he played, which only served to energise the crowd further. “This one goes out to everyone who’s been crowd surfing,” they declared before launching into ‘Keeping Secrets’.
As they performed ‘When Everything Means Nothing,’ most of the audience joined in singing along. If you’re after breakdowns, beers, and plenty of headbanging action, then Fit For A King is definitely your band! We can see them going places.
As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Motionless In White, Cher’s iconic track ‘Do You Believe In Life After Love’ fills the venue. If you’re familiar with metal fans, you know this was met with enthusiastic approval! Before long, Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ kicks in, complete with synchronised stage lighting as we gear up for our gothic glam rockers to make their entrance. The clock strikes, sirens wail, and they launch into ‘Metldown’ with their signature “blegh”.
The performance featured just under twenty tracks that transition seamlessly across various albums, providing fans with a comprehensive glimpse into their extensive back catalogue, both classic and contemporary. From the album Graveyard Shift, we enjoyed ‘Necessary Evil,’ ‘Rats,’ ‘Voices’ and ‘Soft’. During ‘Rats,’ we see captivating dancers clad in seductive leather rat costumes (as we catch sight of The Cherry Bombs, more on them later) who join the band on stage, infusing gothic elegance into an already highly visual experience.
In addition to ‘Metldown’ from Scoring The End Of The World, we were treated to ‘Sign of Life,’ a track that had the entire audience leaping in excitement. Lead singer Chris Cerulli shared with the crowd that this Brixton show sold out within just one weekend, conveying his appreciation and reflecting on their journey from performing at smaller venues in London, like the Underworld in Camden. During ‘Masterpiece,’ Chris locked eyes with the crowd while singing “How do I apologise,” and the flames added an intense drama to the breakdown that sent everyone into a frenzy.
Chris Motionless took a moment to acknowledge the supporting acts, as well as telling the audience, “We appreciate your suffrage in the name of rock n roll!” However, it was when they launched into ‘Slaughterhouse’ that fans surged toward the stage, eagerly anticipating that electrifying moment where every person belted out at full volume “One mutilation under god.” This track truly energised everyone; right before the breakdown hit, more fans rushed into the pit—perhaps returning after crowd surfing.
Throughout most of the performances, the music video of that song played on screens behind the band, and this was true once again during ‘Werewolf.’ A special mention goes to Saints Of The Undead Clothing for crafting the striking red Werewolf jackets (which this writer admits to have been enthusiastic enough to order a custom piece from). The Cherry Bombs made another appearance alongside the band, they are also featured in the music video, truly bringing the song’s narrative to life.
Later on, The Cherry Bombs returned for ‘Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2,’ taking on roles as zombie cheerleaders. They graced the stage multiple times throughout the evening, adding an extra layer of glamour and theatricality to the performance. One of my favourite aspects of The Cherry Bombs is their embodiment of female empowerment and community spirit. We absolutely adore this partnership with Motionless In White; let’s hope we see them team up with more bands down the line! It was genuinely touching to witness them distributing black roses to fans at night’s end.
Tonight’s mystery song was ‘Disguise,’ and we really appreciate that they take the time to feature a different mystery track each evening. I can’t help but wonder if there are dedicated fans attending every show who can fully savour this, yet it undeniably adds something unique to the experience of each concert you attend.
Motionless In White seemed to conclude with ‘Another Life,’ which would honestly make for an excellent final song; at this point, they have so many hits in their repertoire. Naturally, there was an encore as they returned to the stage waving massive flags while Chris addressed the audience, saying, “We are Motionless In White and we are Eternally Yours.” Now that they’ve performed at this “bucket list venue,” what could possibly be next? The only direction is up—bigger and better, right?
