A night of gothic grandeur and sonic devastation took over Brixton Academy as Motionless In White delivered a performance that was as theatrical as it was crushing. The Pennsylvania metalcore giants, known for their haunting aesthetic and genre-blurring sound, turned the historic venue into a fever dream of industrial-tinged heaviness, singalong anthems, and bone-rattling breakdowns. With a setlist spanning their career, special guest appearances, and the electrifying presence of Cherry Bombs, the show was nothing short of a spectacle.
The night’s chaos began with Brand of Sacrifice, the Canadian deathcore titans known for their bone-crushing heaviness and Berserk-inspired brutality. From the first note, they unleashed an unrelenting sonic assault, blending monstrous breakdowns, eerie orchestration, and lightning-fast blast beats. Vocalist Kyle Anderson delivered guttural roars that rattled the walls of Brixton Academy, commanding the stage with an intense, almost otherworldly presence. Tracks like ‘Demon King’ and ‘Lifeblood’ had the crowd throwing down in the pit, proving why Brand of Sacrifice has rapidly become one of Deathcore’s most ferocious forces. Their seamless fusion of cinematic elements with unrelenting heaviness made for an exhilarating opener, setting the bar sky-high for the rest of the evening.
Next up, Fit for a King stormed the stage, bringing their signature blend of metalcore grit and melodic anthems. Frontman Ryan Kirby delivered a flawless vocal performance, seamlessly shifting between soaring cleans and ferocious screams. Tracks like ‘The Hell We Create’ and ‘Breaking the Mirror’ ignited powerful singalongs, while their heavier moments sent the crowd into a frenzy of windmills and circle pits. The band’s tight musicianship and emotionally charged lyrics resonated deeply, striking a perfect balance between intensity and heartfelt vulnerability. Their set proved why Fit for a King remains a staple in modern metalcore, leaving the crowd primed and hungry for the headlining act.
Both openers brought their sonic devastation, leaving a lasting mark on the night. Brand of Sacrifice delivered pure, unfiltered brutality, while Fit for a King provided a masterclass in dynamic, emotionally driven metalcore—setting the stage for Motionless In White to take the night to even greater heights.
From the moment the band stormed the stage with ‘Meltdown’, it was clear that they had come to destroy. The pulsating electronics and thunderous riffs ignited the crowd, with Chris Motionless at the helm, delivering his signature blend of guttural screams and soaring cleans. As the chaos rolled seamlessly into ‘Necessary Evil’ and ‘Sign of Life’, the atmosphere inside Brixton became a swirling mix of flying bodies, flashing strobes, and the kind of visceral energy only MIW can summon.
Cherry Bombs, the dance and aerial performance troupe whose fire-wielding acrobatics injected an extra dose of macabre elegance, amplified the theatrics. Their presence added an immersive visual element, heightening the band’s horror-inspired aesthetic and transforming the stage into something out of a nightmare-fueled dream.
Motionless In White displayed their masterful ability to balance brutality with melody as the set progressed. ‘Abigail’ and ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ were delivered with unrelenting ferocity, while ‘Masterpiece’ and ‘Another Life’ served as stunning emotional reprieves, their grand, sweeping choruses sending chills through the audience. Meanwhile, ‘Rats’ and ‘Voices’ had the entire venue screaming along, proving that MIW’s craft of anthemic hooks is as potent as their knack for punishing heaviness.
Two explosive guest appearances added to the already towering energy. First, ‘Slaughterhouse’ saw Fit for a King frontman Ryan Kirby take the stage, his beastly growls amplifying the song’s unrelenting heaviness and sending the pit into overdrive. Later, Brand of Sacrifice vocalist Kyle Anderson emerged for a menacing rendition of ‘Reincarnate’, his guttural lows and blistering intensity injecting new life into the track and further proving why MIW’s collaborative efforts continue to push their live performances to new heights.
Despite the brutality, the band never lost sight of their ability to craft deeply evocative moments. ‘Werewolf’ brought a cinematic, darkly playful energy. At the same time, ‘Eternally Yours’ closed the night on a euphoric note, its grand finale serving as an emotional release after an evening of unrelenting sonic warfare.
The night was a fusion celebration of modern metalcore in all its forms—brutal, beautiful, and utterly immersive. Motionless In White once again proved that their ability to blend horror, heart, and sheer sonic destruction is unparalleled, leaving Brixton Academy haunted long after the final note faded into the darkness.
Review & Photos By Rebecca Bush
https://www.instagram.com/beckybphoto/
Brand of Sacrifice
Fit For A King
Motionless In White
