The powerhouse goth-themed metalcore band Motionless In White have been on a roll, especially with their 2019 album Disguise, but this entry into their discography seems to see them entering a new cyberpunk-esque era. Incorporating more electronic and synthetic elements into their musical recipe, Timebomb is an amazing entrée of 2021.
You can already taste the new style in the first few seconds with a snazzy electronic synth melody, before they quickly introduce all their familiar heavy sounds. Chris' raw and brutal screams turn this song up to eleven, accompanied by amazing riffage and energetic drumming. The rhythm and intensity throughout the song is great, and it's what I've come to expect and love from Motionless In White.
Seeing their guitarist Ricky Olson taking up clean vocals for a majority of the song is definitely a new, and his singing is unbelievably good. Infusing their inspiring and heartfelt verses and choruses with that hopeful sound, it makes me wonder why they haven't introduced his vocals earlier. I also enjoy how the style of this chorus is slightly different from their usual, partially due to the new vocal dynamic, having more lyrics and focusing more on melody and meaning than catchiness and rhyme.
There's no shortage of heaviness in this song, if you're wondering. It's full of heavy moments reminiscent of 2000s metalcore, and the breakdown moments are absolute headbangers. The chunkage right after the second chorus has to be one of the most visceral experiences in the metalcore scene right now, and the screams accompanying some of these parts are just downright guttural. Something about the grit in Chris' vocals feels so unreal and demonic, and it's one of the best uncleans out there. One moment to spotlight is right before the final chorus, where all the instruments drop out just for Chris to deliver the word "saved" with the lowest and strongest scream I've ever heard from him.
There's just so much to love about this song, it's definitely a highlight from their discography. It's a very well-rounded song that has a lot of the signature elements that makes Motionless In White, Motionless In White. It's heaviness is on par with some of the heaviest in their overall discography, yet its cleaner parts and uplifting message adds so much dynamic to this song. One of the best metalcore tracks of 2021 for sure.
Rating: 4.5/5