Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Today, May 6th, Motionless In White revealed information about their upcoming studio album “Decades” and released a brand-new song called “Playing God“, as per theprp. Corey Taylor, the frontman for Slipknot, has been identified as the “massive” special guest who was previously hinted to in that song. Before the song’s release, Motionless In White singer Chris Motionless provided a thorough explanation of its lyrics, stating that it was about the drawbacks of being a public figure in the social media era as well as the shortcomings of social media in general. The gold-certified industrial metalcore group’s seventh studio album is titled “Decades.” Drew Fulk (Boundaries, Knocked Loose) and former Ice Nine Kills guitarist/vocalist Justin “JD” deBlieck co-produced the recording.
In addition to Taylor, pop/hip hop musician Skylar Grey and singer Anthony Martinez of Dark Divine also make cameos. On a bonus track included with some album copies, Ovtlier members will make an appearance. Pre-orders for “Decades,” which will be released on July 17th by Roadrunner Records, can be placed using this link.
‘Playing God‘ is not about any one specific theme of social media infuriation, but a vast amount of themes under the wider umbrella of intentionally toxic and embarrassing behavior exhibited by the bottom-feeding rats of the internet, scavenging for any morsel of attention that helps them cope with the fact that their existence is a miserable wasteland of desperation and self inflicted loneliness.
The song is about people who treat bands, artists, entertainers etc… as though they are their property to impose their all-knowing godly rule upon. How to look, how to sound, how to speak, all while knowing that there is no right answer to these points, because the “right answer” doesn’t generate engagement. Only negative speculation and hateful opinions create a space where all like-minded rats, thirsting for their big hit tweet, can thrive. No expense is spared in pursuit of their big moment of fleeting praise.
It’s about people who presume to know the granular details of our lives, our character, our choices, and our business, constructing their own false narratives that are not even remotely based on truth, and then take to the internet to share that narrative with absolutely no regard or acknowledgement for how vastly uneducated they are on every one of those topics. People’s parasocial disease and sense of entitlement have enabled them to feel worthy of every detail they desire, and they cannot stand what they don’t know, so the agonizing default is to point the finger to the worst possible scenario instead of giving any benefit of the doubt or trying to educate themselves. But hey, truth doesn’t matter, clicks do, and a win’s a win right?
It’s about fans that claim they despise an artist but invest an absurd amount of time and make it their entire personality to obsessively talk about that artist, because the only thing they hate more, is not receiving the praise and attention for their opinion. It’s not enough for them to simply not engage, they’ve made it their purpose to spend hours of their lives typing out the same NPC grade comments to attract other NPC’s to pat each other on the back and bolster their social self-worth.
It’s not just that they hate that person, it’s that they also hate themselves for being so painfully uninteresting that it requires using someone else’s name and accomplishments to create a false illusion of importance and clout. Endless variants of the same recycled opinion, tweaked slightly until one hits with a few hundred likes and queue the “omg a hit tweet, I tottalllllyyy wasn’t expecting that!”
Social media has incentivized the populace to rage bait, farm, lie, and share their meaningless hot takes to stimulate their digital economy, and I understand that, but It doesn’t make it any less disheartening to witness how many people choose to participate in it. Everything I wrote above is just a small fraction of a much bigger picture, but no one wants to read beyond a page, so that’s all I got for now.
Don’t get it twisted, I agree that everyone is, in fact, entitled to their opinion, but this song is focused on the very distinct line between an opinion and a bunch of hollow, self indulgent words with absolutely no real conviction, meant only to create engagement and stir the pot. I don’t want everything to be sunshine and rainbows and love, I just want people to shut the fuck up and focus on shit that would bring actual fulfillment to their lives.
I can’t believe how aggressive Corey sounds. It’s an observational commentary on toxic internet culture and the people who perpetuate it. The internet has gotten worse and worse to the point where only negativity, hatred, and lies are at the forefront of everything you see. It’s very frustrating because I thought social media was supposed to be a mechanism to connect, but all it does is divide.
Chris Motionless
We were never afraid to take risks. This band has not only lasted two decades, but we’ve also outlasted all of the obstacles we’ve faced. We’re still grinding. No matter how far we expand the universe that is Motionless In White, we’re going to preserve the heart, soul, and roots of where we came from. We are never going to abandon heartfelt, emotional, and heavy songs.
We are never going to abandon what mattered to us the most when we started. We’re finding new ways to emphasize those stories with exciting sounds and looks, but the vision is the same. It’s always been this grand, dramatic, and theatrical entity. I’m proud we haven’t gotten comfortable. ‘Decades‘ is definitely heavier than some of our past albums. Our current world bred more aggressive energy, anger, and resistance. Chris Motionless
Tracklist:
Upcoming shows with Bring Me The Horizon, The Plot In You and Amira Elfeky:
With Make Them Suffer and Currents:
With Lorna Shore, Fit For A King and Static Dress:
With Bring Me The Horizon and The Plot In You:
