Bridgeport, CT – For fans of gothic metalcore icons Motionless in White, this is a huge week. Not only is the band releasing their new album Decades this Friday, their first full-length album since 2022’s Scoring the End of the World, the band also embarked on their first U.S. headliner tour in 3 years. Stopping at amphitheaters and arenas across the country, Motionless in White kicked off the “Sweat and Blood” Tour in Bridgeport, CT at Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater on July 14. As one of the few northeastern dates of the current leg of the tour, dedicated Motionless in White fans traveled from all across the northeast, such as New York, Boston, and New Jersey, to experience this unforgettable night in Connecticut. The band kicked off the tour with a bang, with an extensive 20 song setlist, several special guest appearances, and a performance no one would ever forget.
Starting off the night was UK-based rising metalcore band Static Dress. The band has been making waves with the release of their newest album Injury Episode and their signing with Sumerian Records. Blending elements of post-hardcore, metal, and more, as well as incorporating continuous story elements in their music, Static Dress has been making a name of their own in the scene. The band opened with two high-energy songs from their newest album, “Nostalgia Kills” and “Pharmacy Firm”, which quickly got the crowd moving. They closed with another new track “Classic.Death.Pose”, a heavier song that kept fans moshing until the end. Even if it was their first time hearing of Static Dress, it was clear that many people in the crowd became new fans.
STATIC DRESS: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X
The second opener to hit the stage was beloved Texas-based metalcore band Fit For A King. Many fans of Motionless in White might already be familiar with Fit For A King due to Chris Motionless’ feature on “Witness the End”, a single from the band’s latest album Lonely God. Opening with the intro track of the album “Begin the Sacrifice”, it did not take long for the crowd to get off their feet. Right after, they played their newest high-octane single “Blood Pact”, making it the live debut of the track. Fit For A King kept the crowd engaged with their intense riffs, heavy breakdowns, and Ryan Kirby’s dynamic vocals; he particularly left the crowd stunned with his 20 second scream in “Backbreaker”. The band closed their set with “Witness the End”, and the pit kept moving until the last note, leaving a lasting impression on everyone there.
FIT FOR A KING: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
The final opener of the night was deathcore icons Lorna Shore. Lorna Shore has been rapidly growing in popularity in the past few years due to frontman Will Ramos’ impressive vocal range and their unique blend of deathcore with orchestral elements. Opening with their biggest hit “To the Hellfire”, the crowd already made sure to bring the energy worthy of a Lorna Shore set. As Will Ramos delivered deep gutturals and his signature pig squeals, crowdsurfers started coming through one after another, and this never slowed down for a moment. The band also performed songs from their newest album I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me such as “Unbreakable” and “Oblivion”, and the fans made sure to keep up the energy for every track. Halfway through the set, Will called for as many crowdsurfers as possible, and Connecticut certainly listened. Multiple surfers started making their way through the venue at once, making the band proud. Lorna Shore closed with “Prison of Flesh”, and the crowd kept the chaos coming until the very end. By the end of the set, the fans were fully prepared for the headlining act.
LORNA SHORE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube
At 9:15pm, the lights dimmed for the final time that night as the venue filled with cheers. As anticipation was building, the “OIIA” cat meme appeared on the screens, spinning against trippy rainbow backgrounds. When the cat stopped spinning, the screen dimmed once again as fog filled the stage. The band started walking onstage as the fans burst with excitement, and soon enough, Chris Motionless walked out, asking the crowd “Are you ready for our first U.S. headliner in three years?” The fans certainly were, as everyone got off their feet as soon as the first few notes of “Sign of Life” played. The energy ramped up even more when the band played the heavy new single “Playing God”, complete with tons of pyro; the crowdsurfers kept coming one after another, with no signs of slowing down.
Throughout the show, Motionless in White proved why they are one of the biggest names in metalcore these days, putting on a show that fully feels like an experience. The band’s stage presence is unmatched, easily getting every fan to headbang, mosh, and crowdsurf. The stage production was a sight to behold as well, from pyro, fireworks, and more, and the Cherry Bombs brought the whole performance together with their backup dancing. The band also surprised fans with two special appearances, first with Ryan Kirby joining them for “Slaughterhouse”, and then, very unexpectedly, Skylar Grey herself showed up to perform the live debut of the newest single “R.I.P”. Fans were engaged with every second of the show, singing, moshing, and headbanging along at every moment.
The massive 20-song setlist felt like it was made for the fans, combining both old and new tracks. The band performed every new single as well as an unreleased track from the upcoming album, a cover of Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night”. They also performed fan-favorites like “Voices” and “Thoughts and Prayers”, and even some deeper cuts, such as “America” from 2012’s Infamous, and even “Abigail” from 2010’s Creatures. And of course, in true Motionless in White fashion, the band brought Halloween early with their performances of “Undead Ahead 2: The Tale of the Midnight Ride” and “Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2”; the Cherry Bombs even threw out candy to the crowd. To close out the set, they performed “Eternally Yours”, the usual closer for any Motionless in White set that feels like a love letter to the fans. During the song, Chris and the Cherry Bombs handed out roses to the crowd, a tradition for “Eternally Yours” that has gone on for years. The first night of Motionless in White’s first U.S. headliner in 3 years certainly made an impression on everyone, giving every fan a memory they’ll keep forever, and proves how the band is back and bigger than ever.
MOTIONLESS IN WHITE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube
