Graveyard Shift (album)

Graveyard Shift is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Motionless in White. It was released on May 5, 2017 through Roadrunner Records and was produced by Drew Fulk and Chris "Motionless" Cerulli. It is the first release on a major label since the band's departure from Fearless Records.[4] The album's track list was revealed on March 3 together with the release of the single, "LOUD (Fuck It)", which debuted on Octane with an accompanying music video.[5] It is the band's last album with keyboardist Josh Balz and bassist Devin "Ghost" Sola.

Graveyard Shift
Studio album by Motionless in White
Released	May 5, 2017
Recorded	2016
Genre	Metalcore[1] nu metal[2] industrial metal[3]
Length	48:06
Label	Roadrunner
Producer	Drew Fulk Chris "Motionless" Cerulli
Motionless in White chronology
Reincarnate (2014) Graveyard Shift (2017) Disguise (2019)
Singles from Graveyard Shift
"570" Released: June 24, 2016 "Eternally Yours" Released: January 27, 2017 "LOUD (Fuck It)" Released: March 3, 2017 "Rats" Released: April 30, 2017 "Necessary Evil" Released: September 27, 2017 "Voices" Released: May 23, 2018

The album also features a collaboration with Korn frontman Jonathan Davis on the song "Necessary Evil".[6] On September 27, 2017, the music video for "Necessary Evil" starring Vered Blonstein,[7] Ian Adema and Cervena Fox was released. Alternative Press named the video one of the best music videos of 2017.[8] The album debuted at no. 27 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Background and promotion

Vocalist Chris Motionless has stated that their new album will not be released through Fearless Records.[4] On June 24, 2016, the band released the lead single titled "570", from the band's forthcoming studio album, which will be released via Roadrunner Records. On October 31, Roadrunner announced the album was to be titled Graveyard Shift. The band reached out to the fans with a contest to design the new album's artwork.[9]

On January 27, 2017, the band released the second single from Graveyard Shift, titled "Eternally Yours".[10] A day later, it was revealed that Graveyard Shift is set to be released on May 5, 2017. The band opened up an artwork competition to their fans allowing them to create the artwork for the upcoming album.

On March 3, the band revealed the album's official artwork created by Crystal Johnson[11][12] and tracklist, followed by the release of their third single, "LOUD (Fuck It)" and the accompanying music video.[5] On April 30, the band released their fourth single "Rats", few days before the initial album release.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	82/100[14]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[15]
Hard Rock Reviews	8.8/10[16]
Louder Sound	[17]
Metal Injection	7/10[1]
Rock Sound	7/10[18]
Sputnikmusic	[19]

The album received positive reviews from music critics. Graveyard Shift received an average score of 82 out of 100 based on 4 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim" on Metacritic.[14] AllMusic gave the album a positive review and saying, "Graveyard Shift is a highly enjoyable and entertaining continuation for a band that knowingly winks along with the madness they concoct."[15]

Louder Sound gave the album a positive review and stated: "It's these little touches that add interest to a record that largely continues, rather than reinvents, what Motionless In White are about, but there are enough singalong choruses and stomping riffs to satisfy diehard fans."[17] Rock Sound gave it 7 out of 10 and said: "With that said, there are plenty of moments on this record where it feels like Motionless have grown into their own skin; tugging at the heartstrings one moment and cutting straight to the bone the next. Sure, the shock and shlock are still prominent (would we want it any other way?) but songs like 'Eternally Yours' will stay with you well after the curtains have fallen and the theatre’s emptied. There still might be a masterpiece in them yet."[18]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rats"	Chris Cerulli, Drew Fulk, Tom Hane, Ricky Olson	3:55
2.	"Queen for Queen"	Josh Strock, Stevie Aiello, Cerulli, Fulk, Hane	3:22
3.	"Necessary Evil" (featuring Jonathan Davis)	John Gluck, Wally Gold, Seymour Gottlieb, Mick Kenney, Molly Salley-Ryan, Fulk, Cerulli, Olson	3:48
4.	"Soft"	Johnny Andrews, Cerulli, Fulk, Hane, Olson	3:30
5.	"Untouchable"	Cerulli, Aiello, Fulk, Kenney	3:58
6.	"Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2"	Cerulli, Fulk, Hane, Kenney, Olson	4:22
7.	"The Ladder"	Cerulli, Olson, Fulk, Kenney	4:17
8.	"Voices"	Joshua Landry, Andrews, Fulk, Cerulli, Strock	3:44
9.	"LOUD (Fuck It)"	Cerulli, Fulk	3:42
10.	"570"	Cerulli, Olson, Fulk	4:31
11.	"Hourglass"	Cerulli, Olson	3:45
12.	"Eternally Yours"	Cerulli, Kenney, Fulk, Olson	5:12
Total length:			48:06

Japanese CD Edition

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Eternally Yours" (Ricky Horror Acoustic Version)	4:26

Personnel

Credits retrieved from AllMusic.[20]

Motionless in White Chris "Motionless" Cerulli – lead vocals, production Ryan Sitkowski – lead guitar Ricky "Horror" Olson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on track "Eternally Yours (Acoustic Version)" Devin "Ghost" Sola – bass, backing vocals Josh Balz – keyboards, backing vocals Additional musicians Tom Hane – drums, programming, composition Jonathan Davis of Korn – guest vocals on "Necessary Evil" Stevie Aiello – backing vocals on "Untouchable", composition Marie Christine-Allard – backing vocals on "Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2" Gaiapatra – backing vocals on "Rats", "Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2" and "LOUD (Fuck It)", composition Kylie Zook – additional vocals on "The Ladder"

Additional personnel Drew Fulk – engineering, production, composition, backing vocals on "Rats", "Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2" and "LOUD (Fuck It)" Josh Strock – engineering, composition[21] Johnny Andrews, John Gluck, Wally Gold, Seymour Gottlieb, Herbert Wiener and Joshua Landry – composition Jeff Dunne – editing, engineering Josh Wilbur – mastering, mixing Paul Suarez – mixing engineering Mick Kenney – programming, composition Kile Odell – programming John Loustou and Samon Rajabnik – drum engineering Kim Schon – management Tom Taaffe and Matt Andersen – booking Dave Rath – A&R Jonathan Weiner – band photo Crystal Johnson – cover design, photography Sean Mosher-Smith – design, layout

Charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22]	35
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23]	126
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[24]	83
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]	88
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[26]	6
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27]	47
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28]	99
UK Albums (OCC)[29]	72
US Billboard 200[30]	27
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[31]	13
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[32]	1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[33]	5

References

1. "Album Review: MOTIONLESS IN WHITE - Graveyard Shift". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
2. "Interview: Motionless in White’s Chris Motionless talks, new label, nu-metal, death of Scranton sceneMetal Insider". Metal Insider. May 1, 2017.
3. "Album Review: MOTIONLESS IN WHITE - Graveyard Shift". May 9, 2017.
4. "Motionless In White won't release new album on Fearless Records". Altpress.com. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
5. "Motionless In White detail upcoming album, release music video for new track "Loud (Fuck It)"—watch". AltPress. March 3, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
6. "Motionless In White announces details for new album 'Graveyard Shift'". Retrieved May 2, 2017.
7. "Veren Blonstein - IMDb profile".
8. "The 22 best music videos of 2017, chosen by the AP staff". Retrieved November 8, 2017.
9. "Help Create Motionless in White's next cover". Roadrunner Records. October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
10. "Eternally Yours". January 27, 2017.
11. "Creative Allies". www.facebook.com.
12. "Work". Lilium - Visual Artist.
13. "Motionless in White Unleash Sludgy New Song 'Rats'". Loudwire. May 1, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
14. "'Graveyard Shift' on Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
15. Yeung, Neil. "Motionless in White Graveyard Shift". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
16. "Album Review: Motionless in White - Graveyard Shift". June 8, 2017.
17. de Gallier, Thea. "Motionless In White - Graveyard Shift album review". Louder Sound. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
18. Sayce, Rob. "Motionless In White - 'Graveyard Shift'". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
19. "Motionless in White - Graveyard Shift". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
20. "Graveyard Shift album credits review". Retrieved May 8, 2017.
21. "6 songs you didn't know the White Noise helped create — from Motionless In White to Cane Hill - Features - Alternative Press". Alternative Press.
22. "Australiancharts.com – Motionless in White – Graveyard Shift". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
23. "Ultratop.be – Motionless in White – Graveyard Shift" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
24. "Motionless in White Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Motionless in White – Graveyard Shift" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
26. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Motionless in White – Graveyard Shift". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
30. "Motionless in White Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
31. "Motionless in White Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
32. "Motionless in White Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
33. "Motionless in White Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.