{"id":5728,"date":"2020-12-13T00:56:53","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T00:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=5728"},"modified":"2020-12-17T01:20:43","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T01:20:43","slug":"motivik-death-of-the-gunman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/13\/motivik-death-of-the-gunman\/","title":{"rendered":"MOTIVIK: Death of the Gunman"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Thrash metal country-western showdown for the soul<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Motivik is a new incarnation \u2013 from Atlanta, GA \u2013 consisting at this point of multi-instrumentalist Ryan Roebuck (guitars, bass, vocals, drums, programming) and Courtney Simmons (vocals). What is it about Atlanta and all these multi-instrumental\/talented musicians anyway (Theocracy, Death Therapy, etc.)? With the help of a few guest vocalists, and with the support of Bill Bafford\/Roxx Records<\/a>, Motivik (which basically stands for motive) released this 9-track debut. 2020 has been the year of mostly reissues it seems, but there have been some noteworthy original releases. Oblivion Myth\u2019s In Your Arms<\/a><\/em> and Eric Clayton\u2019s A Thousand Scars<\/em> <\/a>have been independently released and are of two of the best in my opinion, but Roxx snuck this Motivik release in at the last minute \u2013 one of those eleventh hour type things \u2013 and well \u2026 this is pretty darn good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s always hard to review a new band because as a reviewer you always end up saying things like, \u201csounds like this band, or sings like the guy from that band\u201d and so on and so forth because people need a frame of reference in order to decide if the music is worth their listen. I want to say Ritual Servant at this point, but that wouldn\u2019t be fair because although Motivik shares some qualities with Ritual Servant (namely the thrash), they possess more progressive elements. Oh, so BioGenesis, right? Well \u2026 yes, but then that wouldn\u2019t really be fair either because Motivik is only 2 guys, and it wouldn\u2019t explain the cinematic elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you should, at this point, surmise that it\u2019s a good thing that Doc isn\u2019t able to tell you exactly who Motivik sound like. In fact, in preparing for this review, I really drew a blank \u2026 and then it hit me \u2013 Maylene & the Sons of Disaster! Um \u2026 yes and no. So there you have it, this band is indescribable! BUT \u2026 the following is my best attempt to illuminate what is going on with this Motivik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The <\/strong>Songs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lead-off track \u201cInception\u201d<\/strong> is a riff-filled, upbeat thrashy piece of metal art with a progressive vibe ala Believer. Instead of pummeling through the entire song with thrashing speed, the song slows during the choruses to allow the full impact of the lyrics to be felt\/heard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe world bathes in the blood\/Of its victims\/Casting them in the dust\/Forever\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the second chorus there is an intricate solo section \u2013 slow\/fast\/slow \u2013 which also pushes the song in the more progressive direction. \u201cAway\u201d<\/strong> follows in a similar progressive pattern with the alteration of the harsh\/speed sections with the more melodic chorus sections. Whoever is singing verses in this song is a dead ringer for Dale Thompson here. I suspect Ryan and Courtney are trading off one another because the chorus sections feature more melodic singing. The style on this song reminds me of more recent BioGenesis material (A Decadence Divine<\/em> and Black Widow<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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