MOTIVIK
“Renouncement”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Motivik are a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 2020, releasing two albums to date – ‘Death Of The Gunman’ (2020) and ‘Renouncement’ (2024)…

…featuring a sound that encapsulates both traditional heavy metal, and thrash! Formed by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Roebuck and vocalist Courtney Simmons, the bands new album clocks in at an hour in length with thirteen songs on offer and an array of guest musicians – drummer Alex Emidio, guitarists Derek Corzine (Crowned In Sorrow, Burial Extraction) and Greg Minier (The Crucified, Applehead), and vocalists Jason Weaver, Chris Ackermann, Jason Wisdom (Becoming The Archetype), and Andre Chiang (Shamash, Vultures Gathering). Attracting every metaller and thrasher from around the world, Motivik deliver a sonic tour de force – the American outfit on fucking fire, scorching the earth to devastate towns and cities with immense savagery! If you’re a fan of bands such as Annihilator, Forbidden or Tourniquet, you’re gonna quickly become a fan of Motivik too – the band setting ‘Renouncement’ on its way with the immensely anticipative, scene setting one and a half minute instrumental ‘Palace Of Ashes’.

And then all hell breaks loose, Motivik surging forth at a hundred miles a fucking hour with the ferocious ‘Dethroned’ – a rampant head banger that’s gonna wake up every single mosh pit in the world! Frantic and furious in equal measures, ‘Dethroned’ is a head turner in every respect, especially the more “melodic metal” chorus! What a sensational start, Motivik’s got my attention – got yours too I’ll wager! And from one breathless song to another, the title song ‘Renouncement’ strolls in across the first thirty seconds or so, sprinting off at high speed to resume the incredible head bang ability on offer! Necks are gonna be stretched quite quickly by the opening double, and with ten songs still remaining, be sure to pace yourself or suffer an early injury and miss out on some serious head banging fun! Stepping over the boundary wall into traditional metal territory, ‘Break The Walls’ features the iconic “gallop” made famous by legendary metallers Iron Maiden, yet Motivik remain three times heavier than the British icons, the American band refusing to leave their thrashy influence behind.

What a sensational triple, ‘Renouncement’ (the album) starting with a bang – a very big bang! Striding into view on the crest of a mellow first minute, ‘Septicemia’ builds a fiery crescendo, shuddering the ground with immense force as it gets going proper. The band deliver a hustling, bustling barrage of thunder, fire and brimstone, Motivik taking no prisoners with an aggressive, in your face and foot to the floor brand of thrash metal. I tell ya readers, ‘Renouncement’ (the album) began good, and has just gotten better and better – and we’re not even half way through yet! ‘This Man I Am’ strides majestically into life, turning on its heels to power forth with even more purpose than heard earlier – the band once again proudly straddling the genres of thrash and traditional metal. I take it the final count isn’t in for Album Of The Year yet – ’cause ‘Renouncement’ (the album) has surged into serious contention! And talking of surging – the power and pace surging outta ‘Harbinger Of Demise’ is immense, the head bang ability too! ‘Harbinger Of Demise’ is both aggression and ferocity unleashed, along with an unbelievably melodious intent across the chorus break – talk about catering for metallers and thrashers, Motivik are pleasing both of ’em!

This is exactly where my musical preferences lie, thrash and traditional heavy metal two of my favourite three genres (power metal being the third), so forgive me if I’m a bit googly-eyed right now! And suddenly, all thrash metal fury is shelved in favour of hymn-like majesty as the band stride tall and proud into view with ‘Final Hour’ – Motivik keeping a very heavy undertone throughout the songs entire five and a half minute run time! And just as suddenly as thrash disappeared, it reappears with added venom for the groove metal led ‘Lord Of Death’ – and an even greater aggression level than heard previously! Not to mention the in your face attitude, the band roaring louder than ever with increased menace! What a barnstorming album ‘Renouncement’ has been so far, ‘The Storm Within’ exploding into life with blistering speed! The band change gear many times as ‘The Storm Within’ rockets on with ferocious intent, rocking heads back and forth more violently than at any other point on the album!

And as ‘Renouncement’ (the album) heads into its final furlong, aggression and head bang ability remain at the forefront of everything Motivik have on offer – ‘The Head Collector’ setting a red hot pace as it scorches the earth with venomous intent! Yet as has been heard many times already, the chorus break veers off into melodic heavy metal territory, Motivik a chameleon when it comes to varying the style of metal on show. I’ve turned the volume up twice since the album began, and a third time now for this chorus – it’s fucking gorgeous! And gorgeous is the guitar riff that sets ‘Dead By Daylight’ on its way – touches of groove, NWOBHM and early Metallica pouring profusely from ‘Dead By Daylight’. It’s so fucking gorgeous I think I just wet myself – ‘Once Again’ bringing the album to a close with the most mellow aura ‘Renouncement’ (the album) has on show! However, the mellow intro is highly anticipative, building the tension level higher and higher until finally after two minutes the band march on with mid paced thunder stomping – the sound of thrash and traditional metal coming together with incredible intensity and phenomenal melodious intent. What a finish to a fucking good album!

Overall, a superb thrash metal romp featuring a massive traditional heavy metal influence, ‘Renouncement’ is immensely infectious and head bang-able to the max.

TRACKLIST

Palace Of Ashes
Dethroned
Renouncement
Break The Walls
Septicemia
This Man I Am
Harbinger Of Demise
Final Hour
Lord Of Death
The Storm Within
The Head Collector
Dead By Daylight
Once Again

https://motivik.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MotivikBand

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