I am sure you have heard of Motograter, if not because they have been touring constantly for the past three years or because their former singer went on to front Five Finger Death Punch. In some way, shape, or form, you have heard of them. But that’s just it you have heard of them, but can you name any of their songs? Oh yeah, they had that song “Suffocate,” but, hell, that was a decade ago. Well, the wait is over! Motograter has finally released a new album thirteen years in the making, and I must say it is a breath of fresh air. It has been a long treacherous road, but it is finally here. Desolation will be released on August 11, 2017, through EMP Label Group, and finally quenches the thirst of all the anxiously waiting fans.
Motograter comes out of the gate with the hard hitting “Parasite,” full of gritty dirty vocals on the verses, mixed with James Legion’s clean vocals on the chorus. “Parasite” gets the blood pumping and lets everyone know that they are back and ready to bring it. After the opening track, Desolation takes a bit of a turn with the lead single, “Dorian.” Gone are the growling vocals, but not the ever present drumming that is definitely in the forefront of most of the tracks on the album. Do not fret, though; there is still plenty of venom spewed vocally to mix in with the uniquely, melodic vocal stylings of James Legion. Every track also gives fans a reminder of where the name of the band was derived from, the Motograter itself. For those not familiar, that sound that you just can’t put your finger on, that strange unfamiliar bass sound is that of none other than the namesake itself. Made of springs, gears, and really who knows what else, the Motograter gives the band a unique style not only audibly but also in their live show. Desolation might be the second album from Motograter, but for most it will feel like their first. Thirteen years in between albums is almost unheard of, unless you are Tool. From start to finish, Motograter has delivered an album that they should be proud of. The previous years of touring with this current lineup playing old material seems to have sparked a desire to create an album with the new era of Motograter stamped all over it.
Desolation combines a mixture of beauty, power, and agony that runs rampant throughout the entire album and feels as if it tells the tale of the journey Motograter has been on to create their sophomore album thirteen years after their debut.
Review by Ace Sims, RockRevolt journalist
Tracklist:
1. Parasite
2. Dorian
3. Victim
4. Paragon
5. Bleeding Through
6. Misanthropical
7. Daggers
8. Portrait of Decay
9. Locust
10. Rise (There Will Be Blood)
11. Shadows
THE DESOLATION TOUR
9/27 San Diego CA Brick By Brick
9/28 Tempe AZ Club Red
9/29 Farmington NM Top Deck
9/30 El Paso TX Rock House
10/1 Odessa TX Far West Event Center
10/2 Lubbock TX Backstage
10/3 Dallas TX The Rail Club
10/4 Austin TX Grizzly Hall
10/5 Corpus Christi TX House of Rock
10/6 Lake Charles LA The Centerstage
10/7 Houston TX BFE
10/8 New Orleans LA Southport Music Hall
10/9 Marietta GA Swayze’s
10/10 Panama City FL The Dungeon Tavern
10/11 Tampa FL The Orpheum
10/12 Margate FL O’Malley’s
10/13 Winter Park FL The Haven
10/14 Jacksonville FL Nighthawks
10/15 Fayetteville NC The Drunk Horse
10/16 Spartanburg SC Ground Zero
10/17 Murfeesboro NC Zakk’s Coffeehouse
10/18 Sevierville TN Club 1341
10/19 Richmond VA Canal Club
10/20 Halthorpe MD Fish Head Cantina
10/21 Clifton NJ Dingbatz
10/23 Amityville NY Amityville Music Hall
10/24 Providence RI Firehouse 13
10/25 Reading PA Reverb
10/26 Buffalo NY Mohawk Place
10/27 Heath OH Muddy Creek Saloon
10/28 Camp Hill PA The Underground
10/29 Lansing MI The Loft
10/30 Louisville KY Trixie’s Entertainment Complex
10/31 Toledo OH Frankie’s
11/1 Westland MI The Token Lounge
11/2 Battle Creek MI The Music Factory
11/3 Racine WI Route 20
11/4 Braidwood IL Top Fuel Saloon
11/5 St Louis MO Firebird
11/6 Valparaiso IN Big Shots
11/9 Ringle WI Q&Z Expo Center
11/10 Omaha NE The Drinkery
11/11 Merriam KS Aftershock
11/12 Denver CO Herman’s Hideaway
11/15 Las Vegas NV Beauty Bar
11/16 West Hollywood CA The Viper Room
11/17 Pomona CA Characters
11/18 Santa Ana CA Malone’s
Motograter is:
James Legion – Vocals
Matthew “Nuke” Nunes – Guitar
Jesse Stamper – Guitar
Mylon Guy – Bass
Noah “Shark” Robertson – Drums
Dustin “Skunk” Anderson – Motograter
