Motionless In White Unveils ‘Afraid Of The Dark,’ Their Next Evolution

Motionless In White have spent the last few years in a constant state of motion, no pun intended, even while looking back. Since releasing Scoring The End Of The World, the band have remained firmly in the spotlight and a constant fan favorite, lighting up the live music scene with nonstop tours, festival runs, and hometown shows. I can personally attest to this, having seen them last October, where it felt like nothing had changed at all. The energy, intensity, and sheer thrill they bring to a performance were still at their absolute peak. Even with all of that momentum, the band have made intentional space to honor the music that shaped them, revisiting older material through anniversary releases and special shows. It has been a season of growth and reflection, yet they have never drifted from the foundation that made Motionless In White who they are.

Chris Motionless has been open about the pressure he and the band have felt to release music more frequently, but instead of rushing the process, they made a conscious decision to slow down and focus on creating something they could fully stand behind. The new record has been in active development for an extended period, with a substantial portion already completed, and Chris has shared both his excitement and confidence in what they have created so far. Much like their last several albums, the band continues to strike that signature balance between heavy, aggressive tracks and moments that feel emotional, vulnerable, and experimental. It is this dynamic range that keeps their sound evolving while staying undeniably true to their identity. He emphasizes that heaviness is essential to Motionless In White, but it exists alongside more introspective moments, allowing the record to span from unrelenting intensity to quiet reflection, a full spectrum that longtime fans have grown to love.

Following the 2022 wave of singles tied to Scoring The End Of The World, Motionless In White released a deluxe edition in 2023 featuring bonus tracks, followed by the Reincarnate 10 Year Anniversary EP in 2024. While both releases were meaningful, neither marked a fully new standalone era. That is what makes the upcoming single Afraid Of The Dark, arriving January 28, 2026, such a significant moment. It stands as the band’s first completely new original song in nearly four years. Fans who caught the early teaser clip promoting the 2026 EU and UK tour with Dayseeker and Make Them Suffer may have already heard a brief snippet, meaning international audiences will experience it live first. The single was officially announced by Chris Motionless during Apocalypse Fest on November 13, 2025, at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, positioning it as the official unveiling of a long awaited new chapter.

“This year we celebrate 13 years of our second album Infamous. Next year we celebrate something that is truly indescribable to me. Next year is our 20th anniversary of being a fucking band. So we had a few discussions about what we wanted to do to celebrate that. And I know that it was supposed to release this year, but we thought, what a better fucking way to celebrate 20 years of being a band than releasing an album that is inspired by 20 years of our music. So we know that you guys have been waiting very patiently for a new album, a new song, anything at all. And I am here to tell you that we want to release an album next year because we want to make sure that we can honor and celebrate 20 years, which is a monumental achievement to us personally. And we know how much it means to the fans who have been around for so long. Whether you have been here for 20 years, 15, 10, 5, or even 10 days, it does not matter. You are part of that journey. So not only will we be releasing a new album, but on January 28 you will hear our first new song from it. January 28 is the kickoff to what will be a very long and very fucking awesome album cycle. Mark your calendars. The song is called Afraid Of The Dark, and we cannot wait for you to hear it.” -Chris

The premiere of Afraid Of The Dark felt like a direct adrenaline transfer between the band and their fans. Watching it unfold live on YouTube, the chat descended into absolute chaos, with nearly four thousand fans sitting in limbo together, flooding the screen with country flags from all over the world and firing off signature BLEGHs like it was a full blown cyber pit. It was one of those moments that reminds you just how global this band truly is, thousands of people locked in, eyes glued to a screen, collectively holding their breath.

Visually, the music video is steeped in post apocalyptic darkness and destruction, delivering a perfectly unhinged energy that matches the song beat for beat. The riffs hit hard and without mercy, and from the opening seconds, Chris Motionless wastes no time tearing straight through you with relentless unclean vocals. There is no warm up here, just immediate impact as the pace barrels forward at what feels like the speed of light.

And just when you feel like you are barely keeping your head above water, that classic Motionless In White chorus crashes in. It is melodic, massive, and impossibly catchy, grabbing hold of you and forcing a brief moment of air. But the relief is short lived. As soon as you settle, the song drags you right back under with crushing unclean vocals and surging intensity, reigniting that familiar heat in your chest that only MIW knows how to summon.

This song is absolutely Motionless In White, a ferocious and defining drop that sets the tone for what is coming next. It had me on the edge of my couch, already putting money aside for a US tour, already looking ahead to what comes next, because they truly put everything into this. EU and UK, watch your back, because my eyes are already burning holes in you.