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Feb 19, 2026 By Lexa Lambert Photography by Amy Wolstenholme Web Exclusive

Motionless In White didn’t just “stop” in Nottingham they made history in Motorpoint Arena and it was utterly electrifying. Admittedly, I had no idea what to expect with my only other experience of the band being listening to them in my friend’s car, however, every expectation I may have had was set on fire (quite literally, see pictures) and raised by 10. Everything from the maddening talent of the band, stage production, and dancers (who had a costume change every few songs) was mesmerising and energising. We caught the second night of the Afraid Of The Dark run, already having my feed flooded with the Glasgow fallout that morning but nothing really prepares you for a band detonating an arena after opening with an internet cat meme. The joke barely had time to land before the floor started shaking and the stage filled with fire.

The band leaned hard into the political spine of their expansive catalogue and “A.M.E.R.I.C.A.” and “Slaughterhouse” hit different in 2026. An American band screaming about American rot in a UK arena while the world feels like it’s teetering. The “One mutilation” / “Under God” mosh call in “Slaughterhouse” wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t meant to be.

And then there was “Voices”. The Progress Pride flag proudly spread across the screens. A genre constantly written off as “just screaming” holding space for something bigger. If anyone still thinks metal is “just screaming”, they weren’t in that room. The unity wasn’t soft or gentle. It was loud, big, and protective.

Midway through the set, frontman Chris Motionless paused to talk about imbalance about Europe and the UK getting their tour, about growth, about “equal fcking shows, equal amounts of fcking people.” This gratitude did not feel inauthentic at all. It felt like someone who remembers playing to 500 people and is now playing to 5,000, not taking arenas for granted.

I find myself seeking a feeling of shared experience and community right now and it was on another level in Motorpoint that night. If you know anything about MIW you know they are amazing musicians but also the connection they have with the fans is incredible. Their new and highly awaited release Afraid of the Dark arguably has callbacks to previous albums and takes ownership of fear, history and direction, abolishing the narrative of needing someone else to save you. “And now I know, I don’t have to do this alone, a creature that found a home” a lyric that remained in my head for days, meaning less about dependency, and a lot about community. Chris Motionless recalls in an interview with Primordial Radio a time 20 years ago when their tour van broke down in AM hours with very little money and having to cancel the first shows of their first tour, how the band scraped every cent they had together to get the van fixed and back on the road, not willing to let anything stop them. Chris said “I want the story of MIW to inspire anyone listening to not fear the unknown, but to run headfirst into it with everything they’ve got” I think that desire was fulfilled and felt by 5,000 people that night singing along to an amazing song.

History was made in smaller ways too. Nottingham started a pit for “City Lights” - “that sh*t is historical” - according to Chris and honestly watching an arena floor tear open for a track that isn’t the obvious pit-bait was a reminder at how hilarious yet strong and devoted this community is.

The sacred syllable of metal “blegh” was of course a signature staple of the night, a genre feature fans know and love. It must be said that there are certain songs that are owned on stage by certain band members, whether it is Justin’s obscene conducting of the crowd during “Not My Type” or Vinny demanding energy from the crowd for “Slaughterhouse”. The Cherry Bombs (dancers) added a gothic, industrial and otherworldly layer that kept my eyes glued to the stage at all times.

As the quiet before the last song set in, Motionless in White did not disappoint with the finale, with Chris standing in the stillness and said the line many fans were waiting for “We are Motionless in White, and remember this, if nothing else, we are Eternally Yours”. Chris and the dancers arced roses into the crowd, and before long the chorus filled the arena for a song that is essentially a gothic love letter to their fans.

I think it’s safe to say that when the lights came up more than a few people’s makeup was ruined and so was their voice for the next few days but I do not think the fans or the band would have had it any other way.