Motionsick is a band that comes from Austria and “The Inner Side” is their debut release. The band’s post-hardcore is embellished with grunge, alternative, punk, post-rock and atmospheric elements, making their sound a bit diverse. The truth is that I was expecting something completely different based on the cover artwork, but I was not disappointed in the end.
The debut, which depicts the first season of a musical series, introduces listeners to a character who hides his inner demons behind a mask of lies, refusing to reveal them even to those closest to him. Depression causes twisted minds and convenient relationships.
The album begins with the brief “Salvation”, which immerses us in its mood right away… and it leads seamlessly into “Empty Voice”, that’s rather dramatic and dynamic; surely one of the best tracks of the album. “Locked” keeps up the same pace, while “Apnea” has a more post-rock vibe. “Sick” is an intense song with dramatic lyrics and a strong chorus. “Slug” follows with its sluggish ominous atmosphere, while “The Shed” has an atmospheric vibe with a nice chorus.
“Alteración” is a short ambient interlude that leads into “Sisyphus”, a track with heavy riffs, atmospheric passages and introspective lyrics. “Mythomaniac” has some great basslines and an overall hardcore punk rock vibe. The short instrumental “AIDEM” leads into one of the album’s standout tracks, “Encrypted”, which combines heavy guitars, post-rock elements and haunting vocals to create a sense of discomfort and tension. “Parasite” picks up where the previous track left off, while “Epilogue” concludes the album with a brief and “odd” dialogue.
Fans of post-hardcore with elements of grunge, alternative, punk, and post-rock should check out this album. “The Inner Side” is a very good debut album that displays Motionsick’s potential as a future band to watch.
