LIVE REVIEW: Motionless In White, Dayseeker, Make Them Suffer, Utilita Arena, Cardiff, 13/02/2026
Photo Credit: Anthony Hunt
Two decades into their career, Motionless In White continue to push their theatrical brand of metal into bigger spaces, and their first appearance at Utilita Arena Cardiff felt overdue. Bringing Make Them Suffer and Dayseeker along for the run, the night promised contrast, chaos and emotion in equal measure. For a band still riding the momentum of recent releases and viral stage visuals, the show felt like a statement moment rather than another tour date. One thing stood out early: there was no slow build to a packed room. From doors opening, fans flooded in wearing merch spanning all three acts. Instead of the usual staggered arrival, it felt like a headline set from the start. The atmosphere already had that charged feeling before a single note landed.
Opening duties fell to Make Them Suffer, and they wasted no time setting the tone. Launching straight into Ghost of Me, the Australian five piece delivered a tight, aggressive set that translated well to an arena environment. The guitar work felt precise without losing bite, while the rhythm section drove each breakdown with weight. The biggest contrast arrived through Alex Reade, whose clean vocals and keys cut through the heaviness and added texture rather than softening impact. It gave the band range across their half hour slot and kept momentum from feeling one dimensional. The crowd responded instantly. Pits opened early, crowd surfers moved steadily toward the barrier and large sections of the audience shouted lyrics back with conviction. For a band who have often played smaller UK venues outside of festival appearances, the confidence was noticeable. They used the full width of the stage and never looked overwhelmed by the scale. It felt like a band proving they belong in rooms like this.
Dayseeker followed and provided the night’s curveball. On paper, their melodic and emotional sound sits far from metalcore intensity. In reality, it created balance. The shift in tempo gave the night breathing space without dropping engagement. Front man Rory Rodriguez delivered a vocal performance that matched studio quality while still feeling raw and human. Watching Rodriguez move across the stage, lost in the music, became hypnotic in places. The set blended softer material with heavier tracks like Shapeshift and Bloodlust, both of which sparked movement across the floor. When Burial Plot began, phones lit across the arena. It created a moment of connection that felt genuine rather than forced. Closing with Neon Grave, written about Rodriguez’s father, shifted the mood again. The arena quieted in a way that only happens when a crowd is listening rather than waiting for the next drop. It felt like the audience walked away with a deeper appreciation for the band rather than seeing them as support.
By the time the lights dropped for the final time, anticipation felt heavy. When Motionless In White visuals appeared, including the now familiar spinning cat animation, the reaction was instant. Opening with Meltdown, Chris Cerulli made his presence felt immediately. Pyro bursts framed the stage while performers from Cherry Bombs added fire routines that pushed the visual side of the show forward. It set the tone early: this was going to be spectacle as much as performance. Confetti cannons arrived by the second track, while Cherry Bombs escalated visuals with angle grinders throwing sparks across the stage. The production never overshadowed the music but elevated it. Cerulli took time to connect with the Welsh crowd, leading the arena in an “oggie, oggie, oggie” chant before acknowledging it had taken twenty years as a band and fifteen years of UK touring to reach Wales. The crowd reaction made it clear the wait had been worth it. Musically, the set balanced newer material with fan favourites. Not My Type: Dead As Fuck 2 delivered one of the night’s most chaotic moments, helped by onstage antics involving bassist Justin Morrow that pushed the band’s shock value without feeling forced. Newer track Afraid of the Dark already feels embedded in the live set. Fans sang every word back, proving its fast acceptance into the catalogue. Meanwhile, City Lights created one of the strangest but most entertaining moments of the night, with sections of the pit switching from chaos to ballroom dancing, something organised through the band’s fandom social channels beforehand. Closing with Eternally Yours, delivered without the usual encore fake out, felt like a deliberate choice. It gave the ending weight rather than stretching the night longer. During the final song, a marriage proposal happened in the crowd, turning an already emotional closer into something unforgettable.
The night never felt like three separate bands sharing a bill. Instead, it felt like a carefully paced experience moving from aggression to atmosphere to full scale theatrical metal. Each act added something distinct without stepping on the next. For Motionless In White, this show felt like confirmation of where they now sit. Arena ready, visually confident and still connected to the crowd that built them. For the fans, it felt like witnessing a milestone moment rather than another tour stop.
Words and Photos: Anthony Hunt
