Los Angeles-based label Sumerian Records has announced the signing of IN MOTIVE. The band — made up of longtime Sumerian artists Lee McKinney (guitar; BORN OF OSIRIS), Nick Rossi (guitar; ex-CITY IN THE SEA), Conor White (drums), plus newcomer Devin Barrus (vocals) — crafts a sound that ebbs and flows between progressive metallic intricacy and alternative infectiousness. Check out the official music video for IN MOTIVE single "Revival" below as well as the stream for the song "The Disconnect". In late 2015, longtime friends Nick and Lee found themselves both deep in writing mode for a new musical outlet. With a similar sound and goal in mind, they decided to collaborate. Conor joined the fold and the trio recorded multiple tracks with mutual producer Nick Sampson. On Halloween 2016, they uploaded one of the instrumental tracks on the Sumerian Records YouTube channel to see who would interlock seamlessly as a vocalist. As the clip quickly cracked 140,000 views, one vocalist in particular stood out. "Devin's voice was the perfect contrast to the instrumentation," comments Conor. "It was a subconscious thing. We just knew he would fit." "He brought in a unique element that we never expected," adds Nick. "We wanted a singer whose voice you could identify with the band right off the bat. He was the best fit we could've ever found. Moreover, he felt the music the way we did." Without telling a soul, the group finished tracking the collection of songs with Sampson in Michigan before heading to Bakersfield, California to track vocals with none other than hard rock legend Jonathan Davis of KORN. Both producers pushed IN MOTIVE to bend and break boundaries. "We're super comfortable with Nick Sampson," says Nick Rossi. "He's really tight with us and even played bass on the record. We're all KORN fans, and working with Jonathan was just incredible. To be able to hang with him and get insights into what he's seen throughout his years in the industry and hear his opinion on our songs was unbelievable. He took our vision and helped us get to where we need to be." That initial YouTube video turned into "The Disconnect" — a song powered by warm tones and an unforgettable refrain. Meanwhile, the first single "Revival" builds from intergalactic six-string soundscapes into an entrancing chant punctuated by falsetto and fire.
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