After an eight year absence from Irish stages, Motionless In White finally returned to Dublin on February 10th, 2026, bringing their Afraid of the Dark Tour to the 3Arena. The last time the band played Ireland was in front of roughly 800 fans at The Academy, but this time the crowd had swelled to nearly 3,000 a clear sign of how much their fanbase has grown. The night promised intensity, spectacle, and heavy emotion, and Motionless In White delivered on all fronts.
Opening the evening were Australian metalcore heavyweights Make Them Suffer, who wasted no time setting the tone. Despite having only a seven-song set, they made every minute count. Tracks like “Ghost of Me,” “Oscillator,” and the crushing “Doomswitch” immediately ignited the arena, blending brutal breakdowns with melodic moments that showcased their range. As the first band of the night, they succeeded in warming up the crowd while leaving many eager to hear more.
Dayseeker followed with a longer ten song set that shifted the atmosphere toward a more emotional and melodic direction. Songs such as “Pale Moonlight,” “Bloodlust,” “Crying While You’re Dancing,” and fan-favourite “Sleeptalk” had the audience singing along, creating one of the night’s first truly unified moments. Dayseeker’s ability to balance vulnerability with heaviness provided a perfect contrast to Make Them Suffer’s aggression, proving why they were such a strong choice as main support.
By the time Motionless In White took the stage, anticipation was at its peak. They opened with “Meltdown,” immediately launching into a visually explosive performance complete with dancers wielding fire torches. This high energy introduction set the standard for what became an unforgettable nineteen song set. What truly elevated the show beyond a typical metal concert was the production. Pyrotechnics erupted throughout the set, while dancers wielding angle grinders sent showers of sparks across the stage during standout tracks like “Signs of Life,” “Necessary Evil,” and “Scoring the End of the World.” “Signs of Life” also featured confetti cannons, adding a surreal contrast to the song’s dark themes. The combination of fire, sparks, and confetti created a sensory overload that felt both chaotic and carefully choreographed.
Musically, Motionless In White were relentless. Blending metalcore, gothic metal, industrial elements, and nu metal influences, the band never let the energy drop. Chris Motionless commanded the crowd with ease, while the rest of the band delivered a tight, powerful performance that proved their years of touring experience. Every breakdown hit hard, every chorus was met with thousands of voices, and the connection between band and audience was undeniable.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the night was how Motionless In White managed to balance spectacle with substance. Despite the elaborate stage production, the focus never drifted away from the music itself. Each song landed with purpose, and the band maintained momentum from start to finish.
For Irish fans who had waited nearly a decade for their return, this show felt like a celebration. Motionless In White didn’t just come back to Dublin, they conquered it. With a massive crowd, unforgettable visuals, and a flawless performance, the Afraid of the Dark Tour stop at the 3Arena proved that the band has grown into a true arena level act, and hopefully it won’t take another eight years for them to return.
Make Them Suffer photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Ghost of Me
Bones
Mana God
Oscillator
Epitaph
Erase Me
Doomswitch
Dayseeker photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Pale Moonlight
Shapeshifter
Burial Plot
Crawl Back To My Coffin
Bloodlust
Without Me
Crying While You’re Dancing
Creature in the Black Night
Sleeptalk
Neon Grave
Motionless In White photos & set-list:
Set-list:
OIIA OIIA (Spinning Cat) Intro
Meltdown
Sign of Life
A-M-E-R-I-C-A
Thoughts & Prayers
Voices
Afraid of the Dark
Werewolf
Disguise
Necessary Evil
Slaughterhouse
Rats
Cyberhex
Nothing Ever After (ILLENIUM cover)
Scoring the End of the World
City Lights
Not My Type: Dead as Fuck 2
Hollow Points
Another Life
Eternally Yours
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic