Motionless in White and Corey Taylor are celebrating a triumphant collaboration that proves heavy music's commercial staying power. The chart victory showcases artistic synergy between two genre titans, with 'Playing God' representing creative evolution as Motionless in White preps their seventh studio album 'Decades' for a July 17 release.
Insiders note this collab has been brewing for months—Taylor's first solo No. 1 on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (which launched in 2020) is a major flex, especially since his previous solo effort 'Black Eyes Blue' only peaked at No. 7 back in 2020. Meanwhile, Motionless in White isn't just visiting the top of the charts—they're moving in, with their previous hit 'Afraid of the Dark' still sitting at No. 4 this week.
'Playing God' earned 1.4 million chart-eligible streams and sold 1,000 units in the US during the tracking week ending May 14 (per Luminate). The song's first full charting week came from just two days of tracking after its May 6 release—the May 8-14 period marked its debut on Billboard charts. 'Decades,' their upcoming seventh studio album due July 17, includes a cover of Corey Hart's 1980s hit 'Sunglasses at Night.'
Motionless in White isn't just crashing the hard rock party—they're headlining it now. With 'Playing God' scoring Taylor his first solo No. 1 and positioning Motionless in White for another chart run, this collab is proving to be mutually beneficial chaos at its finest.
Motionless in White has done it again—and this time, they brought Slipknot's Corey Taylor along for the ride. The goth-metal band's latest single "Playing God," featuring vocals from Taylor himself, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart dated May 23, according to data from Luminate. The track pulled in a staggering 1.4 million chart-eligible streams and moved 1,000 equivalent album units in the United States during the tracking week ending May 14.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone for Taylor, who's no stranger to commanding heavy music stages but has historically struggled to crack solo Billboard rankings independently. "Playing God" represents his first solo No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs since the chart launched in 2020—a fact that makes this victory particularly sweet. His previous solo effort, "Black Eyes Blue," only managed a No. 7 peak back in 2020.
Slipknot's own charting history includes one leader: "The Chapeltown Rag" in 2021. So yes, Taylor is absolutely claiming this win. For Motionless in White, the No. 1 debut continues what has become a familiar position at the top of the hard rock heap.
The band previously led Hot Hard Rock Songs with "Afraid of the Dark" for two nonconsecutive weeks back in February and March—and that track isn't even gone yet. It currently sits at No. 4 this week with 1.2 million streams, proving Motionless in White doesn't just visit the top of the chart, they apparently pay rent there now. The success arrives as Motionless in White prepares to unleash their seventh studio album "Decades" on July 17.
"Playing God" serves as the second single from the upcoming 12-track project, following another collaboration. The album will also feature guest appearances from Skylar Grey and Anthony Martinez alongside Taylor, plus an unexpected curveball: a cover of Corey Hart's 1980s classic "Sunglasses at Night." Their most recent LP, 2022's "Scoring the End of the World," debuted at No. 1 on Top Hard Rock Albums and has since accumulated 434,000 equivalent album units. The pressure is on for "Decades" to match that legacy.
