Under the Gun Review

REVIEW: Motionless In White – Infamous

November 12th, 2012 James Shotwell
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Artist: Motionless In White
Album: Infamous
Genre: Industrial Metalcore
Label: Fearless

Just over two years have passed since Motionless In White burst onto the national scene with their Fearless Records debut, Creatures. At the time, the Scranton, Pennsylvania metalcore act had already amassed a large following of dedicated fans from heavy touring in support of When Love Met Destruction, but it was their debut on the Billboard 200 album chart that really got heads turning. Not since the heyday of Marilyn Manson had such a strongly image-driven band with a message beyond simple positivity in the light of hard times struck a chord with America’s youth, and in the twenty-five months since release week that following has only grown. Now, in the midst of their Fall headlining tour following a successful run on this Summer’s Warped Tour, Motionless In White step into new territory and more ferocity than ever with the release of their new album, Infamous.

There comes a time in the rise of any band with an image as recognizable as Motionless In White when you hit a creative point that may lead to a disconnect with certain longterm fans. The choice of progression over stagnant existence should seem like a simple one, but throw a metaphorical rock in the current alt-scene and you will hit a number of bands pigeonholed by a sound they will spend the rest of their careers trying to recapture because cold feet got the best of their creativity early on. Motionless In White are not that kind of band, and they prove just how few shits they give about your self-appointed definition of their sound throughout Infamous. The theatrics and industrial elements hinted at on even the most generic metalcore moments of Creatures have been amplified to unexpected heights, opening an entire new realm of rock experimentation for vocalist Chris Cerulli to weave his tales of love, hate, vengeance, and everything in between through. It’s undeniably different, yet firmly rooted in everything the band has created up to this point, and has already sparked a discussion amongst fans that will likely never be resolved.

Though it took me a dozen listens to believe it myself, Infamous is without a doubt Motionless In White’s strongest, most cohesive effort to date. Every step taken in a new direction was the right choice to make in terms of continued musical evolution, and the resulting overall progression is bound to take MIW to bigger and better places. If you’re a longtime fan who feels somehow cheated, listen again. This band is going places and it is all because of the connection they have been able to form with listeners around the world. They are aware of the importance of their message and take nothing more serious than the perfection of the music that accompanies it. This is the result of two years of listening to a world filled with fans sharing their stories, and it is definitely a tale that deserves to be heard.

I could not be more excited to see what happens to the world once the masses have heard what Motionless In White has to say.

Score: 8/10
Review written by: James Shotwell (Twitter)

James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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  • Can i just say, it’s great you like this record. I found that the songs that were more to their creatures or “traditional” sound were the strongest. But the Marilyn Manson songs were weak, songs like “AMERICA” and “HATEFUCK” are just terrible versions of Golden Age Era, Manson. They never reach a point where the Mansonesque songs even sound remotely like they took their on spin on Manson’s musical formula and i think a great deal of that was Tim Skold’s fault. However i do like the Sinematic, it borrows from Manson’s sound without ripping it off so they have proved they can do it. I just hope the next record is better. But each to their own, i’m glad you enjoyed it. I would have given it a 6/10

  • I love motionless in white they are pretty much all i listen to and i love infamous . It is different from creatures but in a good way they are changing musically and as a true fan from when love met destruction and whorror im emracing the change and its amazing. motionless in white <3 are my whole life

  • matt d

    I’ve been a long time fan of MIW, and waited forever for this cd. And I am not sure what to say. I knew when TJ Bell departed the band would change. But they did a little too much. Half of the album I feel like I’m listing to marlin manson… (america, infamous,the devine internvention) and I feel its not motionless in white nor is it creative. And I feel the “manson” songs were very weak, and I feel they killed a ,potentially perfect release. x,x

    But now onto the positive – The more “creatures, original” miw songs from the album are very good, and I love how they are developing! (devils night, if its dead we kill it, burried at both ends, etc) These songs are very good, on the same level, if not better then creatures and I am very happy with them.

    I do like the song sinmatic, which has a fair and creative mix with manson’s style and MIW’s, if the whole album was like the song “sinmatic” I’d be happy

    In the end, the cd was ok, I just hope to never see the manson rip offs again

    7/10

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