For many years, Marilyn Manson cultivated his persona of a freak show boogeyman in order to push his neo-punk and nihilistic politics into the hearts and minds of cult fans. He sold a lot of records, had overblown and controversial cultural events and public appearances, and was able to earn attention for his music through the sheer power of shock.
In We Are Chaos, though, the iconic rocker finally reveals some of his true psyche. This is a much more self-aware and reflective record than any of his previous works, and it shows a genuine maturity in an age where it seems like the world has moved past the fascination with a masked maniac with a mask.
The first song on the album, "Perfume," is a great example of this. It's a glam-rock indictment of a culture of victimization that's as entertaining as it is introspective.
Another good song on the album is "Infinite Darkness," which explores the concept of fame and its superficiality. It's a good song to listen to if you're feeling a little down and aren't sure where to turn for inspiration.
The song also features a bit of a love ballad, with Manson singing "Nothing without me" as she's surrounded by stalkers. It's a nice change of pace for the album, and it's a good example of how he can still write about love while being more self-aware than ever before.
