Whether he is performing for tens of thousands of fans or portraying a part on a hit television show, Marilyn Manson has the unique ability of becoming one with his character. Over the years, we have seen him transform from the Anitchrist Superstar that parents loved to hate to his latest persona, “The Pale Emperor.” Much as Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus achieved acclaim and earned the title of Caesar Augustus, “The Pale Emperor” will put Marilyn Manson back on top of the metal world.
For his ninth full length studio album, Manson has collaborated with composer Tyler Bates and the result is a slick sounding record that is deep and dark and filled with terrific hooks and beats. Interestingly, it is classic bluesy metal that breathes new life into his signature glam/industrial metal style producing his strongest set of tunes in years. From the hard driving but danceable beat of the lead single “Deep Six” to the stripped down gloom of “Killing Strangers” it’s the grooves that draw you in. Enjoy the epic industrial “Third Day of a Seven Day Binge” and the funky sax of “The Devil Beneath My Feet.” Manson’s vocals sound great as he runs the gamut from smoldering and intimate to punishingly brutal. Do not miss the old school style of “Birds of Hell Awaiting,” one of his best songs ever.
“The Pale Emperor” is a powerhouse of an album. It’s sleazy and sinister, evil and eerie, and intoxicating as hell.
