The summer of 2024 brought great news: the long-awaited return of Marilyn Manson!
It's no secret that the artist creates best in the midst of turmoil, and he proves it once again. He breathes new life into every media attack, so we were obviously impatient to see this jewel arrive, knowing that Mr Manson would once again cut into his soul and let out rage, anger, love, sadness, observations and reflections, regaling us with a deep-flavored dish skilfully blended with the sounds that have made his offbeat rock and metal so successful.
In recent years, Marilyn Manson's health had deteriorated, his excesses and abuses rendering him almost incapable of performing live, although his songwriting has always remained a masterpiece. Metal criticized him for not aging well...
But Manson would have none of it, and after a ferocious, well-publicized attack that cost him everything, he decided to seek treatment, gave up drugs and alcohol, and decided to record his fall from grace and his journey to regain control of his life in the booklet of an absolutely exceptional album.
Tyler Bates, an old friend of the artist's, composes and arranges with him, and the pair record what will be Manson's comeback and, without doubt, his new consecration in the eyes of the general public and the metal world.
August 2 sees the release of the first single from the forthcoming album As Sick As The Secrets Within. For those who have lived through the experience of kicking an addiction, the phrase sounds familiar. A veritable mantra, “it's our secrets that poison us” is used as a key to putting down one's traumas, one's shames, one's regrets, recognizing why one has come to this point and healing by exposing it and asking forgiveness.
At this point, Marilyn Manson sets the tone for what's to come, an album of introspection, which takes us beyond Manson to Brian Hugh Warner, to understand how the two came to merge, how one can find oneself trapped by an image that becomes a life, and how to find the balance between character and personality.
The second track, Raise The Red Flag, was released on August 16, 2024, just 2 weeks later. Here we deal directly with the subject of the publicized attack. Without quoting, Manson simply explains that it's time to take the target off his back and stop lying about it. We all knew the subject had to come up... Although highly controversial for having used the term “red flag”, the song is a pure success! We can read “The god of f*ck is back” everywhere a few hours after its release. Fans are happy, and the metal world once again opens its arms to the artist, who has rediscovered his rock-metal muchness. Everyone applauds the return of his vocal performances and the music, which smacks of the Bates/Manson duo we love!
This is followed by a 3-track with the exclusive song Front Toward Enemy, which won't make it onto the album (at least not chapter one). The limited-edition 3-track Raise The Red Flag sells out in just 2 hours. The success awaits the release of the album with a smile.
In the song Front Toward Enemy Manson screams "Get up and fight!", he's come to fight, but not only that...
On September 27 we discover the music video and song Sacrilageous. Aesthetically impeccable and imbued with meaningful imagery, the video is once again a success. Manson shares his doubts with us, with class and charisma.
November 22 sees the release of One Assassination Under God Chapter One, the long-awaited album! The eponymous song with its conquering banner arrives on YouTube, followed an hour later by the video. It's clear that Marilyn Manson has not only regained his power, but is also keen to consolidate it and forge a new bond with his audience. He lays himself bare in very explicit lyrics about his demons, this invented passenger of his soul, which has devoured him as much as it has made his career.
For fans of the album, you'll find winks and references to past albums in every music video, which makes sense for an album that Manson himself says describes the first part of his life's journey.
Since then, the album has gone from strength to strength in sales worldwide, and has been released on CD, on various collector's vinyls and even on audio tape. The cover and booklet are based on the artist's paintings. Manson slips in a heart-warming thank-you to his fans, for sticking by him, and to his wife, his constant support. Some items are still available here.
Each song is a horcrux, a piece of Marilyn Manson's very soul. It's a death and a resurrection, it's a hymn to rebirth, it's a story to be devoured and felt again and again, bravo and welcome back Mr. Manson! Can't wait for the next chapter!
After a triumphant tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Manson gave a successful solo tour in the U.S., the artist lands in Europe from February 10 in Zurich, Switzerland, then after 10 instantly sold-out concerts, will treat himself to a little festival tour of the world.
I'll leave the final word to Marilyn Manson, on stage during the last few shows :
"They tried but they couldn't take you away from me and they fuc*ing can't take me away from you !"
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