It was a time when I thought Marilyn Manson was dead and buried and there is nothing in this world that could bring him back to the spotlights. Fortunately, I was wrong.
Marilyn Manson came back banging.
First came As Sick As The Secrets Within, followed by Raise The Red Flag.
The first has a very sick video thanks to Bill Yukich, best known for Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (2023).
Musically, however, As Sick As The Secrets Within is less breathtaking.
Unfortunately, Marilyn Manson ceased to be a band and persisted in being a platform for a solo act. Although talented and charismatic, Marilyn Manson, the alter ego or the scenic evil twin of Brian Hugh Warner, needs at least one true-blood guitar player partner – or someone with taste for massive guitar riffs – to create monstrous and memorable songs such as Cake and Sodomy (from Portrait of an American Family), The Beautiful People (from Antichrist Superstar), Rock Is Dead (from Mechanical Animals), Disposable Teens (from Holy Wood), This Is The New Shit (The Golden Age of Grotesque), You and Me and the Devil Makes Three (from Eat Me, Drink Me), Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon (from The High End of Low) or Slo-Mo-Tion (from Born Villain).
For a long time, Jeordie Osbourne White, better known as Twiggy Ramirez or simply Twiggy, brought some of those catchy guitar riffs supporting Manson’s infectious vocals and lyrics.
It was also Daisy Berkowitz in the early days, followed by Timothy Linton (Zim Zum) on Mechanical Animals.
John 5 joined and performed impressively on Holy Wood and The Golden Age of Grotesque. In 2004, Mr Manson parted ways with John 5, who eventually joined rival monster Rob Zombie.
Tim Sköld originally joined as a bass player on The Golden Age of Grotesque, and then he became the only main partner and collaborator for the gothic Eat Me, Drink Me.
Twiggy returned for the brilliant The High End of Low and the gloomier Born Villain.
Born Villain seems to be the last genuine band-like effort of Marilyn Manson.
The following record constitutes the beginning of the long-term cooperation with American musician, producer, and composer for film, television, and video game scores writer Tyler Bates.
While Bates is a successful soundtrack composer, he lacks the balls of a true-blood rock/metal guitarist.
Although the following three albums, The Pale Emperor (2015), Heaven Upside Down (2017), and We Are Chaos (2020), have better moments occasionally, Manson lost his middle fingers.
Some may argue that it might result from natural ageing and maturation, but I think it all comes down to lacking a potent guitarist. These later albums are more experimental and soundtrack-like than genuine rock albums.
Mr Manson has a long history of controversies and lawsuits.
However, the peak of his troubles started at the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021.
Several of Manson’s former female acquaintances began communicating with one another in September 2020. In a letter dated January 21, 2021, California State Senator Susan Rubio wrote to the director of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General, asking them to investigate allegations several women had made against Manson. On February 1, former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood accused Manson of being abusive during their relationship a decade earlier. Four other women simultaneously issued statements also accusing Manson of abuse. Eventually, a total of sixteen people made various allegations against Manson, including five accusations of sexual assault.
Manson was immediately dropped by distributing record label Loma Vista Recordings, his talent agency Creative Artists, and his long-time manager Tony Ciulla. He was also removed from future episodes of the TV series American Gods and Creepshow, where he was scheduled to appear.
Mr Manson’s career seemed to come to an uexpected bitter end. From the celebrated anti-hero, he has been promoted to persona non grata status in the age of cancellation.
Somewhat surprisingly, in May 2024, the band announced their signing to Nuclear Blast, and they are back in business.
On August 2, 2024, the band released a new single, “As Sick as the Secrets Within”, accompanied with a music video. A follow-up single, “Raise the Red Flag”, was released on August 16, 2024.
The “Raise The Red Flag” Maxi Single CD was limited to 3,000 copies worldwide and sold out in under twelve hours.
“Raise The Red Flag” is built upon a minimalist bass riff, somewhat reminding of “Slo-Mo-Tion”. It is not a bad riff, but too little for a song and career relaunch.
The current band include guitarists Tyler Bates and Reba Meyers (of the band Code Orange), Piggy D. on bass (ex-Rob Zombie) and drummer Gil Sharone (formerly of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Stolen Babies, Team Sleep, +44).
On paper, it sounds like a solid band – only time will tell if they will operate as a band and will be capable of delivering consistent materials. Fingers crossed!
Written by Attila Kárpáthy
