The 9th album from Marilyn Manson delivers a "set of soul-stripping, kiss-smearing, church floor-burning songs that stand, unequivocally, as his most fully-wrought album since 1998's epochal Mechanical Animals." What does that mean? "Don't need a motherf**** looking down on me," sings Manson on the stomping "The Devil Beneath My Feet." Armed with a powerful voice that embodies the apocalyptic, shocking demeanor that's so central to his persona, Manson breaths fire on top of the heavy, rolling beats that allude to the industrial sound of his earlier works. However, for The Pale Emperor, MM draws more from blues-influenced rock, a welcome feat possibility attributed to Tyler Bates' (they met while both were involved with Californacation) involvement with the 10-tracker. Highlights include: "Killing Strangers," "Deep Six," "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge," "Cupid Carries a Gun," and "The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles." This is the limited-edition 180g white vinyl pressing of the album, with bonus tracks on side D.

• 180g white vinyl pressing
• music label: Loma Vista 2015

reviewed by kanim 12/2016