Marilyn Manson and his band return with another twisted album. And I must say, it’s gratifying to see that after three decades, they’re still doing their thing.
In “One Assassination under God – Chapter One” Manson collaborates for the third time with film composer and musician Tyler Bates, who has been with him as co-producer, co-songwriter, and lead guitarist of the band for much of the last decade, starting with “The Pale Emperor” (2015) and then in “Heaven Upside Down” (2017).
In my opinion, it’s an excellent pairing of talents. I believe that with Bates, Manson and the band have managed to expand their sound and have produced some of the best albums in their career. “One Assassination under God – Chapter One” is no exception, and it certainly contains quite powerful material.
The album’s sound leans into the band’s usual heavy rock and industrial metal. But “One Assassination under God – Chapter One” goes beyond that. It also incorporates pop and electronic elements that add a broader dimension.
For instance, the song “Meet me in Purgatory” one of the best in the collection, reminds me somewhat of a typical Depeche Mode song.
The album also makes extensive use of dissonance, creating an eerie atmosphere, as heard in “No Funeral Without Applause” which starts with a dissonant arpeggiated electric guitar over which a synthesized bell melody plays, sounding like it’s coming straight from a crazed carnival. Then, amidst the powerful chorus, we can clearly hear some chilling, clashing lines of distorted guitars.
While I think all the songs have their merit, the repeated use of so much dissonance might slightly distract from fully appreciating all the arrangements and musical parts.
On top of the unsettling music, Manson sings lyrics that are equally dark and macabre, which I believe, combined with the dissonance, would make it hard not to unsettle any listener, possibly even making them feel a bit disturbed.
The album is filled with lyrical gems like the opening lines of “Nod If You Understand”:
"I need destruction,
I want towers to crumble.
Mothers tossing babies
from the windows above.
Who would want to wake up
if this is their world?"
It’s as if Manson reminds us that, in a world that can be disappointing, it’s okay to tell it to go to hell. There’s relief and freedom in acknowledging that anger and expressing it, especially in a world that also constantly wants to dominate, sedate, and keep us subdued.
The chorus of “Raise The Flag, an excellent track, encapsulates this theme:
"It's time to beat up the bullies
and wash the bullseye off my back.
My red flag is your white one
soaked in blood."
I love it. It motivates us to rebel against anything that threatens to oppress us.
On the other hand, I must also say that, sometimes the focus on darkness, aggression, and evil in the lyrics can come off as caricatured. Like in “Sacrilegious” which, although it seems one of the musical high points of the album, has this repeating chorus line that almost sounds self-parodic:
"Let's get evil,
I'm feeling sacrilegious."
I adore the saxophone lines and that almost-cabaret, playful swing rhythm.
As a counterpoint to the heavy music, the album concludes with “Sacrifice of the Mass” an acoustic guitar track with has over it the obligatory dissonant electric guitar lines. Nonetheless, it marks a noticeable departure from the preceding metal, providing a final scene change.
The song includes one of my favorite lines from the album, delivered in a completely spine-chilling manner:
"When we lifted the stone
we should have known
we'd be bitten by the snake below."
I think it sums up the feeling conveyed by listening to “One Assassination under God – Chapter One,” an album with the potential to sink its sharp teeth into us with all that dissonance, heavy unsettling music, dark lyrics, and Manson’s unique voice. Yet, at the same time, it also awakens a gratifying cathartic sensation, and conforts us by reminding us that we’re not alone in harboring some dark feelings ourselves. We’re all human, imperfect creatures, after all.
This album will resonate well with fans of aggressive and heavy rock, industrial metal, as well as those who enjoy bizarre, twisted sounds. Above all, “One Assassination under God – Chapter One” seems to me a brilliant release from Marilyn Manson, demonstrating that the extravagant artist is still producing memorable albums.
