The Pale Emperor

This is quite simply a fantastic album (although nothing MM does will ever top Mechanical Animals (IMHO) and I simply cannot stop playing this album since getting it :) For me, the overall vibe is the blues meets Marilyn Manson, with all the traits of MM's unique styles thrown in. There is everything in the mix; its not fast paced - but track 2 which has one sick kickass riff when it just explodes out of the speakers is probably the most aggressive. Track 4 is also another great stompin track. The other tracks are sleazy, gothy (and even very slightly glam inflenced) on other tracks which you can hear the all the heritage of MM's previous work coming through - its very hard to quite describe accurately but I'm very sure that most MM fans will like this album. DO NOT DISMISS THIS ALBUM ON OTHER PEOPLE'S SAY SO - THIS IS A REAL RETURN TO GOOD FORM AND, THOUGH I SAY SO MYSELF, A BLOODY GOOD ALBUM.................... SUPERB !!!!!

As Manson fans mature you'd expect them to want something a little more grown up than the theatrical efforts of Marilyn's early years. Yeah, all the things that make Marilyn's music is here on this album however he has made the right move and produced a more mature sound that will definitely appeal to the older fan whilst also making this album very accessible to newcomers and possibly a gateway to the Marilyn Manson back catalogue. Expect a punchy yet laid back urban rock sound with heavy hints of earlier Manson still lingering for good measure. The music is not over complicated with instruments drowning out instrument or manic solos. The idea that less is more certainly works for this album and for the listener there is certainly more. A great album and well worth adding to your collection.

Excellent album by Marilyn Manson. Rough and mellow at the same time, very melodic and hard hitting in equal measures. And the white double vinyl edition and the sound mastering is simply superb. Not 1 weak song, an absolute pleasure to listen to from start to finish - if pleasure is a word that can be associated with MM. The last 3 acoustic tracks are fantastic. Is Manson going country any time soon? P.S. Amazon, please update your info, it’s 2 discs, not one. And state, it’s a white vinyl edition, which is definitely a bonus.

Truely back on form with this his latest album. Whilst I have been a Manson fan for many years, I have found myself really trying to like his two previous releases but always felt like something was missing. Not so with this album. It's interesting that this release has not had Twiggy involved at all, where his previous two albums have. I personally think this is the best release since Eat Me Drink Me which was the last album not to include Twiggy ( nothing against Twiggy either, I'm a big fan) In summary, if you have been put off by this album because of the last two, then you shouldn't let it. Cracking album.

After what seems like an eternity of forgettable releases since The Golden Age of Grotesque, Marilyn Manson has returned with what could arguably be his "comeback" album – The Pale Emperor. After hearing a couple of the singles, I was looking forward to this album in a way I haven't done for a while, also helped by some fairly positive reviews from critics. Right off the bat it's clear that both the band and Manson himself seem to be far more energised than they have been from Eat Me, Drink Me onwards and it carries right through the album. Film score composer Tyler Bates has collaborated with the band for a substantial part of the album and as such, his influence is a much-needed shot in the arm, taking the band in a slightly more gothic direction with each track having a diverse and distinct feel. Opening track "Killing Strangers" is a sinister, bluesy march, signalling something dark approaching. "Deep Six" is more traditional Manson belter with a crunching, industrial metal sound driving the song onwards. "Cupid Carries A Gun" harks back to the spookier side of the band's early days but with a far darker, heavier, gothic feel to it. "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" is my standout track; a more groove-based, bluesy beat with the bassy guitar twanging of a Bauhaus or Sisters of Mercy song. I've had it on repeat for ages. For those hoping to relive the glory days of Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and Holywood you're probably going to be disappointed as the album continues Manson's trend of making darker, more brooding albums. However I'm pleased to say that The Pale Emperor is far more accomplished than both High End of Low and Born Villain and the band seem to be miles more enthusiastic than any of their recent efforts. Manson's voice has evolved for better or worse – when he snarls his way through a line he sounds amazing, when he tries to hit the more melodic notes, not so much. There are a few tracks that miss the mark – "Warship My Wreck" and "Odds of Even" springs to mind as being particularly dreary and repetitive and "Birds of Hell Awaiting" plays like an experimental piece that doesn't quite work. However they do seem like ones that'll grow on me over time and it's only because the rest of the album is so memorable that when it does reach a low point it seems all the more jarring. However The Pale Emperor feels like a huge improvement over the band's studio albums from the last 15 years. Tyler Bates has done for Marilyn Manson what Rick Rubin did for Johnny Cash with his American series and hopefully they will continue to work together in future. Diverse, replayable, confrontational and sinister, The Pale Emperor is a stripped-down, less bloated effort from Marilyn Manson with a lot of blues and gothic influence. Their best album in years. *A note about the Deluxe Edition* The deluxe edition comes in a thin cardboard sleeve with an odd, cheap and bubbly texture to it that does the cover photography no favours at all. I was hoping for some sleevenotes or some kind of extra physical content, however the only difference with the deluxe edition is an extra 1:20 of silence at the end of "Odds of Even" (yes, really) and an added trio of acoustic covers of songs from the album, deceptively labelled with different titles. Even though the acoustic tracks are really good, I'd recommend the standard version and save your money.

Fantastic and poweful music buy do not buy the deluxe edition because the plasic which cover the cover little by little went away in spots and with it went away the colour of the photos and the CD become a piece o trash. I threw away the CD and I had to buy the normal edition. This special edition it is just a disaster caused by the "genious" who had the "bright idea" of this type of cover just to be "special"; a rip off.

OK, this might come across weird, but bear with me. I am 63, old hippie, rock to the core, into anything from The Orb to Moondog, to Slipknot and Korn. I frighten my kids! Ha! My partner of eons died a month ago, and I couldn't find anything on the shelves to shake me back into coping, had a look on YT and found Marilyn Manson, track 3, Pale Emporer and that was me off ordering that and Heaven Upside Down. So, happy with both, but PE is my main love. I am nearly back to myself, albeit minus my best friend, the neighbors must hate me more than ever but they will get over it as I will soon enough. There are times when I need a good shove forward, and that's exactly what I have been given. Marilyn Manson, my thanks, I bought both, never downloaded, oldskool belief that a musician deserves his reward. Cheers my dear.

I have been a fan of Marilyn Manson for many years and I have to say that this is one of his very best albums and it seems that after the very weak album born villain that Mason is back on top form. I would definitely buy this album but just make sure you get the deluxe version so you get the fantastic track day 3.