Ok, sigh, here we go. You guys voted for this in our Instagram poll, so I wash my hands of it! Saying that Marilyn Manson is a controversial figure is like saying Burger King sells burgers. So when I received the promo, my reaction was, “Oh no! What do I do now?” I asked the people—that’s what I did. I also want to state that if MM is guilty of even half of what he’s been accused of, that’s more than enough reason for me to not enjoy anything he’s produced. However, I’m a professional, and in One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1, I’ll do my best to separate the art from the artist.
To be fair, the first three tracks on this album are catchy, fun, and offer an interesting blend of Industrial and Goth Rock that genuinely surprised me. I really didn’t expect to enjoy “No Funeral Without Applause”, for example. It almost sounded like a more commercial version of the latest Tribulation album. As usual, there’s a lot of “edgy” subtext here, attempting to criticize society, its hypocrisy, and absurdity (which, coming from someone with such a legal track record, is just hilarious). Still, I must admit it all feels very Gen-X. Anyone in the Metal community born after 1995 won’t find anything particularly creepy here.
I usually hate industrial synths and background wankery, but in One, these elements are the album’s strongest assets. Sure, the choruses are cool and grab the most attention, but the subtle arrangements are the most valuable part of an otherwise OK album. And the vocals? Well, it’s an MM album after all. I guess they’re fine? MM has always been more about the whole package than individual brilliance. I’ve never found his voice particularly impressive—it was just the right aesthetic at the right time.
Unless you’re boxing in a 19th-century Irish pub, this is a terrible guard.
Now we’re in the future, and this “look” doesn’t feel bizarre or shocking anymore. It’s all been done before. Musically, my main issues were: a) the compressed production typical of these “big” releases, and b) the album runs out of steam as it progresses. Aside from the first few tracks, the rest just aren’t memorable. They’re not bad, but none of them stayed in my head or made me think, “You know what? The dude might be a [insert any insult that might get me sued here], but this song slays!” No, that didn’t happen—and I don’t think it will.
If you’re like me and were totally out of the loop regarding MM, you might enjoy this. If you’re a diehard fan (are there any left?), this is for you too. But if, like me, you literally had to outsource the responsibility of reviewing this album to someone else (our followers are the real MVPs!), then maybe it’s not worth the trouble. Anyway, I’m going to pretend this review never happened. See you next time!
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Release date: 22 November, 2024
Website: https://www.marilynmanson.com/
Country: USA
Score: Meh, a try-hard 2.5/5.0?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 