WE ARE CHAOS // Marilyn Manson – James Hanton
Released: 11 September 2020
WE ARE CHAOS emphasises the remarkable and welcome artistic evolution of the notorious Marilyn Manson. Once the poster boy of moral panic, Manson’s latest album is not a loudmouthed scream into the void. Instead, it is a deeply personal and reflective collection that retains his typically dark beats while reining in on the extravagance.
There is more meaning and significance loaded underneath the deliciously heavy sound, pieced together with the help of collaborating producer Shooter Jennings. The lyrics are typical of Manson’s style but regularly tilt towards more poignancy than we have ever seen in his previous work. Peel back the intermittent fury and melancholy of the tightly-packed ten tracks, and you will be rewarded with a surprisingly calm, provocative centre.
Perhaps the best thing about the new album is that it is equally rewarding regardless of how familiar you are with Manson’s other albums. WE ARE CHAOS feels a world away from the timeless Antichrist Superstar (1996), yet if anything the composition and style help to bring the best out of its infamous artist. An artist who is currently experiencing one of rock music’s best cultural nirvanas.