One Assassination Under God: Chapter 1 vinyl

Since the release of his David Bowie homage album We Are Chaos in 2020, goth/shock rock industrial metal provocateur Marilyn Manson has been subject to many a controversy and accusation that we won't go into here. Whatever apparently is happening behind the scenes, his perceived "cancellation" hasn't lasted very long, as he now returns with his 12th album One Assassination Under God: Chapter 1 (largely indicating that this isn't planned as a one-off comeback). Newly signed to Nuclear Blast and with Chelsea Wolfe alumni and film score composer Tyler Bates handling production duties, the material showcases Manson at his most synth-heavy, new wave-inspired and electro-goth to date, while ample room is still allowed for metallic, industrial bangers. In some regards, it's the most potent musical backdrop the unknowable figure has utilised in some decades as he attempts to rebuild his brand, aesthetic and aura with a new legion of collaborators who just might help him pull it off and finally find redemption. Sonically speaking, that is.