Holy Wood is very much different than any other work Marilyn Manson has done. It has the heavy sound with the crunchy guitars, thumping bass and the Satanic form as heard in Antichrist Superstar and while "Holy Wood" has the soft songs with a mellow, but creepy and eerie and not to mention the utterly dreadful vocals as heard in Mechanical Animals. Although, "Antichrist Superstar" is the most popular pieces of work Manson has done, you can't forget "Mechnical Animals" even though I hate it, you have to appreciate what Manson tried to do= emotional slow songs. You are going to have to understand the direction Manson puts on this record and what his focus is. Many people have many different opinions on what Manson's direction is on this album, but mine is pretty simple, but classic= Manson wants to make another damn good album!

The album's opener is Godeatgod is more like an intro clocking in around two minutes. All you hear is a soft guitar tune with an eerie clutch of sounds. Not bad actually and Manson's vocals are haunting; whispers, echoes...good stuff! "Dear God if you were alive, you know we'd kill you."

The Love Song comes in and oh yeah, "I got love songs in my head killing us away." Gritty production abounds in this hit with those screechy guitars and the pounding bass. What? You didn't think the production would be romantic,did you? Screaming and cocky vocals fill this blood bath with a classic touch.

The Fight Song is another great one; crunchy and deliciously punk guitars and fast paced screams.

Disposable Teens is probably the most noticeable song on this record. From the ever striking bass and the gritty guitars to Manson's vocals being ever so catchy. "I got a face that's made for violence and porn And I'm a teen distortion survived abortion."

"You're just a copy of an imitation. The president is dead, let us pray." Talk about controversy! Target Audience is another stand-out song, but less popular. The production is gritty with the screechy and striking guitars and the bass lets loose a light line of pounds. Anthem-like vocals from Manson with screams and dreadful tones(good thing this is).

Another song that catches one eye is President Dead With the fast paced guitars and the thumping bass to the down-right snarls from Manson, you'll find out how ear-catching this song really is.

"We have no future, Heaven wasn't made from me" opens up In the Shadow of the Valley of Death. This is a soft song, but does show Manson's eerie side? Hell yes. A quiet, but not for long guitar and a later-coming mild bass makes Manson's cup run over with him hauntingly singing low and dead-like. You won't appreciate the song just by listening to it, but by reading the lyrics along.

Now, Cruci-Fiction in Space is a gritty and hardcore song. The production is catchy and harmonic with it's rhythm-based guitars and bass(I love the sound!) and Manson's vocals match with the production, making his voice follow along with the speed of the track.

A Place in the Dirt is a song that few will really appreciate. It's not a great song, but the direction and Manson's emotion on this song is stunning. The production isn't too great with it's out of balance bass and guitars. However, Manson's vocals are mainly the trouble for most. They are ever slow and dreadful, but I actually like it.

The Nobodies is a dreadful song, but it's actually liked by many people including I. It has a crunchy sound with the guitars and the bass is loud and hard. Vocals are loud and harsh with the screaming anthem chorus and the quiet verses. "We're nobodies, we want to be somebodies."

The Death Song is another catchy song most like "Cruci-Fiction in Space". It has that catchy rhythm-based bass and the guitars are crunchy and delicious. Not to mention Manson's vocals which are harsh with him screaming pretty much throughout.

Lamb Of God is another slow song that is dreadful to listen to, however, this time it's a really good song. It's a quiet song with the mild bass and the guitars are low, but are still eerie. Slow, echoing and dreadfully emotional vocals rip through this song. "Nothings going to change the world..."

"I'm someone else, I'm someone stupid just like you." is a chorus line from Born Again. This is one of the heaviest, if not original song on the record. The bass line pummels as the guitars rip through the heart with their harsh tone. As usual, Manson screams his way through.

Burning Flag is probably the most heaviest song with the hardcore pummels from the drums and the guitars are strikingly harsh and loud. Not to mention the very high-pitched screams from Manson. Oh and he doesn't quit. Okay, maybe for one verse. "We are all stars on your burning flag."

Coma Black is actually two songs in one- "Eden Eye" and "Apple of Discord". They don't sound too much different; in fact you'd think you were still listening to the one. The guitars are a tad harsh and screechy and the drums are loud too, when the second songs come on, everything is pretty much quiet. Manson's vocals are dreadful here, but it sounds good and he makes a point on this song with those vocals. I love when Manson sorrows over "I'd kill myself to make everybody pay."

Valentine's Day is an okay song, not one of my favorites nor the best, but a decent track. Guitars drag with the screechy tone and the drums are nice, but nothing great. Manson does drag on this song with his dreadful vocal quality on this track. I listen to often, but it doesn't stack up like the previous.

Now, the last three songs(Fall of Adam, King Kill 33, Count to 6 and Die) are more like outros than actual songs. "Fall of Adam" is a slow song with draggy vocals lasting only a minute and a few seconds. However, "King Kill 33" is a two minute and so song(more like a song than outro). It's a loud and crunchy song with pummeling drums and very loud guitars(much like Korn's Twisted Transistor and Count to 6 and Die lasts 3 minutes and a half, but the song actually ends on the two minute mark and the rest is clicking noises. These three songs are a waste of space.

I have been questioned on why I like Marilyn Manson's music. I simply can't answer the question with an answer, but rather another question, Why do you like [insert artist here]?. It's basically the same answer they would answer my question, Because I like their music. Marilyn Manson may not be a good-looker who does obscene things, but when it comes down to his music, it's actually really good. If people out there will just listen to Marilyn Manson(less known as Brian Warner)'s music and simply forget what he looks like, you may find it appealing. As for you fans out there, Holy Wood is another great album of his. It is a stand-out record because Marilyn focused on "Antichrist Superstar" and "Mechnical Animals" while working on this and the results are of flying colors.

Great Music To Play While: you are depressed.

For More Marilyn Manson Music Reviews By Me:
Antichrist Superstar [PA]
The Golden Age Of Grotesque [PA]

Recommended: Yes