Marilyn Mansons first album 'Portrait of an American family' is one of the best albums he has made. It was original and had a very gritty feel to it but despite its quality it wasn't what the main stream 'wanted' and so became a commercial failure. Then they released the E.P 'Smells like children' which was not a good record although it had three of Mansons best songs (all covers may i add) 'Rock and roll n****','Put a spell on you' and the track that got mainstreams attention sweet dreams.If there next albums a commercial failure it could be the end of Mansons career.

So 'Antichrist superstar' is Marilyn Mansons first 'mainstream record' if this does well you can expect to hear a lot more of this man/band in the future but will the mainstream embrace it or reject it?
The album is essentially an industrial,pop-rock album but it has a message which is made very clear to see by the band.
The message behind this album is based on Mr.Mansons life,how when he was young he was a 'weakling' a 'worm',then it shows how he was beginning a transformation and finally how hes changed into a cold but confident rock star.The album trys very hard to make this clear so even people who are not incredibly 'intelligent' can see the semi-hidden message.
First of all the album is split into three sections the first called 'The heirophant',the second 'inauguration of the worm' which roughly means the acceptance to something or the beginning and finally 'Disintegrating raising'.


Irresponsible Hate Anthem
Beautiful People
Dried Up, Tied And Dead To The World
Tourniquet
Little Horn
Cryptorchid
Deformography
Wormboy
Mister Superstar
Angel With The Scabbed Wings
Kinderfeld
Antichrist Superstar
1996
Minute Of Decay
Reflecting God, The
Man That You Fear

The album kicks off brilliantly with the sudden acceleration of the song 'Irresponsible hate anthem'.It is a classic Manson track which offends people (it has a crowd chanting 'we hate god')and uses simple but effective riff,driving bass and Manson screaming and whispering.
The second track is undoubtedly the center peace of the album 'The beautiful people'.It is a track that people who hate Manson will like with its chant like chorus and catchy riff and grinding stomp.This is a track that will definitely propel Manson into the mainstream as it is perfectly suited channels like MTV.It is a track that wants mainstream and hates it at the same time.
Then the album completely changes with the techno-ism and slowness of 'Dried up,tied up and dead to the world'.It is the first sign that The bands sound has evolved as it has very down-to earth lyrics about drug abuse and Manson proclaims "Ill be your lover, ill be forever, ill be tommorow ill be anything when im high'.A great track and one of the many high points of this album.
The first section of this album finishes on bass-driven distortedness of 'Tourniquet'.This is a return to Mansons strange but interesting lyrics and is another sign that the sound has evolved.

The second section of the album features some of the heaviest tracks on the album and also some of the most experimental.
It begins on the hard,distorted riffing of 'little horn' which sees Manson chanting and screaming but many people will find this track tiresome after all the other riffing tracks.
The high point of this section is the virtually guitar free track 'Deformography'.This track is obviously has a Reznor style industrialness but Manson adds his own twist making it sound delicate and full of industrial heaviness.
The track 'wormboy' is a mixture of Mansons new found techno-industrial-ness and classic heavy riffing that is simple yet effective.
This second section end on the brilliantly bass-driven track 'Kinderfield' which sounds Evil and very innocent at the same time.The verse only features the bass until it builds up to a strange style chorus were Manson sings ' when i got my wings and i never knew it when i was a worm i thought i couldn't get through it'.The track is full of weird noises some sounding like little aliens and the track that keeps threatening to go off, to explode doesn't it just keeps on with the bass and finishes leaving you wondering.

The final part of the album and to some most impressive is full of brilliant tracks but sadly there is a feel of receptiveness as many tracks have the same industrial feel of Nine inch nails 'Downward spiral.
The final section begins with a track that is very reminiscent of 'The beautiful people' with its chanting and stomping.Its a great track that explodes and gets sedated to great effect with Mansons voice sounding very impressive.
The album ends on one of Mansons most depressing, and draining tracks the wonderful 'Man that you feel'.This starts off very simple with a simple drum beat over a simple piano riff provided by the excellence of Trent Reznor.This song builds up before going straight into heart-aching lyrics and a strumming guitar,this is one of Mansons most impressive tracks especially the lyrics.The song is the perfect way to end a near-perfect album.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House