Perhaps the smartest thing Trent Reznor ever did was sign Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids to his label Nothing/Interscope as nobody has stirred up more controversy than this self proclaimed Antichrist Superstar. Not even the bat/bird biting Ozzy Osborne has pissed off as many conservative politicians and concerned parents as much as Manson. In the case of Marilyn Manson, words speak louder than actions as he uses his platform to write songs that are politically incorrect. He has attacked Christianity and religion in general to the dismay of the Christian Coalition and every TV evangelist on cable. However, he hasn’t stopped there. Manson is also very much critical of American Family Values, politics, prejudiced beliefs and the trappings of a suburban lifestyle.
The Golden Age of Grotesque doesn’t deviate from past projects. While the disc is closer to the metal-esc sounds of 2000’s Holy Wood than Mechanical Animals, there is still an industrial edge to the record. Lyrically, it’s vintage Manson making a mockery of religion and conformist morals while promoting obscenity, sex and violence. He also pokes fun at those who dislike his beliefs and persona on such tracks as “Better Of Two Evils” and “Vodevil”. Marilyn has been on the relationship roller coaster over the past 3 years and he clearly vents his grievances on “Para-Noir” and then pokes fun at his own stardom his reasons for not committing on “Ka-Boom Ka-Boom”.
Will The Golden Age of Grotesque stir up much hullabaloo? Probably not as widespread as the lyric content on this record is the same shit Manson has been preaching for the past nine years. And while this disc won’t win him any new fans, long time enthusiast will eat it up as it seems Marilyn Manson still has Lucifer on speed dial.