Antichrist Superstar [PA] - Marilyn Manson > Reviews > "I wasn't born with enough middle fingers"

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Its consistancy and mind blowing lyrics
Disadvantages:	A few tracks were a bit of a let down .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I bought this album a few years ago now, but it has recently crept back into my playlist since reading Marilyn Mansons Autobiography, in which it really focuses on the point in his life when he was creating this album.To me the album is like his atobiography "the musical" I appriciate the work of the whole band, but I feel this album was very strongly related to Manson himself as it takes you through the struggle he had with his personality and fight for identity. It explains the frustration he was goin through to re-create himself how he saw fit, and the publics responce to the outcome.
Visually the album is stunning,and you can really see the change that the band have gone through it looks much more styalised and sophisticated when compared to his spooky kids album for example.I resent the remarks made by some people that it was a "made to shock" album as I feel there is far more depth to the album as a whole with regards to its lyrical contents and even down to the structure of the album itself to be passed off as merely out ther to shock, but then if you are a true manson fan, then these comments are not something you have not come across before!
The album is broken down into three sections and these are clearly noticable in the album itself as the change in mood is apparent and the topic of the songs progresses and developes.
The first faze or "cycle" as it is reffered to in the album is 2The Hieirophant" which in deffinition means :any priest of the Mysteries who reveals sacred secrets to initiates. so from this i think we can gather that it is Marilyn who is our "priest" in this album revealing and interpreting these mysteries and secrets to us.
I think the subject topic of this first cycle is the bands very anti establishment points of view, going against what is expected of this them and this is clear in the opening song.

IRRISPONSIBLE HATE ANTHEM- this is the opening song and it starts off with the sound of a croud shouting abuse at the band, no doubt actual genuine material.The bass is heavy and the drum beat quite fast in this first song, its a great start to the album with a very fast tempo, "I wasn't born with enough middle fingers" Manson screams over the guiter.

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE-The song starts with a really in your face drum beat its very steady and certain and hits you as the riff pours sexily from the lead guitar.The song I feel is about breaking away from this "all american" ideal and this hollywood personer. The vocals are quite menacing throughout the song and I feel it is a really strong and key song in the album, really showing off Marilyns use of tone varying from haunting whispers to throaty screams to drive their message across.

DRIED UP TIED UP AND DEAD TO THE WORLD- This song is quite slow and sexy, with rough edgy vocals, the guitar just breaking through the start of the song, the drum beat is constant like a pulse throughout the song and gives it quite an erotic quality. The break down is short into the chorus as a spooky tune appears over the top of the drums and bass guitar, I love the use of layers to this song. 'il be your lover' The lyrics to the song are simple and it is really the instruments that make this song so appealing, the beat especially. Very sexy.

I feel there is a transition throughout the album which is visably noted through the use of these "cycles" and this first cycle is almost at an end with this final song,

TORNIQUET- Again it starts off slow, and it is clear that the lyrics are the focus for this song as they are truly mindblowingly amazing and thought provoking. I feel this song is about Marilyns termoil this is the crisis before the change. As the drums break down his menacing vocals come through "Take your hatered out on me, make your victim my head".

Cycle two- "Inauguration of the worm"
LITTLE HORN- The pace of the album crancks up a notch with this next track with a fantastic guitar riff , breaking into ripping drums.Its a kick ass heavy, almost industrial metal song, a complete contrast to the previouse and it is clear that this is seperate from what has come before, there is a deffiante change in mood and style.It is almost as if this is in retalliation to its previous song.

CRYPTOCHID- This song reminds me of some classic 80's metal, very similar to "cry little sister" featured in the sound track to "lost boys" ( sorry but i cant remeber the name of the band :-( )
the song is quite haunting, and the use of the keyboard within the song is quite effective.I feel it is the marking and acknowledgement of the change the band have gone through, they are ready for faze two, "the time has come for bitter things"

DEFORMOGRAPHY- I think this song reeks of Trent Reznor (NIN) even down to the drum beat and the change in Marilyns vocal approach.Never the less it is a very sexy song "Your such a dirty dirty rock star" Its certainly not my favourite in the album because it lacks originality for me, It is too NIN and not enough Marilyn Manson.

WORM BOY- The music in this is almost circus like, with quite warped, destorted, zainy sounds coming from the guitar.But again Marilyn's vocal whispers over the top give it an eery creepy quality, quite off key with the tune itself. The first time i listened to it I wasnt too sure on this track i'l be honest , i wasnt sure how it all came together, but its just about bizzarr enough to work. Have a listen and see what you think.

MISTER SUPERSTAR- And we are back to another classic of the album. The guitar opens the song, quite slow in pace. It breaks into a steady riff which stays almost continuous throughout the song. The vocals start off quite whispered and weak, Manson is embodying every nutty fan who follows him in this song he is speaking from their view point, "Hey mister superstar, im your number one fan" I think it also shows the bands frustration at the responsability that comes with the fame they have achieved.

ANGEL WITH SCABBED WINGS- This again is quite a heavy song, the drums and guitar come in straight away with a fast angry pace.The soung is quite unpredictable in its layout, but it works well.It creates tension within the song. As to the meaning to the lyrics I am undecided as to weather they are the angels with the scabbed wings, I belive so.Its certainly about peoples faccination into this voyeristic society that we have become, enjoying whatching whilst judging what you see. "sketch a little keyhole for looking-glass people, you dont want to be me, you only want to see me"

The last song in cycle two is Kinderfield and again the same as Torniguet is in the first faze, there is a clear sense of closure to this chpter in the album, and I rate that well as the album is certainly consistant.

KINDERFIELD-
That edgy bass line is apparent again and works well at the start of this song,quite sythasized sounds like a drilling, a tattoo gun?, quite mechanical in nature creep over the top of this."He lives inside my mouth, tells me what to say" similare I feel to cryptorchid in its eery haunting approach and yet completly differnet still.The vocals sound quite childish in the begging, quite innocent.Theres a metal hammer like drumm going through it as an almost femanine voce sings about the worms!

Cycle three-Disintergrator rising.
ANTICHRIST SUPERSTAR- We are now in the final cycle of the album, and the track from which the album got its name, so obviously there is alot of hype to this track, but do the band produce the goods? I think this song is baisically saying, "Take a look at what you created, the whole nature nuture thing comes into play, but regardless it is made clear that what ever you think they are hear to stay, and your adverce reaction will only make them grow stronger."Cut the head off, Grows back hard" A whirlwind escape from canvas sound starts this track off, with an almost mob riot chanting breaking into the bass line. There are many layers of different sounds to this track, its like "the Excorcist" pouring out of your CD player! The whole track is quite desorientating and I think the only thing holding the structure itself is the bass line, as the lyrics and sound effects are quite loose. This works well though with a sound you can only imagine that pours fro hell itself.

1996-This follows on perfectly from Antichrist superstar and I feel has a continuation in theme, the band are really driving home the fact that they feel they are what society created and they are here to oppose you.Its not my favourite song on the album by far and I feel it lacks alot of what the rest of the album has bags of, the lyrics are crude in there descriptive nature, which is dissappinting when I feel that it is the lyrics that have really made the rest of the album, the song is quite short and its almost as if they just shoved it in there to take up some time.

MINUTE OF DECAY- This is deffnately my favourite song on the album, after reading Marilyn Mansons autobiography I had to go back and listen to this song again as it pours from his lips truthfully and I feel it is a very personal song to the guys in the band, and thats what really sells it for me. It really creates this lost oppressive atmosphere in which the guys are singing from, it has many of the element s of the other songs on the album, but i feel that this is important to keep the flow of the album right, and It all seems to come together in this track. "Theres not much left to love, to tired today to hate, I feel the empty, I feel the minute of decay" Instrumentally the peice is very simple and it is really just the basss and the drums carrying the depressing vocals through, but i really do think its a fantastically moving track.

THE REFLECTING GOD- "your world is an ashtray" lyrically this song is great, but in excecution it comes out sounding a bit same old same old, thats all there is to say about this one really.

THE MAN THAT YOU FEAR- What can I say? I love this song! I am more partial to the bands slower more moody songs this is true, but this song really is fantastic.Its slow constant beat and syple rhythms only excentuate Marilyn mansons excellent use of imagery in this song.I think its a brilliant way to end the album, its a reflection of everything he fears he has become and everything we love the band for."I was born into this, everything turns to shit, the man that you loved is the man that you fear" Marilyn mansons voice is very moody and croaky in this song, over the top of a simple tune by the piano, its beautiful!.

TRACK 99- Its a hidden track on the album, so I wont spoil it for you, needless to say the last sentance stuck in my head and bored through my skull for hours afterwards.

In total I thought the Album was amazing, there were a few tracks that didnt progress as much as I thought the rest of the album had, a case of two steps forward one step backwards. But Tracks like "MISTER SUPERSTAR" and "MINUTE OF DECAY" more than make up for it. I really do suggest you get the autobiography as well as this album though as I fell they really do go hand in hand.

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Well, Antichrist Superstar was on it's way to getting four stars there but the rather feeble last third of the album (Called "Cycle III - Disintegrator Rising") along with the sameyness of some of the album knocks it down to three. Better luck next time Marilyn!