Review Summary: A 19 song epic, Holy Wood is the defining Marilyn Manson album. From start to finish, it transports you to a dark world and flows in a way that is both sinister and beautiful. Some of the greatest songs in the bands history are present here. It might be l
In 2000, a lot of the world hated Marilyn Manson even more than usual. The 1999 Colombine Massacre left him scarred as the media blamed him for the horrfic events that occured there. At the time, he was receiving both a positive and negative reaction from the 1998 release "Mechanical Animals", which featured a new style for the band, heading into the territory of glam rock and further away from the dark, industrial metal theme of "Antichrist Superstar". After all of this happened though, he took his band and retreated to Death Valley, California to work on a new record and get away from the chaos surrounding him through the public eye. Expectations were high for this new album, and its apparent here that Manson had no intention to dissapoint.
Like Antichrist Superstar and "Mechanical Animals", "Holy Wood" is a concept album, focusing on the character known as "Adam" and deals with topics of religion, violence, and most importantly, revolution. The disturbing cover art itself proves that this album is much more dark than "Mechanical Animals". The industrial part of the music that was so apparent on "Antichrist Superstar" is somewhat back on this album, though not used nearly as much. From the chilling lyrics and echoing guitar riffs on the album opener, "Godeatgod", to the empty gunshots and melancholy piano on the closer, "Count to Six and Die", this album flows like an epic story and not just another Manson album.
Musically, the album presents some of the finest work the band has ever presented. Every member has their chance to shine and show what they can do. The vocals Manson presents on the songs here are as chilling, "evil", and deep as he ever could put out. On songs like "Disposable Teens", "Target Audience", and "Burning Flag", he screams and yells his way through the heavy music ranting about the aformentioned topics. On songs like the title track and "Lamb Of God", he sings in a way that sets a very depressed atmosphere for the listener and shows that he can realy sing as well as scream like a lunatic. Guitarist John 5 presents some very heavy, catchy, technical, and dark riffs over the span of this album...although he is a very talented guitarist and it is a shame that Manson did not use this to his advantage through all of the years John was in the band (check out the cool little solo on "President Dead" though). Check out any of the songs to see how John's guitar style really helped this album in the riffing area. Bassist Twiggy Ramirez (who is vital in the composition of almost every Manson album he contributes to) does a great job in his part - the Bass can be heard on almost every song here and compliments the guitar perfectly. Songs like "President Dead" are even bass driven, providing a deep and heavy background to the music as a whole. Drummer Ginger Fish does a great job at keeping the heavy pace of the music going in songs like "The Fight Song" and "Burning Flag" and even does great when he slows it down for the acoustic songs. Madonna Wayne Gacy also has a major contribution to the record's sound by implementing dark keyboard loops and synths throughout the album's songs which help the atmosphere and mood. The linep here is arguably the best in the bands history and it truly shows in this album.
Some songs on here like "Born Again", "The Fall Of Adam", and "King Kill 33" might be seen to some as filler tracks, but they help the album flow like a story. Another thing that might dissapoint some is the fact that no guitar solos are present here except for on "President Dead". John 5 had many opportunities on this album to solo more but I guess Manson never saw fit to use John's true potential to his advantage. Some lyrics, like on "Cruci-Fiction in Space" , might appeal to some as boring and cheesy, but Manson has more hits in the lyrics on this album than misses. For the small flaws the album has, its worth it for the wonderful music the band brought together here as a whole.
Manson had a very distinct idea and he brought it to life on Holy Wood, its a 19 song epic that defines Marilyn Manson and flows in a way that is both dark in its theme and beautiful in how the music is crafted. "The Golden Age of Grotesque" and "Eat Me, Drink Me" lacked having Twiggy's musicanship or any of the band members present on this album which made them weaker, but "Holy Wood" will always stand atop of all of the work Manson has done to date as his masterpiece. Some of the greatest work in the bands carrer is present here - give it a full listen for a truly rewarding experience.
