Marilyn Manson maintains the momentum of the current era of his career with this 13th album, One Assassination Under God Chapter 2 (Nuclear Blast Records). This is his fourth album that Tyler Bates has produced, and much like the first three, it finds a balance of brooding melodicism and the in-your-face guitar grit and middle finger to the world attitude. It picks up where he left off on part one, though the album has a darker feel. He rocks out harder than he has in some time on “Don’t Answer the Door.” He has never been the heaviest act on the bill, but what he relents in sonic heft, he makes up for in the confrontational mood his songs create. When he does, the guitar carries more heft this time around, as heard on “Front Toward Enemy.” The bass line’s groove seals the deal. Continue reading →