KEY POINTS:
Marilyn Manson isn't that scary anymore. He's also a little bit daft considering he didn't fight tooth and well-manicured-nail to keep the lovely Dita Von Teese as his wife. Love life aside, remember back in the mid 90s when his album Antichrist Superstar provoked bans, riled churches and freaked parents out around the world? Back then, and to a certain extent on albums like Holy Wood (2000) and The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003), he was making rock music that incited a reaction. Now, on his sixth studio album, he's just making music - dark gothic pop-rock music. And, in the case of, They Said That Hell's Not Hot he's downright middle of the road.
Sonically, Eat Me, Drink Me, is tops. From Manson's tortured wail, that suctions in and out from his gut to microphone like a carnivorous slug, to the epic launch of guitar and bass riffs and drum beats, it makes for a dynamic listen. It's just that it lacks the violent vigour of a song like Beautiful People (from Superstar), and slower moody songs, like If I was Your Vampire and Just a Car Crash Away aren't a patch on the spine-chilling Tourniquet (also from Superstar). The key track here is the 80s-glam-goth of Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand), it's Manson at his writhing and whining best.
Label: Interscope
Verdict: Sixth album of not so scary nightmares from goth pop king
