Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (CD - 2000)

Marilyn Manson: Marilyn Manson (vocals, guitar, flute, piano, pianette, electric harpsichord, Mellotron, keyboards, synthesized bass, syncussion); John 5 (acoustic, electric, slide & synthesized guitars); Twiggy Ramirez (guitar, keyboards, bass); M.W. Gacy (Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizer, synthesized bass, samples); Ginger Fish (drums, loops).

Additional personnel: Dave Sardy (guitar, programming); Bon Harris (piano, synthesizer, bass, hi-hat cymbal, programming, electronics); Danny Saber (loops).

In 2000, Marilyn Manson not only was recovering from his fans' rejection of Mechanical Animals, he was scarred from Columbine and, worst of all, he was no longer America's demon dog. What was Brian Warner to do, standing on such uneasy ground? As a smart man and savvy marketer, he knew that it was time to consolidate his strengths, blend Omega with Antichrist Superstar, and return with a harsh, controversial, operatic epic: a vulgar concept album to seduce his core audiences of alienated teens and cultural cops. The resulting album, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death), is intended as the third part of the trilogy beginning with Antichrist Superstar, and its convoluted story line is fairly autobiographical, but the amazing thing isn't the story -- it's that he figured out to meld the hooks and subtle sonic shading of Mechanical Animals with the ugly, neo-industrial metallicisms of Antichrist. Consequently, it's easy to see this as the definitive Marilyn Manson album, since it's tuneful and abrasive. Then again, much of its charm lies in Manson trying so hard, perfecting details in the concept, lyrics, themes, production, sequencing, the tarot card parodies in the liner notes, the self-theft, the self-consciously blasphemous cover art. There's so much effort, Holy Wood winds up a stronger and more consistent album than any of his other work. If there's any problem, it's that Manson's shock rock seems a little quaint in 2000. Eminem's vibrant, surrealistic white-trash fantasias were the sound of 2000, while Marilyn Manson's rock operas, religious baiting, and goth gear are from an era passed. It's to Warner's credit as, yes, an artist that Holy Wood works anyway. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

From the outset, as the slowly churning guitar riffs of "Godeatgod" pound their way into your ear, it's clear that Marilyn Manson plans to make few deviations from its previously established industrial rock ways on HOLY WOOD. This is an admirable display of canniness on the band's part, as the fruits of playing to their strengths are apparent throughout the album.

The ironically titled "The Love Song" features a savagely pounding chorus and screamed expletives, while "The Fight Song" makes no attempt to hide its self-referential qualities, which concern being "a big rock star, celebrated victim of your fame." Despite its ominous title, "In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" offers some momentary solace amid HOLY WOOD's sonic maelstrom, by way of a melodic, softly sung refrain (along the way, it also happens to rescue the classic fuzz bass sound from the dustbin of '60s psychedelia). The closing track "Count to Six (The Vacuum of Infinite Space Encompassing)" drops the metallic guitars and thrashing drums in favor of gothic-sounding keyboards and creepily intoned vocals, making for a low-key but nevertheless unsettling brew that's equally reminiscent of Bauhaus and Manson mentor Trent Reznor. minimize