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8.0
72311
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Despite the zeal for playing boogeyman to the gallery, Marilyn Manson has always possessed the ability to write and produce music that can speak at its own compelling length and pitch
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8.0
72357
8.0 |
The Music
Impossibly dark, bitter and soulful from start to finish, Manson is once again set to inspire the armies of pissed-off teenagers, retired metal-heads and not-quite goths everywhere. The king has returned
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8.0
72396
8.0 |
All Music
Taking their sound in a new, unforeseen bluesy direction accomplishes the near impossible by making Marilyn Manson sound even more sinister than before
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8.0
72560
8.0 |
Q
Shock-rocker delivers biggest shock yet: a return to form. Print edition only
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7.5
72385
7.5 |
A.V. Club
On The Pale Emperor, he sounds both inspired and rejuvenated; for the first time in a while, the most interesting thing about Manson is his music
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7.5
72314
7.5 |
The Quietus
When it comes to writing memorable, mature songs full of devilishly addictive hooks without trying to relive the past, The Pale Emperor breathes new life into Marilyn Manson's previously ailing music career
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7.0
72329
7.0 |
Uncut
No one else does wasted decadence with such persuasive panache. Print edition only
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7.0
72355
7.0 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Marilyn Manson's most enjoyable offering in a decade. Definitely a leap into the right direction, the album is the product of a clear mindset and less ego tripping
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7.0
72422
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
A classier record than you might expect from Manson – and one that still manages to be the kind of old-fashioned alt-rock tantrum no one bothers throwing these days
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6.0
72330
6.0 |
Mojo
Manson is all about needling at American prurience, at which he excels with grandstanding lyrical gross-outs. Print edition only
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6.0
72342
6.0 |
Slant Magazine
Like Alice Cooper, his spiritual forebear in gender-bending shock rock, he hawks cheeky, grandiose blasphemy in the form of riff-laden anthems, and on those terms, this trim, turbocharged album delivers
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6.0
72361
6.0 |
Exclaim
Downright ambitious when it wants to be and lazy when it can get away with it
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6.0
72312
6.0 |
NME
At its worst, ‘The Pale Emperor’ feels grey and humourless
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5.5
72624
5.5 |
Beardfood
Manson's continuation of his musical career comes with a good idea executed mostly poorly
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5.0
72543
5.0 |
Spin
Plods inoffensively from start to finish with moderate gloom and a similar level of hooks
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5.0
72313
5.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
A lack of “oomph” prevents the album from landing a gut punch that would cover all of its flaws
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4.0
72456
4.0 |
PopMatters
“Safe” may not be a word often used with the music of Marilyn Manson, but it certainly applies here
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