Explorations in Vampiricy: Marilyn Manson's 'EAT ME, DRINK ME'

MARILYN MANSON: EAT ME, DRINK ME

SCORE: 85/100

Marilyn Manson's sixth album marked a much more atmospheric and gothic sound for the band, using slow driving cinematic soundscapes and heavy sounds to create one of the band's most moody projects to date.

This marked the first Marilyn Manson album that was not recorded with five members in the band, as it was worked on and produced solely by Manson and Tim Sköld, who is both a bassist and guitarist. This led to a very different sound for this album, which captures a much more vampiric and gothic sound that is driven in slow grooves that are driven out into an 11-track album that uses long songs to create its atmosphere. 

With this album, the band would carry on as a four-piece instead, as John 5 had left in 2004, leaving Sköld to perform both bass and guitar for the band. Manson and Sköld used this album to collaborate on something with a distinctive sound and unique recording process, part of which included Manson singing while lying down on the floor of their rented Hollywood studio, leading to a very slow, almost groany vocal register for Manson. This gives the album a highly unique sound that sets it apart from the bands other works, allowing for a breath of new life into their discography so many albums in. 

"This record is definitely so crucial to my life. I think this record shows a human side of me, shows a vulnerable side of me," -Manson [Wikipedia] 

At this point in the band's run, Manson knew exactly what he was doing and what it was that he liked to create - with this album using more influences from horror stories and movies to create something dark and velvety. It's less aggressive and more smooth, with the sounds of the album melting together into something incredibly haunting and gorgeous all in all. 

Experimenting with new sounds is something that feels very brave for an artist to do so late into their career, but with this album, 2007 marked a brand new Manson era; still the same controversial figure, but this time with a much more melodic and haunting caliber - a slow, creeping sound that haunts and differs from the hostility and violence of the bands' earlier albums. 

Some of the songs on this album are much weaker than other songs within the Manson catalogue, but the album as a whole comes together very well despite some inconsistencies and sequencing issues when it comes to the general pacing of the album. It's an incredible change in sound for a band that continued with the same sound for so many albums, and it was a very reasonable move to create something new for the band's discography to prevent their catalogue from running dry.

This change wasn't done for no reason, it was Manson reinventing himself as a whole.

After suffering from severe depression during touring for The Golden Age of Grotesque, Manson highly considered quitting the music industry, which at the time marked his greatest hits compilation album as his "farewell album". He would go on to state that the compilation would not be the final Marilyn Manson album, which later led to EAT ME, DRINK ME. This album helped for Manson to come out of a slump that he had faced by introducing him to new methods of recording and new sounds for the band, which helped to shape something interesting to get his spark for music back after suffering from one of the most brutalizing careers in all of rock music. 

"This is the record I've worked all my life to get to. You always have to transform, or you can't continue as an artist, and this record has been the biggest transformation for me" -Manson for Revolver Magazine [Wikipedia]

It's no wonder that Manson has faced difficulties with staying in the music industry before due to the constant controversy and media scrutiny he has faced for almost four decades, and that tarnish in the bands' legacy has run deep for many years - especially when the major controversies of the 1990's started to affect Manson personally. This album was a blessing in itself that showcased a major sense of resilience within Manson, and it showed that he could still rise above the rubble in his hardships - now almost two decades after the release of this album, he is still making music with a new album on the way soon; and his performances are back to the best they can be with new and improved concerts and his sobriety helping to reshape who he is while still keeping his same dark style. 

This album is romantic in an animalistic and dark way (which is highly on-brand for Manson) while showcasing a massive transformation for the band, using keyboard elements that provide a slow and upbeat heavy atmosphere that drives the entire album into a brand new direction for the band. Manson stated that the album is better heard than described; and fewer words are as true as his, as this is an album that you must experience and truly feel to connect with it and understand it. 

EAT ME, DRINK ME is an intimate piece that showcases a side of Manson fans hadn't seen until this point in the band's discography - using a vocal technique that is less biting and more smooth, which led to one of Manson's most potent projects in terms of vocal showcase. This is a project that showcases the range of the band as well as that of Manson himself, and it's an album that fans either love or hate - some can handle the change, and some can't; and if you can't, you're missing out on one of the best sides of Manson. The album is drastically unique and full of variety, experimenting with new sounds while Manson provides vivid vocal performances that feel intimate and live. It's an album that gives you the full experience of how it came to life, and it's one of Manson's most underappreciated projects despite the quality it presents.