Buy Now
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
Entertainment WeeklyJan 16, 2015It's about as close to aging gracefully as you could ever hope to get from a dude who used to call himself the Antichrist Superstar. [23 Jan 2015, p.69]
-
Kerrang!Feb 2, 2015The Pale Emperor doesn't repeat the in-your-face rebellion of Manson 1996. But it does share those old traits of being brave, smart and intriguing. [10 Jan 2015, p.52]
-
Jan 22, 2015The album itself is overall lackluster, with only a few jewels in an otherwise pronounced rough, even though Warner seems to be trying hard to experiment.
-
Jan 20, 2015Taking their sound in a new, unforeseen bluesy direction accomplishes the near impossible by making Marilyn Manson sound even more sinister than before.
-
Jan 16, 2015While it may not be the most musically adventurous or frightening albums you'll hear this year, 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.
-
Jan 15, 2015Marilyn Manson has always possessed the ability to write and produce music that can speak at its own compelling length and pitch. Here he unleashes that side of his frayed character for the first time in about 14 years.
-
Jan 20, 2015On 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.
-
Jan 20, 2015Definitely a leap into the right direction, the album is the product of a clear mindset and less ego tripping.
-
Jan 20, 2015What emerges is 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.
-
UncutJan 15, 2015A paucity of strong tunes remains his Achilles heel, but no-one else does wasted decadence with such persuasive panache. [Feb 2015, p.80]
-
MojoFeb 2, 2015This tenth album opens, unappetizingly for non-disciples, with a histrionic funeral dirge call provocatively, Killing Strangers--plus ca change from the Status Quo of Satanist twaddle. But hold tight, there's livelier material ahead. [Feb 2015, p.89]
-
Jan 29, 2015Unlike Manson's previous records, there's no real guiding concept here, which is probably for the best.
-
Jan 20, 2015Whereas the Duke represented the pop icon's most aggressive experimentation with composition and style, Manson appears content simply to polish up the usual antisocial stompers.
-
Jan 16, 2015The Pale Emperor is downright ambitious when it wants to be and lazy when it can get away with it.
-
Jan 16, 2015It's no classic, but perhaps the surprise here is that Manson’s music can work without the shock shtick.
-
Jan 23, 2015The Pale Emperor plods inoffensively from start to finish with moderate gloom and a similar level of hooks.
-
Jan 20, 2015There are other winners here: “The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles” (sheer autobiography by Manson) and the unexpected “Killing Strangers,” a slow, dirgey track that appears to pinpoint a terrorist’s mind-set: “We got guns, you better run, we’re killing strangers.” Elsewhere, the album often flounder.
-
Jan 15, 2015A lack of “oomph” prevents the album from landing a gut punch that would cover all of its flaws.
-
Jan 20, 2015That this is Manson’s most accessible and focused album in years counts for very little; there is simply no shock value when all you have to offer are cheap shocks.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 142 out of 161
-
Mixed: 10 out of 161
-
Negative: 9 out of 161
-
Jan 20, 2015
-
Feb 22, 2015
-
Jan 22, 2015