The Pale Emperor
by Marilyn Manson
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 161 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 142 out of 161
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 161
  3. Negative: 9 out of 161
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  1. VIVIsectVI
    Jan 21, 2015
    4
    It might be the best Marilyn Manson album in 10 years, but that's not saying much. While a few songs are okay the rest of the album comes across as cliche rock music. Everything that made the 90s albums so good is completely gone here. The absence of a keyboardist is probably why this album is so bland to me.
  2. Hackskeptic
    May 28, 2015
    4
    Heavy duty snores as Manson trudges on with the usual sonic dirge that’s littered his recent recordings, from killing strangers, Armageddon, Satan, and of course, death. There needs to be a sense of genuine peril for his music to be effective, which sadly doesn’t appear here.
  3. NickolasM
    Mar 16, 2015
    6
    The sound similarities with The Smashing Pumpkins' early work (or the 90's alternative rock blossom in general) is more than obvious for some reason in here. If the songwriting was better, then "The Pale Emperor" could have been brilliant, even though retro. So I will insist on my earlier statement: They should have released an EP with 6-7 songs in it. It might have a better potential,The sound similarities with The Smashing Pumpkins' early work (or the 90's alternative rock blossom in general) is more than obvious for some reason in here. If the songwriting was better, then "The Pale Emperor" could have been brilliant, even though retro. So I will insist on my earlier statement: They should have released an EP with 6-7 songs in it. It might have a better potential, because there are some killer tracks in here and some boring ones, too.
    Read the whole review here: http://www.anartcalled.blogspot.gr/2014/12/marilyn-manson-pale-emperor.html    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2015
94
#94 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. Mojo
    Feb 2, 2015
    60
    This 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]
  2. Kerrang!
    Feb 2, 2015
    80
    The 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]
  3. NOW Magazine
    Jan 29, 2015
    60
    Unlike Manson's previous records, there's no real guiding concept here, which is probably for the best.
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