Marilyn Manson cancelled his Copenhagen show in 2025 - after the venue doors had opened - with what sounded like a very made-up excuse, and I'm still rather pissed off about it. Anyway, I really like his "One Assassination Under God (Chapter 1)" [2024] album, so obviously I had to own Chapter 2 and find out if it is a close enough match for Chapter 1.
"I've got a sickle and a pale horse to ride
You want a monster and now I've arrived"
It turns out that the songs on Chapter 2 were already written and recorded at the same time as Chapter 1. The booklet says they were recorded from April 2023 - April 2024. It also says that all lyrics were written by Marilyn Manson and the music was composed by Tyler Bates, who also played most of the instruments.
I guess you can view Chapter 2 as an extension of Chapter 1 or as the left-overs from Chapter 1. It is already clear to me that I will soon be creating a Mini-Disc with the best songs from Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Some sort of deluxe version of "One Assassination Under God".
Manson still sounds pissed off on Chapter 2, but he appears to be trying to move on and leave the #MeToo bullshit behind. Many of the lyrics are rather cryptic and could mean many things depending on how you interpret them. The lyrics fit the music well and I think I'll just give a fuck about their deeper meaning. Good luck if you decide to try to decipher them. Album closer "Enantiomorph" has some of the perhaps most cryptic lyrics.
"It's not for what they did to me
It's for what they did to you"
All songs fit together well when you listen from beginning to end. The songs have a similar sound to the Chapter 1 album. Manson is still using tons of voice processing, but I guess we are used to that. The 2 singles "Exit Wound" and "Front Toward Enemy" are pretty standard aggressive Manson stuff and nothing special. I prefer "Exit Wound" if I have to choose the best of the two. The most catchy song on the album is "Lucifer's Teardrop", while "All the vilest things" have some of the best lyrics.
"You tried your best to destroy me
I don't want revenge because you only made me stronger
I planted a paradise in your death camp
Your cemetery started growing flowers"
"I've been pulling shrapnel from the dead skin
Reckless shots that you fired into a crowd
All the vilest things and the pain they bring
Still you never, ever can take me down"
Chapter 2 is a good extension of Chapter 1, but I think it is time for Manson to change the subject. I would much rather see a fresh new album than a Chapter 3. That said, Chapter 2 is solid enough and worth several spins on your preferred music player. I haven't forgiven him for fucking us over here in Copenhagen in 2025. Maybe I'll learn to live with it one day, but it is more fun to be angry than it is to forgive.
"I've got heaven on my mind
I've got hell in my heart"
Rating: 
Band: Marilyn Manson
Record Title: One Assassination Under God (Chapter 2)
This Release: 2026
RunTime: 43
Record Format: LP
Record Label: Nuclear Blast
Extra Info:
- LP includes a large booklet with lyrics
TrackList:
- Unalive
- Don't Answer The Door
- Front Toward Enemy
- All The Vilest Things
- The Arsonist (*)
- None Of The Suns
- Lucifer's Teardrop
- Exit Wound
- Enantiomorph
(*) The LP has "The Arsonist" as track 5, while it is track 7 on the CD.
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2026-08-23 11:41
Created: 2026-08-23 09:13
