Marilyn Manson's Triptych ("Antichrist Svperstar" - 1996, "Mechanical Animals" -1998 and "Holywood" - 2000)

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this before. I guess I just kind of assumed I did back in 2005 or 2006, but I'm pretty certain I didn't.

Anyway, while some may not enjoy the music of shock rocker Marilyn Manson or of their theatrics and/or controversy, I find the man and the band to be quite fascinating. The music is not what interested me at first, but the lyrics and interviews. That hooked me and I haven't let up sense.

Lyrically speaking, I found the band's triptych to be the most fascinating. As mentioned in the title of this blog, this started with the album "Antichrist Svperstar" in 1996, continued with "Mechanical Animals" in 1998 and finished with "Holywood (In the Valley of the Shadow of Death" in 2000.

Musically speaking, it was very interesting as well, as "Antichrist Svperstar" was very much industrial metal. "Mechanical Animals" was more space rock. Finally, "Holywood" was more goth rock. All three albums, musically speaking, were very different.

But, back to the lyrics. These three albums comprised a story the lead singer thought of and wrote. Supposedly, "Antichrist Svperstar" was the end of the story, "Mechanical Animals" was the beginning and "Holywood" was the glue that tied the story together. Now, it's highly debatable what the details were in the story being told, but I think get the gist of the story overall and like I said at the outset, I find it fascinating as well as thought-provoking.

In the story, Manson takes on the role of Lucifer or the fallen angel. In "Mechanical Animals," it tells the story of Lucifer's time spent in heaven, of him becoming a rock star, rebelling against God's wishes, before at album's end, he's sent to hell.

In "Antichrist Svperstar," Lucifer goes through different stages of self-discovery as the beast feared by many. He shows indifference at first, shows pain and anguish, displays fear, before by album's end, he discovers his ultimate power as leader of the underworld known as hell. He understands the power of temptation, of sin, of making people believe they should live for themselves and not a higher power.

Including "Holywood" as the glue to the story, with "Count to Six and Die" being the album's closer (and the story's closer), this is how I interpreted the overall concept of the triptych.

This is the journey of Lucifer (and in odd ways Manson himself and perhaps many of us). He was kicked out of paradise for not abiding by all the ruler's guidelines. He was then made into the scapegoat, blamed for every sin, every mistake, every wrong-doing in the world. At first, he was reluctant to take on this responsibility, but then said f*** it (as it so says in the song "Irresponsible Hate Anthem") and slowly, but surely took on this role with pride. He accepts the hate, the anger, the blame, the fear ("Man That You Fear"), but, by the story's end, Lucifer has to decide what to do with this power and as can be heard in "Count to Six and Die," he is playing Russian roulette with himself, pulling the trigger and we never know what comes of it.

Why does it end this way? The story is to provoke thought in the story of the Bible. Christians believe that Jesus is the savior, that one can only reach the paradise known as heaven if one has faith in Jesus. Yet, as this triptych asks, where would Jesus be without Lucifer? From what would he be saving mankind? If Lucifer is responsible for sin and he doesn't exist, for what did Jesus die and from what is he saving us? At story's end, Lucifer seems to want to end it all, as he will kill himself and undo the history that is know as Christianity. Jesus will no longer be the savior. Man will not be saved and sent to paradise in the after-life. The world will essential end. This brings up the question, where would one of these figures be without the other and does that then make both Jesus and Lucifer saviors in a way? Without Jesus, there would be no need for Lucifer and without Lucifer, there would be no reason for Jesus.

Like I said, I find the story to be quite fascinating, because I understand it and feel that it presents us with some very interesting questions to ponder. Of course, no one will be able to prove their theory beyond a reasonable doubt, but it can still provide us with a very intriguing discussion.