Marilyn Manson
Lest We Forget (The Best Of)

THE REVIEW

Behind the horrifying face of Brian Warner, known as Marilyn Manson, lies one of the most successful projects in the history of the American music business. Millions of records sold in ten years of career, exploiting transgression and the attempt to break American censorship by any means as a highly effective promotional vehicle. Of course, showing genitalia during a concert, slaughtering a bat, or calling oneself the Antichrist, Mr. Manson was by no means the first in rock history to do so, but there is no doubt that no one before him had managed to stir media storms of such magnitude.

That said, it should be added that Marilyn Manson was one of the most innovative bands of late millennium rock. Heir to the industrial movement of the early '90s (Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, White Zombie), MM developed a very original sound, seemingly raw, but which, upon closer listening, reveals a remarkable refinement of sounds, curated, moreover, by the best producers around. Sampling, electronic drum loops, humorous effects, combined with extensive use of the trendiest effects (flanger, whammy, harmonizer, synth...) by the excellent guitarist Zim Zum, are the elements that make up the sonic mosaic of their tracks. "Lest We Forget" contains all their most famous hits: from "The Dope Show", to "Rock Is Dead", "The Beautiful People", passing through the splendid covers of "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode (the bonus track on the album), "Sweet Dreams" (Eurythmics), and "Tainted Love" (Soft Cell), there are a total of 16 tracks in this enticing compilation.