In 1996, Marilyn Manson was a ferocious and feisty rock star who wanted all the attention and notoriety that comes with being famous. He had already made a name for himself with his cover of the Eurythmics song "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This" and the gruesome video that accompanied it.
But the real kick was his second album, Antichrist Superstar. It marked a dramatic change in Manson’s music, with an image and ambition bigger than anything heard before.
This was a man who understood the power of rage and the potential for transforming a society. He saw the evil and resentment within America’s culture of vanity. He knew that if people were free to think for themselves, then the country would be a more peaceful place to live.
Antichrist Superstar is a bombastic album with pummeling drums, roaring guitars and dissonant chords. It also features a powerful lyrical message that links celebrity to fascism, and calls for people to rise above the media and become their own heroes.
It is considered to be one of the most influential albums of all time. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and is still selling today.
A great rock and metal album that pushed Manson into the mainstream, Antichrist Superstar was also the last record to feature founding guitarist Daisy Berkowitz. It was recorded at Nothing Studios in New Orleans and co-produced by the band’s eponymous frontman along with Sean Beavan, former Skinny Puppy producer Dave Ogilvie and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.