Rock review: Marilyn Manson: The High End of Low

Away from music, Marilyn Manson has proved himself to be an articulate, engaging and intelligent man, so after more than a decade of separating sulky teens from their pocket money, it would be nice if he could throw us a curve ball once in a while. Like, say, a dubstep album, or a collection of pagan neofolk songs; anything other than the usual entry-level shock-rock histrionics. But, unfortunately, the Marilyn Manson blueprint holds fast, and all the familiar elements are here: vaguely transgressive lyrics ("You're as pretty as a swastika"), raspy, downbeat verses followed by shouty, stomp-up-the-stairs-and-slam-the-bedroom-door choruses. The difference is that even Manson sounds unconvinced by his "antichrist superstar" persona; maybe because his target demographic have grown up and moved on. Perhaps he should, too.