Heaven Upside Down
by Marilyn Manson
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. Rolling Stone
    Oct 6, 2017
    60
    That old black magic often sounds forced, but he makes up for it with a few more melancholy tracks.
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Oct 5, 2017
    60
    We’re unlikely to see the power or the passion of Manson’s classic run again - it’s very difficult to bottle lightning twice - and you shouldn’t come to Heaven Upside Down expecting anything as textured, interesting or frightening as those early releases. That said ... It’s business as usual, but after a decade of disappointment, it’s good to know business is doing well.
  3. Q Magazine
    Oct 5, 2017
    60
    Neither subtle nor very shocking, it still sounds as if Manson, Countess Bathory-style, has received a shot of fresh blood. [Nov 2017, p.111]
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  5. New Musical Express (NME)
    Oct 5, 2017
    60
    For Manson fans this is familiar territory: the same mechanical riffs, same whisper/scream vocals heard on his regular stream of albums. Here, most songs are entertaining rather than groundbreaking. Occasionally they’re neither.
  6. Pitchfork
    Oct 11, 2017
    59
    On Heaven Upside Down, his 10th album, Manson embraces the tropes that made him a menace and a rock star and a stalwart of goth.
  7. PopMatters
    Oct 11, 2017
    50
    Heaven Upside Down finds Manson struggling for meaning. The lyrics are not the harsh, pointed barbs that he supposes they are. Simply sounding like the tame, blunted fury of a man rehashing the same old tired themes.
  8. Spin
    Oct 5, 2017
    50
    Remarkably, Bates captures outsized bombast while infusing the music with a genuine energy that verges on punk. Manson’s music hasn’t sounded this alive in years, which makes it so disappointing that he squanders a golden opportunity. ... Manson sounds increasingly out of touch and desperate to preserve a persona that he and his audience should have outgrown a long time ago.

Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Most Discussed Album of 2017

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 104
  3. Negative: 9 out of 104
  1. KrysTantra
    Oct 6, 2017
    3
    An unexpected failure in contrast to the very authentic and dark predecessor "The Pale Emperor". This new album is underwhelming and lessAn unexpected failure in contrast to the very authentic and dark predecessor "The Pale Emperor". This new album is underwhelming and less imaginative. Cheesy guitar licks filled in with synthesizer loops. Noise and fury, signifying nothing. This should have been released as an LP, as only a few tracks are half-decent. Tyler Bates & Brian Warner should have kept riding that Pale Emperor horse, there was much more substance in that presentation. 3/10.… Full Review »
  2. Nbecarri
    Oct 6, 2017
    10
    A worthy competitor in the Manson discography and one of his best, most definitely.
    If you liked his previous album, The Pale Emperor, then    A worthy competitor in the Manson discography and one of his best, most definitely.
    If you liked his previous album, The Pale Emperor, then i'm sure you'll like this one as well.
    It is aggressive, strange, eerie, loud, witty and entertaining.

    Favorite tracks: Revelation #12, Tattooed in Reverse, We Know Where You **** Live, Kill4Me, Saturnalia, Je$u$ Cri$i$.

    Least favorite track: Blood Honey.    … Full Review »
  3. Fitzpatrick
    Oct 12, 2017
    3
    I was excited to spin this CD as the hype last year really hooked me - I was glad Twiggy had returned to the scene, and the last few albumsI was excited to spin this CD as the hype last year really hooked me - I was glad Twiggy had returned to the scene, and the last few albums had been of rather good quality.
    A few songs in, I just wasn't feeling it, thinking perhaps this record was back-loaded, but it completely failed to deliver.
    Again, Twiggy is nowhere to be found, which severely hobbles the quality of the Manson sound. Brian Warner is the only remaining original member of Manson, and it shows: the atmosphere is flat and two-dimensional...I fail to see this as any sort of 'Masterpiece.'
    Additionally, the lyrical content and vocal inflections had me cringing; like he is trying WAY too hard - it came off to me as very juvenile, which sucks because Manson has always had a knack for articulation and capturing meaning in a raw, but mature manner. With that said, the over use of the word F**K is just lame - it does the converse of accenting the mood, having me rolling my eyes as I try to make it through another song. Most fans are now in our 30's: so by over using and over inflecting curse words to appeal to the angsty youth of today comes off as silly.
    There is no subtlety anywhere to be found in this record; more a 'In-your-face-look-at-me-I'm-back' which again, tries way too hard to celebrate Manson's return to media, or relevance or whatever.
    There is little melody, and few hooks; just an overall a very loud, but very 'flat' musical narration accompanying textured and pulsing electronic beats. I don't see how this is 'the most thematic and over-complicated' record Manson has produced...he always overdubs multiple tracks of his vocals.
    Perhaps it takes a while. If I catch a greater essence of what this record is about I'll be back.    … Full Review »
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