the NachtKabarett

THE HIGH END OF LOW - ALBUM, ERA AND ETHOS | "[The title] really defines the record, which is about falling from grace and trying to fit in and be accepted as a mortal or as a normal person when people don't see you as that. It's also about giving up what you are to prove that you love somebody more than you love yourself. When you get to that point you're unlovable. And for me, halfway through the record, you can hear it. It went from despair to anger, it's like passing through the stages of destruction and reconstruction."

As the title itself alludes, the album explores the black/white, positive/negative, Marilyn/Manson dichotomy which is the staple of all of Manson's art. Falling from grace, redemption, pain, isolation and occult and Biblical imagery all pervade Manson's seventh album.

Click for full article

ARMA-GODDAMN-MOTHERFUCKIN-GEDDON & PRETTY AS A $ | As its title would suggest, Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon' contains numerous parallels to Biblical iconography. These themes, among others, pervade the song and video for the single, exploring the innate fascism of money, censorship and sensational of American culture. One of the most indicting tracks on the record with the single's video and imagery acting as a prelude to the new era's ethos. The new $ symbol with the video acts additionally as a veiled reference to Salvador Dalí, stemming from a pointed attack formulated on Breton's belief that Dalí had abandoned his artistic integrity and surrealist roots in the pursuit of fame and wealth. Furthermore, (and much like Manson) Dalí was met with accusations of being a Nazi sympathizer who held militaristic and fascist ideologies, due to his unashamed and open fascination with fascism.

Click for full article

THE HIGH END OF LOW - LIVE | In the vein of the album themes and imagery revolving around Manson's conception of life as a movie, the live counterpart of 'The High End of Low' reflects this theatricality by simulating each song in the live tour as a different "act". Replete with movie stage-sound lights illuminating Manson onstage, the veil of "backstage"/"onstage" has been lifted to portray this cinematic effect ; Manson reapplies his makeup front-and-center onstage, stagehands assist with wardrobe changes in full view of the audience, and a stagehand emerging prior to each song's commencement and signifies that each new act has begun by use of a clapperboard. As if to convey the filmic mantra of "lights. camera. action." and the song begins. The tour, imagery, theatrics and more documented herein.

Click for full article

THE HIGH END OF LOW MARILYNMANSON.COM, v2 | On the evening of Sunday October 4th 2009, at approximately 6pm MarilynManson.com was relaunched with its most dramatic and intricate incarnation to date. Significantly to note, this coincided with Manson's tour embarkment in Australia, which is a minimum of 12 hours ahead of all US time zones. Meaning, to all extents and purposes, and for Manson, the new site was launched October 5 aka 10/5 aka 10 + 5 = 15. The site was laden with symbolism and intricacies much more in-depth than any previous incarnation, embodying the symbolism and ethos representing Marilyn Manson since he unleashed his vision unto the world in 1989...

Click for full article

THE HIGH END OF LOW MARILYNMANSON.COM, MYSPACE & MINISITES | All archived, housed and documented exclusively by The NACHTKABARETT, are all incarnations of The High End of Low era official sites, Manson's personal MySpace postings, minisites of the era and all imagery contained within each.

Click for full article

FIFTEEN - MAR1LYN MAN5ON & NUMEROLOGY | Manson's first predominant evocation of numerology first reared its head throughout 1996's 'Antichrist Svperstar' album and era but it wasn't until 1998's 'Mechanical Animals' in which Manson became overtly open and forthright with numerological correspondences within his works. Namely, the number 15, which can be found consistently throughout Manson's works ever since.

The significance of the number 15 can be found throughout the Bible, numerology and the occult. Even further personalized for Manson, his birthday is January 5, 1969 ; 1/5 = 15 and (19)69 combined as 6 + 9 = 15. Additionally, Manson's birth sign, Capricorn, is associated with the 15th card of the Tarot, uncoincidentally The Devil card.

Click for full article

THE HIGH END OF LOW - LYRICAL EVOCATIONS | Various lyrical references and evocations withing 'The High End of Low'. Filmic influences are a common thread, with the album being Manson's most celluloid inspired record to date, as reflected within the album artwork and film reel disc itself. The lyrics however mark a vitriolic return to scathing diatribes against wanton American blindness and occult themes which haven't as prominently been explored since 'Holy Wood' and 'Antichrist Svperstar'.

Click for full article