| "Sacrilegious" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byMarilyn Manson | ||||
| from the albumOne Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 | ||||
| Released | September 27, 2024 (2024-09-27) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| Marilyn Manson singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Sacrilegious" onYouTube | ||||
"Sacrilegious" is a song by American rock bandMarilyn Manson. It was released as the third single from their twelfth studio album,One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1, on November 22, 2024, viaNuclear Blast. The track was written and produced byMarilyn Manson alongsideTyler Bates, with drums performed byGil Sharone. The song'smusic video was directed by Bill Yukich, who also directed the videos for the previous two singles, "As Sick as the Secrets Within" and "Raise the Red Flag". The track peaked within the top ten ofBillboard'sHard Rock Digital Song Sales, making it the band's twelfth top ten hit on that chart.
"Sacrilegious" was written and produced byMarilyn Manson andTyler Bates.[1] The song's lyric examines a perceived hypocrisy ofreligion, where the death of the savior is glorified. The lyric instead argues: "You should have treated your saviors better."[2]Revolver noted the lyric references numerous aspects of Christian theology, includingmartyrdom andresurrection, which their writer said can be analogous tocancel culture.[3] It is one of the more uptempo tracks onOne Assassination Under God – Chapter 1,[4] and was described in reviews as apop metal,[5]industrial pop,[6]glam rock andgothic rock song,[7] with elements ofindustrial andalternative rock. Manson's vocals were described as featuring a "mix of aggression and melody."[8]
Sputnikmusic said the songs builds upon the material Manson and Bates created together onThe Pale Emperor (2015) andHeaven Upside Down (2017), but that the song's "sinister vocal croons and creepy industrial electronics hearken back to [Manson's 1990s] heyday".[4] Similarly,KNAC said the song contains "nods to the rage and theatricality ofAntichrist Superstar", specifically the song "Mister Superstar", but said "Sacrilegious" was more "restrained" than "Mister Superstar", saying it was "woven into [the] larger narrative [ofOne Assassination Under God – Chapter 1] rather than taking center stage."[9]
Numerous reviews compared "Sacrilegious" to theAntichrist Superstar single "The Beautiful People".Sonic Abuse said the song contained a similar "rhythm and death-groove swing". They said it "feels like the track was written as a single", but said a single was unnecessary considering the abuse allegations, arguing Manson's time was better spent making harder and more introspective material. However, they went on to say that "no one quite does sleazy industro-pop like Manson, and it's easy to imagine his fans lapping [the song] up."[6] Greg Burk ofMetal Jazz called it the album's "obligatory 'Beautiful People' redux".[10] In their album review,Blabbermouth.net singled out "Sacrilegious" as one of the weaker songs on the record, saying the track is "no 'Beautiful People' or 'Disposable Teens' but plainly wants to be".[11]
A three-track digital single was released on September 27, 2024, byNuclear Blast. The single contained "As Sick as the Secrets Within" and "Raise the Red Flag" asB-sides.[12] The same day, the track listing, cover art and release date of parent albumOne Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 was revealed.[3][13] The song's music video was also released on September 27, which was directed by Bill Yukich.[14] He directed the music videos for "As Sick as the Secrets Within" and "Raise the Red Flag",[15][16] as well as the music videos for three songs on the band's 2017 albumHeaven Upside Down: "Kill4Me", "Say10", and "Tattooed in Reverse".[15]
The song debuted within the top ten ofBillboard'sHard Rock Digital Song Sales. It was the band's fifteenth song to enter the chart, and their twelfth to peak within the top ten.[17]
All songs written and produced byMarilyn Manson andTyler Bates.[18]
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofOne Assassination Under God – Chapter 1.[18]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHard Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] | 10 |
