Marilyn Manson Embraces Punk Rock for Upcoming Album

While Marilyn Manson has always produced dark, industrial music with a flair for the theatrical, punk rock is one of the last things one would normally associate with his discography. That's about to change on the aging shock rocker's new LP, which, according to longtime guitarist Twiggy Ramirez, will embrace more of a stripped-down punk ethos.

"It's kind of like a little more of a punk rock 'Mechanical Animals' [Manson's blockbuster 1998 album]," Ramirez said in a recent backstage interview with Spin. "Without sounding too pretentious -- I don't even know what that means! I don't want to speak for Manson, but it's definitely great. It's fantastic. It's our best record yet, I think. I mean, everyone always says that, but I think this is our best work so far."

Ramirez claims that the album is "almost done" and will "probably be out next year." It will serve as a follow-up to Manson's 2009 effort 'The High End of Low,' which didn't make a significant impact but actually earned a fair amount of critical accolades.

The upcoming record, which is still untitled, will be Manson's eighth full-length affair. The once ultra-controversial artist has toned things down throughout the past decade by focusing on visual art, writing and working as an actor and director for various films between albums.