Grade: B- | Genre: Alternative Rock Summary: Marilyn Manson's fans will love The High End Of Low. Everyone else will probably feel like they have heard this all before. Marilyn Manson, the grim glam rockers, have released The High End Of Low, the band's seventh studio album and most recent attempt to reverse their slide into becoming strictly a niche appeal. Songwriter and bassist Twiggy Ramirez rejoins the band. To a certain degree he does help to re-right the ship and steer it back towards a more familiar Marilyn Manson sound.

Lyricist and front man Marilyn Manson is still in a state of mourning over the unraveling of his marriage to Dita Von Teese, the burlesque superstar. Manson's bitterness is prevalent throughout the album's material, contributing to the most original and genuine moments. Unfortunately, Manson rarely allows this to move him forward into unchartered territory He instead clings to the safety and familiarity of the proven but tired shock tactics.

The album hits both its lows and highs when Manson turns to confronting his demons. "Running To The Edge Of The World," is a complete throwback to "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," with its ocean of strings and strumming acoustic guitars. "I Want To Kill You Like They Do In The Movies," is a nine minute, mind numbing epic with a cheap, provocative song title.

"WOW," has a interesting but bizarre thumping beat reminiscent of NIN's "Close." "Unkillable Monster" has the loud chorus, quiet verse pattern, with cracks starting to show with Manson's angst ridden lyrics.

The album's closing song, "15" is the most intriguing and original offering. 15 is a reference to Manson's January 5th birthday and the track's position in the song list. It saunters along at a slow, heartbroken pace, embellished with warbling guitars, who are really the stars of the lyrics. Behind Manson's aggressive delivery, he actually sounds surprisingly vulnerable.

The High End of Low restores and keeps most of the musical qualities that have appealed to the band's fans: the heavy electro-metal with pop sensibility, accessible angst,-ridden dark and lyrical themes, and a gothic outcast sensuality. Unfortunately it does not do much to move Marilyn Manson out of their established fan base and world. Their fans will love The High End Of Low. Everyone else will probably feel like they have heard this all before.