Marilyn Manson Live at Zenith Munich – Concert Review
- L7
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Before the Show – Expectations & Doubts
When the new tour was announced, I was sure I wouldn’t be buying a ticket. I had already seen Manson live once, and honestly? It was one of the biggest disappointments ever. I’m a fan of his older material, but the recent albums never really grabbed me.
But then, "One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1" was released—and I was genuinely surprised. It felt like the perfect mix of his old and new styles. Plus, in every new photo, he looked fit and ready. That made me change my mind. I managed to grab a resale ticket and thought: Can he really bring back the energy of the past?
Arrival & Venue – Munich’s Hidden Metal Scene
The line was insanely long. We arrived at 19:00 (doors opened at 18:30) and decided to grab a coffee first—because honestly, the crowd was packed, and it wasn’t moving fast.
The Zenith has always been one of my favorite venues. When you visit Munich regularly, you might never get the feeling that a strong metal scene exists here. But at night, inside Zenith? You see how many metalheads and dark music fans actually show up.
We finally got inside around 20:15—straight to the merch stand and the bar.
Merch & Beer Check
The merch didn’t really impress me. I usually go for tour shirts with dates, but none of those designs felt like something I’d actually wear. Instead, I grabbed a different cool design (without dates).
Beer Check: Meckatzer (from Allgäu). Not my first choice in Munich, where I have way better options, but still a good concert beer. Huge respect to the bartenders—they were fast as hell, serving drinks at lightning speed. No waiting, no stress.
One downside: No tour cups.
Opening Act – The Blackmordia
The Blackmordia opened the night with a solid performance, even if their style isn’t exactly my thing, making it hard to judge. Their sound was more suited to Manson’s darker fans than the metalheads in the crowd, but the songs were well played, and they kept the energy up while we waited for the main act.
The Moment Arrives – Marilyn Manson Takes the Stage
(If you want to avoid setlist spoilers, skip this section! Some specific songs will be mentioned.)
The stage was covered by a huge black curtain, and church-like melodies played in the background, creating an eerie prophet-like atmosphere.
Then, at exactly 21:00, the show began—with my favorite song from the new album:
🔥 "Nod If You Understand"
The crowd erupted instantly, and the energy in the room was at its peak. Right after the first song, Manson interacted with the audience for the first of many times:
"They wanted to take me away from you!"
"They wanted to take you away from me!"
And the crowd shouted back, as if it was a ritual they had practiced for years.
Setlist & Energy – A Perfect Mix of Old & New
The setlist was an amazing balance between classic hits and new material—with only one track from his weaker era sneaking in.
Manson opened strong, stacking the set with brutal songs, including one of my all-time favorites:
🔥 "Angel With the Scabbed Wings"
The entire venue went insane. If I had to point out one flaw, it would be the screamed parts in this song—you could hear that they were hard for him to hit. But let’s be honest, this is one of the most challenging vocal parts in his catalog. It didn’t take away from the overall energy of the performance.
From where we were standing—mid-back of the venue—we could see everyone was moving. Whether it was singing, jumping, or just vibing, the entire crowd was locked in.
Highlights of the Night
So many songs stood out, but these were some of the most unforgettable moments:
🔥 "mOBSCENE" – Expected this one, and when it started, the crowd lost their minds. Everyone was singing every word.
🔥 "Great Big White World" – I was hoping for this, but I had no idea if he still played it live. Perfect surprise.
Before diving into another Mechanical Animals track, Manson introduced the band and then dropped his now-famous tour line:
"My name is Marilyn Manson, and I'm a drug addict."
Then—without a second to breathe—he launched into:
🔥 "The Dope Show"
After another new album track (which, honestly, was my least favorite of the setlist), the next massive crowd moment arrived—"Sweet Dreams". And as expected, this was when the entire venue turned into a sea of phone screens, everyone capturing the moment.
Then came one of the biggest surprises of the night for me:
🔥 "The Love Song" – I didn’t expect this at all. Flawless performance—it sounded exactly like the album.
Encore & Final Surprise
I thought it was over. After "The Beautiful People," the band left the stage. Lights stayed dimmed, but there was a long enough pause that I really believed it was done.
I was literally about to turn toward the exit when the band came back, closing the night with:
🔥 "One Assassination Under God"
And damn—it was perfectly executed. One of my favorites from the new album, and a killer way to end the show.
Final Thoughts – A Comeback Done Right
For me, this was a massive redemption after the bad experience I had years ago. This time, I left with the best memories of Marilyn Manson live.
✅ Great setlist – A strong mix of old and new.
✅ Great performance – Manson sounded better than expected.
✅ Great atmosphere – The Zenith crowd never disappoints.
Manson proved that he can still own the stage. If he keeps performing like this, I wouldn’t hesitate to see him again.
