Marilyn Manson live in Berlin – Max-Schmeling-Halle Concert Review

L7
Nov 23
3 min read

Expectations

After seeing Marilyn Manson earlier this year in Munich, I was curious to experience the show again but in a much bigger venue. This time it was the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, a hall I like a lot because of its visibility and sound. From every seating area you have a clear view, and I’ve always had a good acoustic experience there.

In Munich, I already noticed that Manson was vocally “back” and in great shape, so I expected another strong performance. And since Berlin crowds are usually loud and energetic, I was excited to see how the atmosphere would evolve compared to the February show.

Arrival, Merch & Beer

The Max-Schmeling-Halle is easy to reach and very comfortable for seated shows. My seat in category 1 offered a perfect view of the stage, and the sound from my spot was excellent.

Beer was Becks, priced at 6 euros plus around 2 euros deposit. Not my favorite beer, but perfectly drinkable. Sadly, just like in Munich, there were no Manson tour cups — which is a pity, because one of those would definitely find a place in my collection.

Merch-wise, there were some new items compared to the Munich date. Some shirts were the same designs with updated tour dates. Others were new.I bought a shirt I didn’t see in February — a grayish Nosferatu-style design with Manson’s face. The quality was better than the one I bought earlier this year. It cost 50 euros, which is high, but expected for Marilyn Manson merch.

There were also some unique items like Manson-themed gloves (not worn, just produced), but this time I didn’t see them at the merch table. I’m not the kind of collector who buys those, but I think it’s a cool option for hardcore fans.

Dead Posey

The opening act was Dead Posey, a duo consisting of a female vocalist and a male musician on stage. Their sound fits perfectly into the darker alternative space — atmospheric, gritty, and with that industrial rock edge that pairs well with Manson’s style.

The vocalist was excellent live: good voice, strong stage presence, lots of movement, and a confident delivery. Their show was energetic and visually interesting, and I would definitely see them again at a smaller club show. Their style has a touch of the Manson vibe without copying it, which worked very well.

In February, the opener was a different band leaning more toward Depeche Mode / darkwave influences, which wasn’t entirely my taste. Dead Posey, on the other hand, was a perfect choice. They mentioned they plan to tour here soon, which I can gladly recommend based on what I saw.

Marilyn Manson

And then, the main event.

In Berlin, Manson sounded even better than he did in Munich. Whether it was the acoustics of the hall or simply a great night for him, his voice was powerful, clear, and surprisingly consistent from the first song to the last.

He played around 15 songs — a strong mix of classics and several tracks from the new album. Four new songs were included, one of which I honestly didn’t recognize, which tells me I need to listen to the album more closely. But the song itself worked really well live.

The classics? All there:

Beautiful People, Sweet Dreams, Coma White, and more.

Everything you expect from a Manson show.

The only disappointment:

At one moment he started “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)”, which is one of my favorites — but he stopped it almost immediately, threw in one of his typical spoken lines, and switched directly into The Dope Show. I really wish he had played it in full.

Still, the overall performance was extremely strong.Great vocals, strong band, intense visuals, and a show that felt like classic Manson yet refreshed and focused.

Ticket price was 80 euros for a category 1 seat, which I consider absolutely fair for the quality of the show. There were meet & greet packages too, but at 500 euros with early entry only for standing area, that was beyond what I was willing to pay this time.

Manson seems to be fully back — and if he continues singing like this, he still has many years of touring ahead of him.

Final Thoughts

This was a fantastic show.The hall was great, the sound was excellent, and Manson delivered a performance that exceeded my expectations again.

If there are still tickets available in your city, I completely recommend going. I had a lot of fun, and if I had more time, I’d easily watch the show again.