2007's EAT ME, DRINK ME is Marilyn Manson's first studio album in four years, and marks something of a turning point in the shock rock king's approach. Sure, the music is still ferociously intense and aggressive, reveling in its heavy metal roots with mountains of crunching guitar and crushing drums; and Manson's infamously grim sensibility is still evident on songs like "The Red Carpet Grave" and "Mutilation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery."

But EAT ME, DRINK ME is also Manson's most intensely personal album. Written and recorded by Manson and guitarist bassist Tim Skold, the album reflects the intimacy of its composition with a confessional, emotive quality not present on previous releases and lyrics that draw on the pain and trauma of Manson's own life. Though characteristically heavy and dark, the album is also brimming with glammy hooks and catchy melodies, an element of Manson's music that's been evident since 1998's MECHANICAL ANIMALS. The result doesn't jeopardize Manson's standing as a sinister anti-hero, but deepens it by making it more human.