(When "Exit Wound" was released as a single, before Chapter 2 was released and prior to Manson releasing the artwork and commentary that accompany the song, I wrote my initial thoughts about it, titled " The Scar Left After the Spectacle: Marilyn Manson Releases New Single and Announces New Album ." Without repeating too much of what was written there, the following was written in light of the new information provided with the release of the whole album.) An exit wound is the mark left by something that has passed through the body. It is evidence of an injury, but also of movement: something entered, passed through, and left its mark behind. In Marilyn Manson's “Exit Wound,” the image takes on a much larger meaning. The speaker does not merely describe himself as someone who has been wounded. He identifies himself with the wound itself: “You shot the world I am the exit wound.” It is a strange identification. The speaker is not simply the victim of an attack; he...
On April 16th 2025 Marilyn Manson released a Maxi Single CD limited to 4,000 copies worldwide through Nuclear Blast Records. It features a cover of "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins and the remix "As Sick as the Secrets (of Sleep)". The CD was sold out in the United States an hour after its announcement, while the European release sold out within four hours. On April 18th both tracks became available to stream everywhere.
Credits
"IN THE AIR TONIGHT"
WRITTEN BY PHIL COLLINS
PERFORMED BY MARILYN MANSON & TYLER BATES
GIL SHARONE ON DRUMS
"AS SICK AS THE SECRETS OF (SLEEP)"
WRITTEN, ARRGANGED, AND PERFORMED
BY MARILYN MANSON & TYLER BATES
RECORDED BY TYLER BATES
MIXED BY ROBERT CARRANZA
MASTERED BY HOWIE WEINBERG
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY WARNER
Credits
"IN THE AIR TONIGHT"
WRITTEN BY PHIL COLLINS
PERFORMED BY MARILYN MANSON & TYLER BATES
GIL SHARONE ON DRUMS
"AS SICK AS THE SECRETS OF (SLEEP)"
WRITTEN, ARRGANGED, AND PERFORMED
BY MARILYN MANSON & TYLER BATES
RECORDED BY TYLER BATES
MIXED BY ROBERT CARRANZA
MASTERED BY HOWIE WEINBERG
PHOTOS BY LINDSAY WARNER
Additional Information
- Both new tracks are released with a more gothic atmospheric sound to the originals.
- It is noteworthy that the CD was released on April 16th, which in the Christian calendar for 2025 is Holy Wednesday, on which is traditionally commemorated the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. Then on Holy Thursday is commemorated the Last Supper. The tracks were made available for streaming on Good Friday, which is the day the crucifixion of Jesus is remembered. Manson has used these images to tell his own story in his latest music videos and album "One Assassination Under God - Chapter One". Furthermore, on Good Friday Manson released the photos for the Maxi Single CD by his wife Lindsay, with one he captioned with the lyric "I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life…"; which is put in the Holy Week context of anticipating his resurrection. Lindsay reposted this on Holy Saturday, which is the day the entombment of Christ is commemorated. On Easter Sunday, Manson reposted in his Instastories the upside down double cross with the song "Sacrilegious" that references his resurrection, along with an old painting of his showing the Easter bunny with crucifixion wounds.
- Both new tracks are released with a more gothic atmospheric sound to the originals.
- It is noteworthy that the CD was released on April 16th, which in the Christian calendar for 2025 is Holy Wednesday, on which is traditionally commemorated the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. Then on Holy Thursday is commemorated the Last Supper. The tracks were made available for streaming on Good Friday, which is the day the crucifixion of Jesus is remembered. Manson has used these images to tell his own story in his latest music videos and album "One Assassination Under God - Chapter One". Furthermore, on Good Friday Manson released the photos for the Maxi Single CD by his wife Lindsay, with one he captioned with the lyric "I’ve been waiting for this moment for all my life…"; which is put in the Holy Week context of anticipating his resurrection. Lindsay reposted this on Holy Saturday, which is the day the entombment of Christ is commemorated. On Easter Sunday, Manson reposted in his Instastories the upside down double cross with the song "Sacrilegious" that references his resurrection, along with an old painting of his showing the Easter bunny with crucifixion wounds.
- Since the track "In the Air Tonight" was released by Phil Collins, people have tried to interpret the meaning, and rumors have spread about Phil Collins due to these attempts at interpretation that have no factual basis. When asked for the meaning of the song, Phil Collins himself said he did not know the meaning, that the lyrics just came out of him, and everyone is free to interpret the song as they wish. That Manson chose to release this song, one can possibly interpret it as him being the victim of lies who is telling his accusers and those perpetuating falsehoods about him that he remembers very clearly what the truth is.
- In the music video for "As Sick as the Secrets Within" one can see in a quick flash on screen the alchemical symbol for air. As I wrote when interpreting this symbol for the music video: "The alchemical symbol for air is an upward-pointing triangle, bisected by a horizontal line. Air to the alchemist represents the mind and soul of mankind. It is the breath of life; God breathed into Adam and made him a living soul. Air’s principle is mobility and the creative facilities of the mind, giving life to new ideas. Air gives us a doorway to give birth to new perspectives and allowing us to feel comfortable as we gain new revelations and make life changes." The song "In the Air Tonight paired with a remix of "As Sick as the Secrets Within" seems to indicate in light of the use of this symbol that there is a certain relationship between the two songs, and the music video could have been foretelling the release of the Phil Collins cover.
- The 2024 Phil Collins documentary titled "Phil Collins: Drummer First" includes Gil Sharone, the former drummer for Dillinger Escape Plan and currently the drummer for Marilyn Manson. The documentary focuses on Phil Collins' career as a drummer, exploring his journey from early influences to his groundbreaking work with Genesis and his solo career. Sharone is among the other drummers interviewed in the documentary. Seeing the influence Phil Collins has had on Sharone, the idea for the cover may have been his and would give him an opportunity to perform the iconic drum fill in the song that was played by Phil Collins himself. Collins was both the drummer and vocalist for the song, and he also programmed the drums on the track. The song's drum part, particularly the famous fill, is widely recognized and praised for its power and impact.