Tyler Bates, the former lead guitarist of Marilyn Manson’s band, also produced the singer’s recent albums One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Bates has opened up about a candid conversation he had with Manson before the two began working together on Chapter 1, according to Loudwire.
Bates explained that before committing to the project, he made it clear to Manson that only a fully honest and serious approach to the music would be worthwhile.
Tyler Bates: “I got together with Manson and I said, ‘Look, if you’re really serious about doing the best work of your life, I will do that with you. Anything less than that isn’t going to work for you anymore. You’re in a place in life where you have one chance to show people that you’re a serious person and that you’re a great artist … The stuff you used to do isn’t going to be good enough. You have to be open and honest with people in this music. If you’re interested in doing that kind of work, then I’m into it.'”
Bates also described the deeply personal nature of the creative process behind the records, noting the minimal, close-knit setup in the studio.
Tyler Bates also explained what it’s like in the studio with Manson: “It’s just he and I. I play everything, I record everything, I record him. That’s it. Just the two of us when we make these records. It is a very intimate conversation of music. And because we’ve worked this way, I know him probably better than anybody on this earth besides perhaps his wife…it’s a really heavy, interesting thing.”
Bates’ comments shed light on the collaborative dynamic behind Manson’s recent work, offering fans insight into how the two approached what he described as the artist’s most serious creative effort yet.
This partnership between Bates and Manson runs deeper than the two most recent chapters. The pair’s working relationship stretches back over a decade. It has shaped some of Manson’s most notable output in the second half of his career.
Bates first stepped into the producer’s chair for Manson on The Pale Emperor in 2015, followed by Heaven Upside Down in 2017. One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 arrived in 2024, marking the third consecutive Manson album shaped by Bates’ hand. Chapter 2 now stands as the fourth. Across each of these records, Bates has taken on a role far beyond a typical producer, co-writing the material alongside Manson and handling nearly all of the instrumentation himself in the studio.
One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2 was released on August 14, 2026, through Nuclear Blast Records, arriving roughly two years after its predecessor. It continues the two-part narrative Manson set out to tell. The nine-track album marks Manson’s 13th studio release overall.
Commercial reception for the two chapters has been mixed. Chapter 1 peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in 2024, a career low among Manson’s studio albums. Chapter 2, meanwhile, entered the UK albums chart at No. 41. It also claimed the top spot on France’s rock and metal chart the week of its release, showing that Manson’s audience remains engaged even as mainstream chart placements have softened.
Despite the uneven commercial numbers, the creative bond between Bates and Manson appears to have only deepened through the process. Bates describes their studio sessions as an intensely personal exchange that has given him a rare window into Manson’s artistic and personal life.
