Antichrist Superstar is the second full-length studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. Released on October 8, 1996 in the US through Nothing and Interscope Records, the album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 which launched the band into mainstream success. This, allied with the band's uncompromisingly anti-Christian stance and transgressive performances, led to picketing and numerous protests from religious and civic groups. The album displayed a more musically cohesive and developed sound than any of their previous releases. According to Rolling Stone magazine, the album's release marked the end of the grunge era in popular music.