The Holy Bible

#292/1001 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 One of the bleakest, saddest, most beautiful punk rock records ever recorded. This would be the final record that the Manics recorded with Richey Edwards, i saw them at Reading Festival the week before it was released and they played as a 3 piece that day with Edwards too ill to perform. It was a tough watch and it was obvious that these songs were a departure from the bloated sounds of Gold Against the Soul. Back in college a week later, i got my copy of the album and we all poured over the lyrics and analysis of the songs in the NME and Melody Maker. It feels likey Richey just poured out his soul to write these lyrics as he was spiralling into a whirpool of addiction and self harm. James Dean Bradfield was the perfect mouthpiece with some amazing guitar work and such powerful empassioned vocals. I have listened to this thousands of times over the years and it will always be in my top 10. I took the opportunity to listen to the live edition which came out on Friday and its just chilling. Major goosebumps. Best Tracks: Yes, Faster, Die in the Summertime, Revol, Mausoleum, Archives of Pain, 4st 7lb, Revol, PCP.

It's raw, it's angry, it's sad, it's despairing. And yet, it's beautiful.

Good album but repellant cover.

I alluded to it in my 'Everything Must Go' review (not knowing it was also on the list), but this album wrecked me the first time I heard it so many years ago. It's honestly one of those emotionally exhausting records. So ultimately, I really only remember how extreme the lyrical themes and topics were, not so much its actual sound. While it's less glitzy and polished than their follow-up, it is still pretty catchy and sonically digestible considering what it is. It has this '2000s mainstream indie and emo feel (well before the fact), though obviously far dirtier in production, especially during its many noiser moments. But I was still surprised by how catchy the choruses here were, especially the first two tracks, whose intense lyrics relating to prostitution and twisted American politics hardly fit the more upbeat nature of the songs and their respective choruses. Vocalist James Dean Bradfield and troubled lyricist Richey Edwards were clearly on different wavelengths, but James still manages to squeeze these verbose, vulgar songs into these somewhat catchy melodies. It's funny to hear at times, but equally impressive too, like I can play these songs in my car and people would nod their heads to it, completely oblivious to what's actually being said here. It's pretty varied as well, which I really dug; the album feels dynamic, like it's constantly evolving, and approaching its really morbid themes from every possible angle: sadness, acceptance, pain, anger, etc.... 'Archives of Pain,' for example, has this industrial metal feel to it, with this very distorted and skeletal groove in the verses. And you can probably guess by the title, but this is one of the many "fuck humanity" anthems on this record (to dumb it down). Songs like 'Revol' and 'She is Suffering' have this post-hardcore edge, which I really liked, especially 'Revol', which is very layered with effects and distortion - maybe the most fast-paced, blood-pumping track here. And '4st 7lb', for as difficult as it is to listen to at times, is the album's undeniable masterpiece, just so well executed, the music perfectly soundtracking the hopeless spiralling of the protagonist. And my God, when the song slows down in its final moments, it truly feels like that dread of accepting something awful; it's such a powerfully tragic moment that I'll never forget. And if you weren't already emotionally drained, the album's penultimate track, 'The Intense Humming of Evil', is a 6-minute grinding industrial track describing the horrors of the holocaust... I discovered their follow-up from this list, but I was always familiar with this record. And I think I prefer 'The Holy Bible' to that follow-up, but it's close. This is an extreme record and very blunt in the messages it's trying to deliver. But the playing, production, and vocals are still top-notch and definitely should not be overshadowed by how dark it is, which is what I feel the album's reputation has become (maybe idk). What you get at the end of the day is a very well-executed piece of '90s alternative, with lyrics penned by a genius who wasn't afraid to really unveil how fucked up this world can be. Definitely an album that deserves to be on this list.

I don't return to this often, because it's such a difficult listen. Uneasy, jagged guitars, lyrics that have to contort to fit the music, some deep wrongness at work. The themes are so bleak and brutal. Which is all the point, of course. A genuine situationist response to the 20th century, as well as being what is effectively a suicide note from Richey Edwards. Not sure there are any other albums like it, for good or for bad. Not everyone is going to like it, but Christ, it's a phenomenal album.

It’s brilliant. Absolutely rips. I think I’m gonna have to listen to this one a few times before I know exactly how I feel about it. I gave “Everything Must Go” an impulsive 5 stars and I think I need to revisit that one as well to see if I’d rate it the same. One thing is true though, these guys play with a total commitment to the urgency and passion their songs require. I wish I’d been introduced to them at a younger age, to be honest. ML 419

A masterpiece that captures the raw, paines mind of Richey Edwards. It's incredible that it so vividly captures how torn apart he was, brilliant music to accompany some hauntingly challenging themes that might just seem like attempts to be risque to those who don't grasp the origin of these lyrics. Probably their best album, when reflected upon.

Rating: 4.7/5 Short Review: Jesus, this is bleak. Angry, abrasive, intelligent, and completely uninterested in making you comfortable. The guitars are vicious, but it’s the lyrics and atmosphere that really stick. It feels like an album made by people staring directly at some very ugly parts of humanity. Not an easy listen, but a fascinating one.

The Holy Bible by The Manic Street Preachers is an overwhelmingly heavy record. It would be their last record with lyricist and guitar player, Richey James. James had been suffering from deep depression, had starved himself skeletal, and was openly harming himself. He would later disappear, leaving scant clues about what he might be doing or where. No body was ever found, and the remaining trio still split their money 4 ways to pay Richey his share. As such, the legacy of The Holy Bible is intertwined with the public struggles of Richey James and is now seen as a stark warning...a diary of self depreciation, depression, and nihilism towards himself. Politics play a central role in the record as well, with a youthful punk angst directed at both sides of the aisle in America and the United Kingdom. The music is sharp, delivered with James Dean Bradford's iconic voice soaring higher than any contemporaries of The Manics. As sad as the album is, it would prove to be a galvanizing period for the band and helped push them into upper echelons of UK alternative rock.

How JDB managed to write music for those lyrics is beyond me! Amazing album though and maybe the Manic’s finest?

(Strong 7/10) Gonna have to try listening to this again on a different day, and actually pay attention to the lyrics and such, but as of now.... yeah this is a really solid alt rock album.

Interesting lyrics. The sound isn’t nearly as . . . transgressive as the p.o.v.

Not an easy listen because the lyrics clearly indicate a person who is suffering. Musically though, it’s not bad. The instruments are tight. This isn’t the typical three star “meh” album. This is a three star “I’m undecided if I like it or am disturbed by it” rating.

Not at all the type of music you’d expect from the album title

A bit late to the Punk party, but not bad. 6/10

Rush jr

Hyvää rokkia. Paljon amerikkateemaista musiikkia, pääasiassa kritiikkiä.

Good album

Funny enough, these guys WERE a band that folks in high school were very into. I guess that's not super surprising. It was the britpop era even in America, but it is sort of surprising that the “radical” faction would have popped off like that. Like, we were largely politically ignorant of America as youth in the pre-Bush era. Imagine the Manics getting through with British politics? Certainly I can see this being an antidote to the banality of Damon and the Gallaghers, though in retrospect this feels more like an early wave of emo than something akin to the British music of the era. It's that more angular and brash work that sets this apart, but it also makes it a more difficult listen. Don't get me wrong, I love a good guitar album, I love something that takes some time. But this, I think, will also need another spin. Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️ until then

Another album that improved for me as it went on. The beginning felt a little too emo, but later tracks were more instrumentally heavy (while also being lyrically heavy). It just got very heavy as I read the wikipedia article, hearing that the poor lyricist had been suffering and disappeared shortly after this came out. There are some marvelously intense postpunk moments and incisive lyrics (when I could catch what he was saying), and the title and intro of the second track made me nod approvingly. Knowing too much about it made it a sad rather than an angry listen, though.

Difficult subject matter to listen to. I think I preferred the angry ranting at the banking sector from the first album. Rest in peace Richie.

Not a fan of the Manics, not back then and not now. So while it's not terrible I won't be returning.

I really liked it

HELL YEAH

Best Track - "Faster"

Yes! A super good addition to this list! I think MSP is absolutely a band everyone should hear before they die. Excellent album.

Very aptly named. A manic alt rock mid 90's grunge sound. I liked it, but nothing stuck out to me.

Not bad. Notably better than the other album, Everything Must Go. I rather enjoyed this one.

Favourite Songs: She Is Suffering Faster

The circumstances surrounding this album are fascinating and tragic. As for the music, I never got the hype. It's a good album, maybe even very good. But great? I just don't hear it.

I like to pick deluxe albums to listen to in case I really like it and I want to hear more. It’s actually really ballsy of a band to put out a deluxe version of an album that many people had not heard of. So far I’m not hearing anything terrible. It’s another one of those albums that just moves along as the background to your goings ons for the day. I am only 2 songs in, I thought I was 5 in. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad one. I really feel like there could be more to this album than there is. I wanted that. It’s not terrible. Where do we go from here. I wanted more. It’s just not there Choice cut: Faster

I don't think I took a single lyric home with me

A little long, but I thought it was a pretty good album. Lots of alternative/punk albums on this album are very repetitive, but I didn’t feel that way about this one. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: She Is Suffering

MSP are always a bit hit and miss for me but this is a good album, a solid 3. Definitely a singles band for me. Have seen them at festivals in the past and always enjoyed their live sets. Just never totally got into their albums.

3/5

Wasn’t exactly expecting THE WORLD here but damn i really liked this!!

одну песню засейвил.

Brutal, but beautiful

Usually I don't like the albums from bands I've never heard of, especially random acts from the UK, but this one was really good! Alternative rock that leaned more toward punk, these guys can play. I really enjoyed the heavy guitars, and the lead singer's voice was perfect for the style, lots of energy and angst without being whiny. These guys REALLY hate Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, always a plus in my book. Couple quasi-experimental songs on the back half I wasn't enamored with, but nothing I hated. I'll be interested in coming back to this one at the end of the project, I think it'll have a good shot at getting a bump. Strong 4/5

Pretty solid 4/5

I don't mind preachy music and I don't hate this sound. I do get a laugh out of political word salad that's meant to sound more edgy than the word it's actually saying though.

I feel I recognize the first song "Yes" - which was pretty good. I would say 2.7

This had solid energy and was okay to have on in the background, but it wasn't particularly memorable for me.

**An ok album

It was alright not my thing but it’s fine

Have always liked the Manic's more than I liked their music , (much like.Billy Bragg) I .havent heard this it 30 years....and li've largely ignored them since their "If You Tolerare This" era (i liked the line about being allowed to shoot rabbits but not facists) .....it will be a nice trip down memory lane...perhaps. This has none of the pop sheen of their later records and it is all the better for its rawness. The horrific mental state of Richie Edwards is obvious and it makes a slightly harrowing listening at times (if you can actually make out what the fuck JDB is yelling about). It's all a hit samey though, and i'm struggling to stay interested despite my love of shouty vocals and punk pop.l, The guitarist is clearly a fan of Steve Hackett , despite their punk leanings..it's what I like best about this record.... They were written about as beung the new The Clash at the time (or at least keepers of their flame), i didnt think so then and I still dont. Not fo me I'm afraid, but there's not a syn drum in sight, which is nice. Motorcycle Emptiness is a great tune, but its not on this record....

Despite living through the heady days of the Britpop era the one band I’ve struggled with are Manic Street Preachers. Apart from A Design For Life and Motorcycle Emptiness (neither of which are on this album), the vast majority of their songs sound like a shouty noisy mess to me. This album didn’t alter my 90s opinion of them one iota. With the exception of She Is Suffering (which is not too bad) all the songs are complete crud, melody-anaemic and instantly forgettable. The constant news recordings overlaying the songs are so bloody annoying as well. If this a classic album then I’m the Queen of Sheeba. The Manics get the dubious honour of being my first 1 - congrats!

I'm not overly familiar with MSP beyond their coffee table fare so dominant in the 90s. I was always vaguely under the impression that there were 2 bands, a pre and post Richie version that werre chalk and cheese. This isn't what I found. Sonically this album was very much of the same monotone plaette as their subsequent albums. Lyrically it's obviously pretty brutal, and obviously there's no hint of insencerity about it given his suicide, yet somehow the delivery set against the backdrop of bog standard, dull identikit, paint by numbers rock left me completely cold. The whole album just sort of merged into a mulch of power chords and i doubt i could describe any of the songs to you to differentiate them from any of the other songs. Will not be playing this or any other Manics songs again in my lifetime if I can avoid it. Get's a 2 for not actually being offensively unlistenable in any way.

Album alternative con wibe simili a smashing pumpkin

It's a very heavy album, especially if you know the band's background. It definitely deserved his place. Very high-quality instrumental performance and terrible but strong lyrics.

It’d pretty good - I like some of their later albums better

Was dreading this one tbh. I expected it to be overly edgy for the sake of it and too preachy. I was surprised by a genuinely great, original and clever album. Really glad this generator has put me onto this music. This Is Yesterday was my fav song and first listen of the album. Faster and P.C.P were my other highlights

I do love a dark, heavy rock album. This one has the added benefits of having strong riffs and bass lines, that 90s guitar sound, and some punk mixed in. Audio samples were also used strategically throughout. My favorite songs (because of the amazing riffs) were "Mausoleum" and "Die In The Summertime".

They can write a catchy chorus. Some nice songs.

I have always liked the Manic Street Preachers. The music and the lyrics are both phenomenal. I was lucky enough to see them twice live as a foursome and I suppose this is the last album made by that foursome.

Interesting band and album. Not my type of music but I could appreciate the lyrics.

Very intense. Great guitars but quite a harsh album to sit with.

The Holy Bible it's notable not only for being the third album of manic street preachers but also for being the last album with Richey Edwards after dissapearing in the way he did. Depression, Alcohol abuse, Anorexia, Self-Harm. It was clearly that the most prolific member needed to cope with all of that, and the result of those disturbing days it is without a doubt, this record. Even when it reached #6 in the UK Chart, the sales of the album saw a massive downgrade, although it was promoted in remote countries such as thailand and in festivals including UK, Portugal, The Netherlands and many other european nations. Most of these concerts where made after Edwards went missing. While the first two albums had influences in Guns N' Roses and Alice in Chains, The Holy Bible saw them returning to a more post punk side, according to singer James Dean "The band had lost their direction" and in the main singles Faster, Revol and She Is Suffering, you can tell that the band had eventually move on. Wire, Magazine, Gang of Four, Siouxise and The Banshees and even Joy Division. The band wanted to explore this artsy side in contrast with the decadence of rock and roll. The lyrics were almost written by Edwards who was seemingly crying and drinking during the recording sessions. American Consumerism, British Imperialism, Freedom of Speech, The death penalty. The tone of the album it's inspired almost by writers like Camus and Arthur Rimbaud. It's dark, gritty, existentialist. With songs like Mausoleum and The Intense Humming of Evil that were both inspired after visiting concentration camps, "Of Walking Abortion" about Right Wing Totalitarism or even Die in The Summertime about Richey's own state of my mind, this one is a record you need to hear as it is one of the most acclaimed albums in Alternative Rock due to his poetry and his guitar work.

Meh

I don't find this essential at all.

It's a good album, but not one of their best.

My least favourite genre from this process is nu metal. Although the sound and production is different. I think this album is structurally a nu metal album before they had the nu metal sound available. Which explains why I really didn’t enjoy it at all. I had this thought about halfway through the album. Then it just kept on going. I’m adding a new qualifying for 1 star. “Makes me question why I’m doing this list”

I feel like this could be great album with a couple of changes: -The production is horrible. I get its deliberately claustrophobic but someone deliberately shitting in your soup doesn’t make a good lunch. Really lacking any kind space or dynamics. -The vocal delivery. Why does the sinGER put emPHASis on the weirdEST of syllABles. The lyrics are great in a sort of poetic journal sense but I’m not sure they actually scan when set to music.

When I was reading the Wikipedia articles about this band and album, I was under the impression that this was going to be a really slow and depressing album to listen to. I was mistaken. The music was really powerful but, I didn’t catch all the lyrics. I may have to give this another listen in the future.

Initial reaction is I'm not much of a fan. Mostly-grating goth rock meets punk meets alternative. It's alright. But I think I need to give a closer listen to the lyrics. That Richey Edwards seems like quite the troubled and interesting individual. Someday I'll return to this. For now it's a 2, but that may change.

thought this one was cool, will give it another listen

I liked 'She is Suffering' quite a bit, but the rest I found pretty plain.

Took a long time to review this one because I really wanted to sit with it. This is an album I will remember and revisit often.

Loved it! Everything from the melodies, to the instrumentals and vocals, the biting political commentary that holds up even now was so well done!

this is a strange album. calling something like this the "british downward spiral" is accurate but doesn't tell all the story. in that sense, is a fucking bleak album. like really sad and deppresive context and lyrics. but what's interesting and weird to me is how the music is so "fun"??? like it doesn't sound like what i would expect from the lyrics. Not that it's bad or something. but that part makes me not love this album's music as much as i love it's lyrics, context, and powerful messages

Not an immediate fan of this, but I’ll give it some credit first. It sounds like a pioneer album that later 90s and 00s bands built off of. I hear the strokes or even more late 90s stuff like Foo fighters That said, there’s too much on here for being so one note. Not a huge fan, but a cool experience

Was intrigued by the album cover. Found this kind of annoying and unmemorable.

A hell of a lot more interesting than their other album here, I don't feel like I loved everything on it, but I was engaged both thematically and musically. I think the music is quite bold and fresh, especially for the 90's, it sounds more modern than that. However, they definitely are preachers, and there is something in the tone and the heaviness that I don't resonate with, but worth a listen for sure. The first half is however a lot stronger than the latter, but that might be just me.

I need more time to process but this might be one of the best albums ever made. I’m not sure.

Rather weak, dated, 90's rock

Since listening to this on the way up to Edinburgh for Gregor and islas wedding I can't get enough of it!!!

First time digging into an entire album by this group. It was a decent listen but nothing stood out. An album I’ll revisit in the future and may score higher.

This album caught me by surprise. I'd never listened to this band before despite being very familiar with the name. I really enjoyed the style; loud and unafraid to go in different directions. I can't help but feel it deserves another listen or two to really do it justice. Favourites: Yes Archives Of Pain This Is Yesterday

Good indie rock band, that I've always struggled to enjoy. No particular reason, just find it a harsh listen. 2.5

This is a pretty interesting one. I’ve been meaning to check out this band for a while, so here was finally my opportunity, and I definitely have a few things to say. Let’s start with the biggest strength: the lyrics. Wow. These are heavy. They’re dark, nasty, gritty, and sometimes genuinely uncomfortable, digging into some extremely bleak subjects that were clearly weighing on the band, especially songwriter Richey Edwards. This is absolutely an album where I recommend reading the lyrics while you listen, because they’re a huge part of the experience. It takes you to some pretty disturbing places. Unfortunately, I also kind of had to read them, because I could barely understand what James Dean Bradfield was singing half the time. Something about his enunciation just didn’t click with my ears. I’d put the lyrics away and try to listen normally, realize I had no idea what he was saying, and then immediately pull them back up again. My other issue is the music itself. And this is coming from somebody who loves ’90s alternative rock, but a lot of this just sounded surprisingly basic to me. It’s not bad by any means. It’s loud, aggressive, and appropriately grim, but I kept waiting for something musically that made me go, “Ah, okay, THAT’S Manic Street Preachers.” I never really found it. There wasn’t a particular guitar sound, melody, or musical personality that I could grab onto and immediately associate with the band. Compared to how striking the lyrics are, the actual music felt much more ordinary. Still, knowing the harrowing story surrounding the creation of The Holy Bible, along with the tragedy that followed, definitely adds another layer to the whole thing. It’s an album carrying an enormous amount of pain. I really wanted to like this one more than I did, but the lyrics made a much stronger impression on me than the music. I’ll stick with a 3 out of 5. Definitely interesting, definitely intense, but not quite something I connected with musically.

Gritty album with good musical variety. I wanted to like it, and would go as far as saying I liked the music quite a bit, but I couldn’t get past the vocals. Not a fan of how the album was produced/mixed either - sounded very flat and sometimes even harsh with prominent high hats on some tracks that were very distracting.

Perilously close to a four, but just not melodic enough. Doesn't really have the fire, but the embers are hot.

highkey epic but cover art not very good

This was a really solid album from beginning to end. The lyrics are relentlessly dark and sometimes difficult, especially knowing the struggles Richey Edwards was going through at the time, but musically I enjoyed every song. There wasn't a dud on the album. What surprised me most was how much I could hear sounds that would become prominent later. At different points I heard punk, emo, alternative rock, and even hints of the pop-punk sound I loved in the early 2000s. The changing tempos and styles kept the album from ever lulling me, and James Dean Bradfield's voice was a big plus throughout. "Archives of Pain" was probably my favorite discovery, with "P.C.P." right there with it. "P.C.P." was a great way to end the album, with a slightly rawer sound that even gave me flashes of very early Queen. I also really enjoyed "This Is Yesterday," which reminded me of a smoother version of the Smashing Pumpkins' "1979." I wasn't completely blown away by any one song, but I liked everything I heard. With no duds, plenty of musical variety, and a sound that often seemed ahead of its time, The Holy Bible was a very worthwhile discovery.

Hell yeah. It does make me wonder if I am actually some kind of edge lord at the end of the day but I must admit that I am actually attracted to darker/disturbing themes in music- particularly when they are self-aware. I am disgusting and I therefore I am disgusted with myself but aren't we all disgusting hypocrites? Therefore, is no one disgusting? How can you tell the difference between an annoying edge-lord and an excavation of the dark underbelly of humanity anyway? Album art also awesome

I feel like this is very average alternative rock from the mid 90s. They're alright but none of the songs really stuck out to me on this album.

Після цього альбому зник гітарист. Цікаво послухати.

Good listen - the other MSP album on this list is the better of the two.

3 - BAD

This starts out better than it ends, but it does a decent job straddling the line of being in-your-face while also blending some of the poppier aesthetics of 90's alternative.

For en eklektisk sjangermix! Har hørt om bandet i forbifarten, men ikke dykket inn i dem før nå. Utrolig interessant (og tragisk) bakgrunnshistorie også. Kan liksom føle det gjennom musikken uten engang å lytte til texten. Det er punk, post-punk, college punk, og flere stilarter av 90s indie og alt. rock. Har all grunn til å tro at dette blir en fremtidig favoritt. Sjeldent jeg blir så entusiastisk av å høre et “nytt” (for meg) album.

Et av 90-tallets beste album? Hørt en og annen MSP-låt, men dette er første hele album tror jeg. Er kult at de gjør gitarsoloer gjennom hele, men det er liksom helt i bakgrunnen. Det er goth, punk, ballerock og masse annet å namedroppe på en gang. Albumet føltes kortere enn det var, så da er det vel bare å sette på enda en gang?

Got bored after a while

dunno brit punk pop.c

This is one of those albums where if I found it at 16 I would have ran it into the fucking ground. It is my favorite type of vibe: up tempo melodies that get creepy only when you listen to the lyrics. There is some dark material on here - but if you didn't look up the context and passively listened, I bet you'd miss it. Highlights: Ifwhiteamericatold..., Faster

A couple of good songs and a couple of not so good ones

5/10

Uninteresting.

This is a record that invokes a pretty strong emotional reaction for me. Lyrically, driven by guitarist/lyricist Richey Edwards mental health struggles, it's dark. Very dark. On February 1, 1995, a few months after this record came out, he disappeared in an apparent suicide. It's easier to believe that the lyrics of this record were cathartic and helped him, but the subsequent actions don't sell that to me. It's hard to listen to this record without thinking of his fate and empathizing with his spiraling mental health. The music is dark and moody to fit the lyrics. Don't get me wrong, it's a really good record... but it seems to be a journey through a dead man's pain and that makes it difficult to "enjoy" the same way. Good music and lyrics can do that.

Man, this album is like listening to a car crash in slow motion. Not that I know what that sounds like, but you get the picture. It's intense, all these political themes and mental health stuff, feels heavy as hell. The production's grimy, like they threw every instrument into a blender. I dig it, though. It's real, you know? Like they're screaming their truth into the void. I'd compare it to Nirvana, but this is way more... calculated? I dunno, it's different. I'll spin it again, but I need a break first. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - Yes - 4st 7lb - Faster