The Holy Bible
Manic Street Preachers
1994
Album Summary
The Holy Bible is the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. It was released on 30 August 1994 by record label Epic. While the album was being written and recorded, lyricist and rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards was struggling with severe depression, alcohol abuse, self-harm and anorexia nervosa, and its contents are considered by many sources to reflect his mental state. The songs focus on themes relating to politics and human suffering. The Holy Bible was the band's last album released before Edwards' disappearance on 1 February 1995. Although it reached number 6 in the UK Albums Chart, initially, global sales were disappointing compared to previous albums and the record did not chart in mainland Europe or North America. It was promoted with tours and festival appearances in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands and Thailand – in part without Edwards. The Holy Bible received widespread acclaim from critics and has sold over half a million copies worldwide as of 2014. It has frequently been featured and listed highly on lists of the best albums of all time by British music publications such as Melody Maker, NME and Q.
WikipediaManic Street Preachers’ acclaimed third album ‘The Holy Bible’ consists of fast paced, heavy music and dark lyrics. Occasional rhythm guitarist Richey Edwards wrote insane lyrics and that mixed with haunting guitars created an album that truly reflects human nature. It isn’t elegant but that is what makes it so effective. Each track is a poetic masterpiece in itself. The opener ‘Yes’, which is the highlight of the album for me, compares Richey’s life to that of a prostitute and describes the feeling of being cheapened by exploiting your mental health and coping through self-abuse. Being the opening track, it sets the tone for what is a journey into the cruelty of humanity. ‘Ifwhiteamerica...’, mostly written by bassist Nicky Wire, discusses American consumerism and how images of a perfect country contrast with violence and racism. The media’s glorification of serial killers is highlighted in ‘Archives of Pain’ and evokes controversy through its seemingly pro death penalty stance. ‘4st 7lb’ consists of a harrowing tale of a girl who suffering from anorexia and believes that, by starving herself, she is degrading into a purer and better state; this is reflected in Edwards’ own struggle with anorexia. ‘Faster’ examines how Richey lived his life amongst a judgemental society, who did not understand him. The chugging drums in ‘The Intense Humming of Evil’ mirror the train tracks of victims being sent to concentration camps in the Holocaust. ‘Die in the Summertime’ is an intense track reflecting how the narrator wants to die in their youth, the prime of their life (Richey Edwards went missing at the age of 27). It is hard to talk about ‘The Holy Bible’ without mentioning Richey’s disappearance in 1995. Some say ‘The Holy Bible’ is, in a way, a last will and testament for a man who was spiralling into oblivion and couldn’t live with the world around him. His disappearance only makes the album more upsetting to listen to. The music itself, written by drummer Sean Moore and vocalist/guitarist James Dean Bradfield, accentuates the narrative behind the lyrics. Paranoia-filled, intense guitars, a heavy bass and chugging drums perfectly capture Richey’s vision and genius. The audio samples featured in some tracks (such as ‘Yes’ and ‘Mausoleum’) only add to the soul-stirring atmosphere, each fitting the tone of the track flawlessly. It’s unsettling, cruel, heavy, brutal and, at times, difficult to listen to (‘4st 7lb’ for example) but that is what makes this album so perfect. Racism, the death penalty, the Holocaust, anorexia, suicide, prostitution and political correctness are just a few of the topics discussed in just 56 minutes and 17 seconds. Nothing is off limits. This is the greatest album of all time.
Welsh poli-punks hate Reagan and Thatcher as much as me, but they don’t share my fondness for melody or hooks.
An absolute masterpiece. One of the most quotable albums ever, with lyrics by two of the very best to ever write. Songs are lyrically heavy, musically appropriate to the words, with flashes of genius every few seconds. Almost unfair that one band would have two such poetic lyricists, and two genius all-round musicians, and one of the very best vocalists ever, and a drummer who is such a good all-rounder, and as a band they would even design covers/videos/artwork. That that they would combine to collaborate with such a clear vision is almost unbelievable. Favourite tracks are ... All of them! We miss you Richey
This album was a nice surprise. The songs are different enough that you don't get bored but the overall theme is still there. I enjoyed it more than I expected, and most of the songs.
Incredible songwriting, performance, and message. Not to mention the sad, sad story behind the album that only enhances it. A gem who's influence is plain to see in much of the music of the next decade.
“The Holy Bible” by Manic Street Preachers (1994) Hateful, foul, cruel, profane, Here’s an album that takes some pretty nasty passions and puts them on public display. This artistic impetus is well informed, intelligently constructed only occasionally losing its poetic footing. Lyrics are meaningful, erudite, expansively referential, and horrifying. The title is a bit of misdirection, generating within the potential listener a vain wish for some serious anti-Christian attack. But what one gets is merely anti-human. "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart" is a song marred by the improper use of the apostrophe.
Damn, this album is really good. It's like a harder pre-cursor to the pop-punk craze of the mid to late 90's. Every song on here is a banger. 5 stars.
My favourite album when I was 12 years old, my favourite album now and almost certainly my favourite album on the day that I die. This was a cultural rabbit hole for 12 year old me that opened up a vast world of music, books, art, movies and politics. It's a dark has hell (The Intense Humming of Evil), grim and sneering (Yes), smugly intelligent (well, the whole album really), incredibly beautiful (This Is Yesterday) and it fucking rocks (Faster). It's a juggernaut of an album. An utter masterpiece.
Manic Street Preachers' dark and jagged masterpiece. Every track is a banger yet incredibly dense and could have an essay written about it. At this time the Manics had an interesting approach to songwriting. Richey and Nicky would write the full lyrics to each song then present them to James and Sean to put to music. Just what JDB must have made of the diatribe handed to him is difficult to fathom. However, he did an incredible job in matching the spiky energy of the music to the bleak world view of the lyrics, whilst somehow finding accessible melodies with which to spit out the bilious words. It is this that elevates the album from a poetic rant to a genius work of art. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Faster Date listened: 25/03/23
A great introduction to a band I've heard of, but never actually heard.
Never heard of this group. The music is pretty good, but blends together really quickly and starts to sound generic. I was more intrigued by reading about Richey Edwards and his disappearance than the music itself. Still, as usual, a couple good songs on here, but this is pretty middle-of-the-road for me. Favorite tracks: Die in the Summertime, Revol. Album art: Kind of disturbing. I do like the font and the reversed R's, plus having the track list on the front is an interesting choice. But the inset pictures seem menacing. I'm scared. 2.5/5
Another fine generic album by the preachers. Why do these guys have TWO albums on this list???
This is your ex boyfriend's favourite album. That's just a fact. It's ok, but it belongs to a certain time and place and if you were on board back in '94, it's hard to hitch a ride 25 years later. The worst thing is that the title of track two has an apostrophe in it, wth.
2.8 - Sadly, the backstory, compelling as it is, doesn’t do enough to redeem this record for me. It has an ugly and misanthropic worldview that burns like a chemical fire. Too bad because I really liked the first song “Yes” but that feeling soured quickly.
Dawno nie slyszalem czegos tak mocnego w swoim przekazie, a dodatkowo swiezego, bo jest to moje pierwsze spotkanie z ta banda, a co to za banda w ogole manic street preachers, to wyspiarska czterososobowa banda, tym razem walijczykow grajacych muzyke dosc ciezka do zaszufladkowania gatunkowo, najbardziej pasuje mi okreslenie tego albumu jako mocna alternatywa, cos post punkowego, jest to trzecia plyta w dyskografii zespolu, sam tytul daje hinta, ze ma to byc dzielo niezwykle, no i takie wlasnie wyszlo w moim odczuciu, bo kazdy trak opowiada jakas historie, ale nie sa to harlequiny jak z nagrania pana Pettiego, ale naprawde ciezkie tematy, gdzie kazda piosenka jest swego rodzaju rozprawa na tematy przerozne od sutenerstwo, hamerykanskosci, prawackich aborcjach na gatunku ludzkim, pozadaniu nieczystosci, wyrokach smierci, rewolucjantach, anoreksji, zatracaniu niewinnosci, standardach spoleczenstwa, przemijaniu, holokauscie, czy politycznej poprawnosci, tak w ultra skrocie mozna strescic kontent liryczny plyty, za ktorym w glownej czesci stal pan Richey Edwards, ktory jest kreditowany jako gitarka rytmiczna, lecz nie bral on udzialu w nagraniach, a jego jedynym wkladem sa teksty, ktore jednak jak dla mnie stanowia o unikalnosci tej plyty, dawno nie slyszalem czegos tak obrazowo nieszczesliwego, przepelnionego takimi emocjami, gdzie czuc autentycznosc wylewajaca sie z kolejnych barow tekstu, byl to ostatni album grupy z udzialem Richiego, o ktorym slad zagial w niedlugim czasie po wydaniu plyty, z tak mocnym przeslaniem jakie niesie plyta jego los jest mocno przewidywalny, od strony muzycznej plyta operuje surowym brzmieniem jakie mozna uzyskac przez mocne przestery gitarkowe i klimatyczne drumowanie, ktore jak na przedostatnim traku the intense humming of evil razem z znieksztalconymi brzmieniami gitary przywodzi na mysl brzmienie pociagow, ktore z kolei bezposrednio lacza sie z tematyka zaglady i obozow koncentracyjnych utworu, sluchajac flakow zdecydowanie da sie odczuc, ze jest to material robiony na szybko, jesli chodzi o produkcje, ale banda zrobila dobra robote jesli chciala oddac istote punka pod wzgledem instrumentali, wokale sa jak dla mnie najslabsza czescia plyty, za ktorymi frontmen James Dean Bradfield ktory gra takze na gitarkach i bawil sie takze na produkcji, jak i reszta czlonkow, wiec moze dlatego plyta ma w sobie to autentyczne brzmienie, o ktore tak ciezko, pozostalymi jeszcze niewymienionymi czlonkami sa Nicky Wire co pisarz i basista, no i Sean Moore na drumach, wiec o ile zeby zrozumiec dokladnie teksty musialem przesluchac z dwa razy, dodatkowo czytajac tekst podczas odsluchu, to jednak jestem zadowolony z tak ciekawego picka listowego, moje top trzy kawalkow z tego krazka to faster, die in the summertime i zamykacjacy song P,C,P, trudna do oceny plyta, ale jednak na tyle unikalna, ze pelne gwiazdki i dodanie na polke spotifajowa
Een stuk harder dan ik verwachtte! Politiek en mentaal getinte teksten. Ik zet dit zeker in mijn lijst van albums die ik nog eens wil beluisteren
Another hidden gem that I just discovered, thanks to this list. According to Wikipedia, the band chose the name "The Holy Bible" to reflect the holiness of the album, and I don't know if they achieved it. Still, it's a holy release that deserves its place on 1001 albums to hear before dying.
Featuring some nifty lead guitar work and diverse rhythm techniques/sounds, interesting arrangements, catchy pop melodies this is a highly accessible pop/rock album. The political and social commentary lyrics add some depth beyond the usual boy/girl crap that most pop songs are about. It's well played, well sung and pretty much every track sounds like a potential single, this is a fabulous album.
Good album on first listen that became an incredible album after three listens, despite its very dark themes. I can’t believe I never this gem of an album until now.
Liked this A LOT. Reminds me of Against Me! Need to listen again more closely to the lyrics, but this is a fantastic album.
This album is one of favourite albums in fact I would rank in my top 20. Not quite the same without Richie
Dark, grim, intense, loud, confrontational, lyrically strong, fierce vocals, killer guitar sound. The Holy Bible is an absolute amazing album and the best the Manic Street Preachers have released.
Visceral and angry....Yet melancholic and melodic, the manics doing what they do best
"Second wind" seems unfair and "hits its stride" is trite, but something happens at and after She Is Suffering. Not that energy is missing before that song, but I hear some kind of change, apparently nothing that I can describe but which certainly affects my ears. The skits give the project a kind of rap feel, but in spirit and not imitation. A shining example of music from across the pond, if not particularly boundary-pushing. I do find myself loving the edgiest-titled cuts. That seems like a sign that this could have been a taste determinant if I heard it younger.
Nice 90s grunge/anxiety. Die in the summer time, was probably my favorite. Need to listen to more of MSP!
Really cool and political, I can see its influences in a lot of things now
When everyone else in the 90s were doing britpop (this was released the same day as definitely maybe) the Manics relocated to Cardiff to make one of the decade’s most remarkable and outlying rock records. I get this won’t be for everyone but I will always love it and have enjoyed blasting it out from the kitchen this morning whilst Humby is hungover 😂. The Holy Bible is full of anguish, unshrinking and unromantic in its abyss-edge study of death, fascism, self-harm, and man’s capacity for atrocity. Maybe you could argue it’s a couple of tracks too long but for me we’re hearing one of the era’s most underrated bands with their best record. 4/5
The compositions here are obviously impressive this thing could’ve cut two whole songs though
Niet mijn favoriete album van hun, beetje te gejaagd, maar het blijft lekker om ze te horen.
The album cover is a good indication that a fucked up adventure is about to start. This album defines the term"angst filled Fothermucker". The music isn't that good but it's not supposed to be and doesn't need to be. It's the canvas; the lyrics are the art. So what about the lyrics? They certainly draw out emotions. It takes me from feeling angry at the same people he is, to feeling bad for society and the folks who are down and out. But mostly, I feel sad for him. There's no way someone can just write this unless they're in a terrible place. RIP
Never heard of Manic Street Preachers before. Now that this has introduced me to them, I'll check out the rest of their discography.
I enjoyed the lyrical themes of this album quite a bit. It’s a very interesting slice of the post Thatcher/Reagan era told from the perspective of people who are still with the aftermath. Manic Street Preachers are the leaders of the Welsh music movement in the 90s and are a very important band. The music itself is brooding, stark and industrial at times, and punchy.
Really enjoyed the punk vibes from this album. I'm going to come back to these guys for sure!
The album artwork is absolutely abhorrent so I can see why it sold poorly. I've been known to judge music by the album cover and that severely lowered my expectations going in. But I have to admit this album is right up my alley. I'm liking the melding of hard rock and post-punk sounds with the alt rock sensibilities. The intensity of the vocals pairs exceptionally well with the rawness of the music. There's something reminiscent of Freddie Mercury in the vocal tone, am I the only one hearing that? I like.
Sick riffs. Interesting lyrics. One of the coolest albums of the 90s. 8-9/10
Better than the real bible. New wave, industrial, art rock goth. There's a wonderful seething fury about absolutely everything. #whereisrichie?
I am not familiar with MANIC STREET PREACHERS and their third album THE HOLY BIBLE at all. So this is my first time hearing the band. After listening to THE HOLY BIBLE, this album is a difficult one to review. Lyrically, the band has impressive and important points of view to tell their audience, however, for me, musically and vocally the band does not serve the lyrics justice. Musically and vocally, the band is rather generic and uninteresting. They do not have the NINE INCH NAILS ability to get their point across either musically and/or vocally, so the album is a disappointment because the potential (lyric-wise) was there. If the band had better vocals and more varied musicianship, the album could be close to a masterpiece or a “5”. In 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, with MANIC STREET PREACHERS - THE HOLY BIBLE, their fourth album, EVERYTHING MUST GO (1996) is also listed. Rate Artist: MANIC STREET PREACHERS (3.5) Rate Album (Year): THE HOLY BIBLE (UK 1994 Original) (4.0) Ranking of MANIC STREET PREACHERS - THE HOLY BIBLE songs No. Title Length Ranking 1. "Yes" 4:59 08.0/10 (Lyrics: 10; Vocals/Music: 06) 2. "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart" 3:39 07.5/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 06) 3. "Of Walking Abortion" 4:00 08.0/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 07) 4. "She Is Suffering" 4:44 09.0/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 09) 5. "Archives of Pain" 5:29 07.5/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 06) 6. "Revol" 3:04 07.0/10 (Lyrics: 08; Vocals/Music: 06) 7. "4st 7lb" 5:05 08.0/10 (Lyrics: 10; Vocals/Music: 06) 8. "Mausoleum" 4:12 06.5/10 (Lyrics: 07; Vocals/Music: 06) 9. "Faster" 3:55 07.5/10 (Lyrics: 08; Vocals/Music: 07) 10. "This Is Yesterday" 3:58 09.0/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 09) 11. "Die in the Summertime" 3:05 06.5/10 (Lyrics: 07; Vocals/Music: 06) 12. "The Intense Humming of Evil" 6:12 09.0/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 09) 13. "P.C.P." 3:59 07.5/10 (Lyrics: 09; Vocals/Music: 06) UK 1994 Original Release 110.0/130 = 8.46 / 2 = 4.2300
This was a surprise and an album/band I’d never heard before. Interesting stories, lyrics — it was great.
I'd probably consider it a 3.5, rounding up because I was a bit busy when listening to it
Honestly not entirely sure what this was, and I’m not going to pretend I fully understood it. But….. I liked it anyway. I’ve saved the whole thing to my spotify. 4/5
Lyrics are a little sixth form poetry and the subject matter is all very grim, but musically this is far and away the best Manics album - still stands up well. Like Pearl Jam but with songs about sex tourists and anorexia.
This was fascinating. NOT at all what I expected. Gonna have another close listen and read all the lyrics. A mix of pop, rock, some kinda prog influence. Very tormented.
I'd always written off the MSPs because of those horrible nasally dirges for which I knew them for but this was actually very good.
Surprisingly fun album. Some dark lyrics and samples mixed in to an upbeat sound.
Never heard of these guys. I feel like if I had heard this album back in the 90s, I would have absolutely loved it. Happy to hear something new that is up my alley. While clearly sounding like 90s alternative, I hear a bit of foo fighters or queens of the stone age in there, but these guys clearly predated them. Cool stuff. Lead singer's voice sounds like someone... i cant place it though. Although I don't expect to be adding this to my listening rotations, I am happy to have experienced this album. And just when I was ready to quit this album a day thing...
C’est bon et je ne m’en attendsis vraiment pas. Probablement le meilleur album punk/rock? Que j’ai emtemdu dans la liste jusqu’ici. 4.5
i personally believe that the manic street preachers are one of the greatest bands i’ve ever listened to-HOWEVER: this was not my favourite album but it was still pretty dope
Look. I don't care for the Manics, but i actually don't mind this. It won't sway me on them in the long run, but it definitely has softened my stance...kinda
I only knew some of their hitsongs. This album was not really what I expected because of that. It is way more raw and I liked that.
Ima odličnih stvari na ovom albumu, možda mi na prvu ruku dugo traje album, ali mislim da je to okej za ovo izdanje. Jedan njihov album je već bio i vidim da sam mu dao 3 na rym, ali ovo je step up iako je album prije napravljen. Sve u svemu, dobar album, nađe se za svakoga po nešta.
Nijedna pjesma mi se nije isticala ali je album ko cijelina jako dobar. Jako me podsjećalo na mars voltu
MSP have been a britpop era blindspot for me for a while. I think I've heard a couple of their last 2000s albums and love the single Your Love Alone Is Not Enough, although that has a lot to do with the involvement of Nina Persson from the Cardigans and is much more of a pop song. So I think this is my first Richey Edwards era album. The songs are graphic and have as just as a violent attitude toward the world as they do directed inward. This album is heavier than I was expecting in sound and it is a really cool mix of post punk and heavy rock. This album is one of my favorite discoveries in this project so far. And I'm always on board with good ol' anti-fascist music. The US mix included on the deluxe releases is actually a bit more dynamic and could have been a hit here if the 1995 release happened, and everything else that happened didn't.
Didn't listen to this on Christmas Eve, based on the feedback in here, and I'm glad I didn't! Utterly miserable, this - so much pain, from so many different perspectives. That's what keeps this record really interesting right the way through though - normally when you get a misery album it's very 'woe is me' and that gets wearing, but this is much much broader. I don't think I'll be listening to this much again, purely because it's so miserable and angry, but it's really really good. 4/5.
I've always heard this band's name but never listened to their music. Pretty unique blend of post-punk, punk, metal, alt rock. Lead singer reminds me of a blend of Freddie Mercury and Billy Corgan maybe? idk but I really enjoyed this album front to back, She is Suffering and Archives of Pain are a couple standouts imo
Hasn't got any of their big hit singles on, but a quality album nontheless
Bra. Lite som ett laid back Dead Kennedys vissa stunder. Kanske en trea, men de får en extra för den försvunne Richey.
Buen disco de rock, con buena voz e instrumentalmente digno. Si destacar ninguna canción especialmente, el conjunto es bueno y gusta
This is some great experimental/hard rock. Manic Street Preachers take on some serious topics here like prostitution, white supremacy, anorexia and depression while still giving some amazing guitar playing. This is another great album I wouldnt have found if it wasn't for this list. 4.4/5
actually sort of like it but its a bit iffy so i guess i should check it some more it might not become more interesting
Not that bad, sound actually fairly modern for the age, would give this a 3.5
I wasn't enjoying it at first but it then just kind of kept growing on me. Will have to listen to it again.