I’ve never been compelled to read every word in every song on an album until today. This is not how I saw my day materializing… As a kid growing up in the late 80s / early 90s, MSP was in the ears of mostly by smart collegiate minded people who wore rugby shirts and drove Volvos and came from wealthy families, so I just assumed from their fan base I wouldn't like them. And maybe back then, I truly wouldn't've. Then there’s the whole religion biblical references to the band and the album… a complete turnoff… However, the whole back story about Richard Edwards provided a hook and intrigue, so I read on and dove into the album. It's dark, really dark. This dude Richard was into self-harm, starving himself and his disappearance is widely considered a result of death by suicide. The lyrics are self-torturous, self-loathing and full of pessimistic disgust. Traditionally, this isn’t something I’m drawn toward, but the songs and arrangements are spot on for emerging 90’s grunge from abroad. It seems wrong to say that I ‘enjoyed’ this album, but I really, really liked it. It’s got a great sound and the song meanings are so out of the ordinary. https://genius.com/albums/Manic-street-preachers/The-holy-bible