">
 

Manic Street Preachers
The Holy Bible


5.0
classic

Review

by Iai EMERITUS
January 21st, 2005 | 1867 replies


Release Date: 1994 | Tracklist


Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

Released 1994.
Epic Records.

#18 in Q's Top 100 Albums Of All Time (2002).
#15 in Melody Maker's Top 100 Albums Of All Time (2000).
#34 in albumvote.co.uk's Top 100 Albums Of All Time.

James Dean Bradfield - Vocals, Guitars
Richey Edwards - Guitars (supposedly)
Nicky Wire - Bass
Sean Moore - Drums, Percussion

The Manic Street Preachers, as we speak, are on the verge of releasing their new album, Lifeblood. It will be their first album since releasing Forever Delayed (a greatest hits) and Lipstick Traces (a B-side/rarity compilation). They stand now, on the back of tracks like A Design For Life, If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, and The Everlasting, as Wales' biggest band. Probably, Britain's biggest and greatest pop act. Because make no mistake, despite their intelligence, sloganeering, and having one of the most under-rated guitarists in the world in James Dean Bradfield (a recent Guitarist special reflected this), the Manics of the second half of the 90s was a pop band.

It would have interesting to mark the reactions of people who bought Forever Delayed. Pop bands, traditionally, are best viewed through their Greatest Hits packages. People who bought into the Manics after the songs mentioned above would not have been expecting glam-punk new-wave anthems Motown Junk and You Love Us. They would have been expecting even less a blistering punk song singing the virtues of starving yourself.

That song was Faster, The Holy Bible's only contribution to Forever Delayed. On that album, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Not surprising, really, given that as an album, The Holy Bible sticks out like a sore thumb too - not just in the catalogue of the Manics, but in music in a general. It's so bleak it makes In Utero, Korn's self-titled debut, and Angel Dust look like Westlife albums. It documents insanity and exposes it in a way not even Syd Barrett's albums do (though the comparison is somewhat unfair). It truly feels like the most 'punk' album ever, so comprehensively does it shock the listener and stand on its own in the annals of music. And, perhaps most strikingly, it made a star and a martyr out of Richey Edwards, an Axl Rose and Trent Reznor-worshipping skinny Welsh boy with a penchant for cutting himself, and probably the least talented guitar player ever to appear on a major label recording. The liners may well say that Richey played guitar on the Manics' early records - don't believe them. It was all Bradfield.

Richey Edwards is an inescapable presence in this album, because he looms so obviously over it. Almost every lyric is his, the only real input from anyone else coming from both Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield having to edit his prosaic ramblings into something singable. Truly, this album is his. The lyrics are what makes this album such a revelation, 10 years down the line, because Richey was visiting places nobody else dared to. Sure, you could say anyone could write about the characters presented on this album, but nobody else ever has with as much empathy for, and awe of, self-destruction. You can almost hear the pull of the knife across Richey's flesh in Bradfield's voice - thankfully, a voice with enough depth and versality to handle such weighty matters.

So what does Richey write about? The Holy Bible could easily be seen as a concept album, each one dealing with a new character, each as depraved and sadomasochistic, yet sympathetic and fatally damaged as the next. From the prostitute of Yes, to the anorexic on the album highlight, 4st 7lbs, to the righteous faster on the aptly-named Faster, to everyone involved in the Holocaust on The Intense Humming Of Evil. How about some choice quotes from each of these songs?

Quote:
Yes
All virgins are liars, honey
And I don't know what I'm scared of
Or what I even enjoy
Dulling, get money
But nothing turns out like you want it to

And in these plagued streets
Of pity you can buy anything
For $200 anyone can conceive a god on video

He's a boy
You want a girl so tear off his cock
Tie his hair in bunches, fuck him
Call him Rita if you want
4st 7lbs
Self-worth scatters, self-esteem's a bore
I've long since moved to a higher plateau
This discipline's so rare so please applaud
Just look at the fat scum who pamper me so

Yeah 4 stone 7, an epilogue of youth
Such beautiful dignity in self-abuse
I've finally come to understand life
Through staring blankly at my navel
Faster
I am stronger than Mensa, Miller and Mailer
I spat out Plath and Pinter
I am all the things that you regret
A truth that washes that learnt how to spell

The first time you see yourself naked you cry
Soft skin now acne, foul breath, so broken
He loves me truly this mute solitude I'm draining
I know I believe in nothing BUT IT IS MY NOTHING!!
The Intense Humming Of Evil
6 million screaming souls
Maybe misery, maybe nothing at all
Lives that wouldn't have changed a thing
Never counted, never mattered, never be

Drink it away, every tear is false
Churchill no different
Wished the workers bled to a machine
In addition to the caustic, acidic lyrics, each song is book-ended with a soundbite, a sample of somebody speaking. There's a clip of the film version of George Orwell's 1984 in Faster, Channel 4 documnetaries on anorexia and prostitution on 4st 7lbs and Yes respectively, a quote from the mother of a victim of the Yorkshire Ripper mass murderer on Archives Of Pain, and the quite brilliant J. G. Ballard quote "I wanted to rub the human face in its own vomit, and force it to look in the mirror" on Mausoleum.

All this is tempered brilliantly by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, and Sean Moore. Gothic (but not Goth) arpeggios, storming riffs, and doomy basslines bring the lyrics to life without overshadowing them. If there's a complaint in this arrangement it's that Bradfield's voice is sometimes a little hard to decipher, partly down to him, at times, having to shove 12 words into a space clearly designed for 5 or 6. But then, it all adds to the post-punk leanings, and the general air of insanity of proceedings. Bradfield's guitar work should be applauded on this album - almost all his best, most technically demanding solos are found here, yet he never strays far from a punk ethos to his riffs and rhythm work. He manages to tip-toe almost perfectly the line between his two biggest guitar heroes; Slash and Joe Strummer.

The only big flaw with The Holy Bible is the programming. Namely, Yes. If I were deciding the track listing for this album, no way in hell would I have Yes as the opening track. It deserves to be on the album, certainly, but it seems underwhelming when placed at the start of the album. I can see why they did it - it's one of the softest, least immediately shocking songs on the album (that is, until you figure out the lyrics), and in a way eases the listener in. But once you're familiar with the album, you'll be wishing Of Walking Abortion or Faster was given the role of the opener. Yes is a fine track, but when delving into a world this bleak it always seems appropriate to dive in head-first. Faster was the first single, I believe, which reflects this. It's tempting to say Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldf allapart (note the heinous misuse of an apostrophe) doesn't deserve to be the second track on the album, too, but the startling cries of 'There's too much black in the Union Jack! And there ain't enough white, in the Stars And Stripes!' save it.

Sadly, this album was not only Richey Edward's defining moment, it was his last stand. He disappeared after this album was released, and a body has not yet been found. He is now legally dead, having been missing the requisite 7 years. His death left the surviving Manics in a tricky predicament, one they'd emerge from with the beautiful, but entirely different, Everything Must Go.

Punk, hard rock, indie, and even metal fans owe it to themselves to hear this. Anyone else may be scared off, but may just find they never look at life the same way again. I certainly haven't.

Within The Genre - 5/5
Outside The Genre - 5/5


Recommended Downloads

4st 7lbs

Quite simply, genius. Dealing with anorexia (Richey was apparently anorexic himself), it contains one of the best lyrics even written by anyone, replete with the awesome chorus 'I want to walk in the snow/and not leave a footprint, I want to walk in the snow/and not soil its purity'. The verse riff in the first half revolves around an arpeggiated G7no5 - Edim progresion. Halfway through, the music slows down and becomes a more atmospheric, minimalist base over which Bradfield's lyrics are allowed to hit home harder than anywhere else on the album. There's some great lead guitar work too. Out of interest, the song is named 4st 7lbs as this is the threshold for human adult death - if you drop below this weight, you die.

Faster
Beginning with the 1984 quote "I hate purity. Hate goodness. I want everything corrupted." (taken from Winstons' first meeting with Julia), this song blitzes the listener with killer riffs based on major 7th intervals. Still the best way for a newcomer to sample this album. As a stand-alone single, this song can easily be seen just as a punk declaration of self-confidence (much the same as You Love Us) , with only the line 'So damn easy to cave in/Man kills everything' a marker of the bleak subject matter contained in the rest of the album. It also boasts one of the strangest guitar solos around - based almost entirely on physical repetition, it makes no tonal sense and still sounds excellent.

The Intense Humming Of Evil
One for the Nine Inch Nails fans out there. Clearly indebted to Trent Reznor, the music suggests a machine grinding coldly along, while Bradfield's voice is distant and haunted. Probably the point on the album where the music most accurately matches the lyrics - you can almost hear gas being released from the ambient electronics, and the harmonics suggest a woozy, undignified death. The song deals with concentration camps in Germany, and contains a recording from the court proceedings in which Germany was charged with war crimes.



Recent reviews by this author
Lana Del Rey ParadiseScott Walker Bish Bosch
Susanne Sundfor The Silicone VeilPepe Deluxe Queen of the Wave
iamamiwhoami KinThe Tallest Man on Earth There's No Leaving Now
user ratings (874)
4.3
superb
other reviews of this album
1 of
  • Jordan M. EMERITUS (4)
    Under Neon Loneliness, CHAPTER 3: “I Know I Believe In Nothing But It Is My Nothing…â€...

    HolidayKirk (4)
    For Tomorrow: A Guide to Contemporary British Music, 1988-2013 (Part 11)...

    AndrewKaster (5)
    Simply put, one of the heaviest albums ever recorded. Brilliant for the fact that here sta...

    Christopher Y. (5)
    …of everything not nice....

  • AliW1993 (3.5)
    Not the classic it is often made out to be, but still a good album that's worth your time....



Comments:Add a Comment 
The Ashtray Girl
January 25th 2005


108 Comments


Wow, that really wasn't what I thought this album was like, but having read that I now want to listen to it even more.

Another wonderful review.

AfroMan
January 29th 2005


101 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Great Review man.



I bought this album recently because of it's 10th Anniversary release and I'd heard some positive things about it.



I really wasn't expecting a CD so powerful.



Everything about "The Holy Bible" is sheer brilliance. Lyrically, it is one of the best i've ever heard. This, combined with equally great music and samples makes this an almost perfect album.



A new favourite album of mine and one that I defintley won't be getting bored of any time soon.



:cool:





Med57
Moderator
February 24th 2005


1002 Comments


So, I bought this the other day, thanks solely to your repeated praise of it on here, as I'd never heard a song off it before. Wow. Just plain wow. I don't own any other Manics albums, but from all accounts this is easily their best. It says something that their others could be incredible, and still not even come close.

Zmev
April 25th 2005


983 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ive had this album for some months and am only listening to it now. I tried to start from the top but Yes isnt a great opener. 4 st 7 lb is a great tune though, as are the songs that follow it.



edit: that last comment with "49 comments" is me.This Message Edited On 06.01.05

Ian Curtis Is Dead
April 25th 2005


11 Comments


I want this album, but everywhere I got they only have the Re-issue edition (or whatever it's called), and I'm not yet ready to spring $45 (CAD) on this when I can get 3 or 4 other CDs.

But I will get this someday.

Great review, of course.

Kaden
May 13th 2005


222 Comments


I actually love Yes. I think that, the 2nd track (with the longlonglong song title), and 4st 7lbs are the best ones.

Little Man being Erased
July 7th 2005


87 Comments


Woah. I am buying this album.

Jawaharal
July 7th 2005


1832 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

just bought the tenth anniversary one and I so far I haven't heard much but I love Yes. I'm expecting this to get a 5/5 outta of mr

masada
July 7th 2005


2733 Comments


If only I had money to buy this

Jawaharal
July 7th 2005


1832 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

ya it was pricey. 24.99 but its two cds and a dvd so its worth it

pulseczar
August 3rd 2005


2385 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

this album is sooooooooooo good, i want it very badly but they're only selling the pricey 10th anniversary ed.

br3ad_man
August 5th 2005


2126 Comments


I've got this, I don't really like it but I haven't given it much of a chance. Meh.

Geezer1287
September 1st 2005


18 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

This album is one of my faves of all time, I cant recomend it more, For a band with a reputation of being pop, they sure know how to rock. Get the 10th anniversary edition tho. Id give it a 5/5.

Killtacular
October 26th 2005


1314 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm in the process of getting this. And if I don't like it, I'm going to come back and throw tomatoes at you, Iai.



/shakes fist

Killtacular
October 26th 2005


1314 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I pirate them to see if I like them first, then if I deem it worthy (usually a score of 4 and greater) then I actually will go buy it. I likes me liner notes and the satisfaction that I own the actual cd.



I can't just go buying cd's everytime I want to check something out. What if I hate it?

Killtacular
October 26th 2005


1314 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

You can't return it just because you don't like it.



Gambling is for alcoholics.

Jawaharal
October 26th 2005


1832 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Just do yourself a favor and buy it.

pulseczar
October 26th 2005


2385 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

it's madatory that you buy this album. DONT EVEN THINK JUST GO BUY IT.





even though they're commies

Jawaharal
October 26th 2005


1832 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I thinks its cool in the DVD how James dresses like a terrorist during some of the shows.

Jawaharal
October 26th 2005


1832 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Not since june.



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy