In a word this album is outstanding. For a few more words read on.
This album well reflects the Manic darkest hour. By saying that it is also one of their best ever pieces of works, more an image of the dark lyrics and tone to the songs. It is a breathtaking piece of music with some of the best lyrics I have heard and some excellent songs musically. This is Richey James at his best and most depressed, before his disappearance. That is what makes it such as good work.
Richey James was having troubles before this album, this is his last work from the Manic Street Preachers with him in their mists. He is more famous for his lack of talent with instruments than with them, but was the drive behind them and writer. The inlay describes him as ‘design’ and less true guitar. Lead singer James Dean Bradfield makes up on the guitars and in the bargain can even sign. Richey’s partner in song writing is the bassist Nicky Wire, he took very much an assistant job, but is now writing all their songs and has talent in his work. Drummer Sean Moore completes the line up. ‘The Holy Bible’ was released in 1994, the Welsh bands third album under the Sony label.
The most amazing thing about the album is the lyrics. They are the expressions of someone who was deeply troubled, but is a true artist. The quality comes across in the words, and you have to read all the words off the album to get the full impact. With his depression comes a fairly obvious dark tone to the album. This is especially obvious on some, ‘The Intense Humming of Evil’ and some
words in ‘Die in the Summertime’ are intently dark. It is not the sort of thing to play to get upbeat, but the true genius behind this has to be seen. With Richey gone the Manics have still made records, ‘Everything Must Go’ is also excellent and another album of the 90s. They will never re-create what goes on in this album though.
1. Yes - The opening track is a fine example of this album, saying what they think is wrong with the world. It is one of the louder and quicker songs on the album, so makes a good start with an excellent bass and guitars throughout. The lyrics are also setting the pace, ‘ I hurt myself to get pain out’ shows what James is going through and the passion and anger. ‘Power produces desire, the weak have none’
2. Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart – From the title it is pretty clear that this song is anti-America, or at least some of the things in their world. A clever song lyrically, playing off all the wrongs and topics in America. Another upbeat tempo song with a good chorus. ‘Your idols speak so much of the abysses, yet your morals only run as deep as the surface’
3. Of Walking Abortion – This song has much of the darkness, bleak lyrics and powerful sounds. The drums are great on this and the chorus is loud and shouted and has a lot of guitars in. It has a really loud and resounding rift throughout and needs to be played loud. ‘The massacred innocent, blood stains us all’
4. She is Suffering – This is a much slower and mellow song, making a change of scenery from surrounding tracks. Does not lose any of its dark nature, although is a simple song and one of the easier to listen to on the album ‘Beauty is such a terrible thing’
5. Archives of Pain – Changes from ‘She is Suffering’ with another power track. Great chorus to come alive to ‘kill Yeltsin who’s saying?, Zihirnovsky, Le Pen’ along with naming other extremists famous for their views gives a very keen political angle. The lead guitars are excellent, it breaks out into a good solo and for the chorus. It has some of the best lyrics on here, reading the inlay is a must. Great song. ‘If hospitals cure, then prisons must bring their pain’
6. Revol - Not the best track on the album, and not my favourite. The words list famous leaders, especially Soviet ones with a brief sentence to describe them. A bit strange, though some good guitars on the chorus do add a little. ‘Kruschev self love in his mirrors’
7. 4st 7lb – Pretty clearly a song about anorexia, it is written so they sing as the victim. Very graphic and disturbing lyrics paint the full picture and leave nothing out. One of the harder tracks to listen to, less guitars than other tracks to focus on the words. It is a great and powerful lyrical song, it is very bleak. ‘I want to walk in the snow and not spoil its purity’
8. Mausoleum – Dark song, more in tune to the hard and thumping sound like ‘Of Walking Abortion’. The chorus is catchy and sticks around. It is a good song, very dark meanings behind it, but great to listen along to. ‘No birds, no birds, the sky is swollen black’
9. Faster – Slightly lighter and more listen able tone to this song. Again has a good and catchy chorus where Richey says he is stronger than Mensa, Miller and Mailer. It also has the line from which I took the title, it has another series of great lines and quotes. One of the best songs for me on the album. ‘I am a pioneer, they call me primitive. I am purity, they call me perverted’
10. This is Yesterday – A wonderful track, as simple as that. Really slows down the whole song and it results is a beautiful song to listen to. Simple with hardly any backing music until near the end, touching and a totally different show of emotion. ‘Do not listen to a word I say, just listen to what I can keep silent’ ‘The only way to gain approval, is by exploiting the very things that cheapen me’
11. Die in the Summertime – Quite a good message really from this song, just look back on the good things so when you do die you only carry memories of the best of times. The inlay comes with the lyrics and a series of childhood pictures to go with the moral. Still comes with a very dark tone, Richey’s troubled mind and hints at what he did. ‘I have crawled so far sideways , I recognise dim traces of creation.
12. The Intense Humming of Evil – One of the darkest of the dark songs on the album, on the holocaust. Not my favourite off the album, it is very dark and deep. It has prominent drums and a weird backing noise, again the lyrics really do talk loud. ‘soon infected, nails broken, hungers a word, 6 million screaming souls’
13. P.C.P – Quicker and sharp end to the album. It is alive through the song with some great guitar work. Also a fine example of the best drumming on the album. A good sent off overall. ‘When I was young PC meant Police Constable, nowadays I cant seem to tell the difference’
Overall this is one of the best CDs I have head, most defiantly one of the albums of the 90s if not ever. It is a work of art, magnificent with the lyrics and tones. It is full of emotion and plays this across excellently. It is not the most upbeat album and will not be everyone’s choice or preference, but the quality of the work is undisputed.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Very clear explanation of the music to expect...perhaps it doesn't quite convey the power of the darkness this album holds, but then I know I wouldn't have been prepared for it if I'd known about it...it's something you can only come to terms with once you're familiar with. -x-
RottenPumpkins 07.07.2002 22:50
This is such a great album: dark, disturbing and werid...the Manics ruled the world when they brought out this album *grins*. Detailed op, thanks.
The Holy Bibleis the sound of a band plunging into chaos, taking in such joyous subjects ... more
as the holocaust ("The Intense Humming Of Evil"), prostitution ("Yes"), anorexia ("4st 7lb") and general despair (everything else). Needless to say, the majorit...
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The Holy Bible is the sound of a band plunging into chaos, taking in such joyous subjects ... more
as the holocaust ("The Intense Humming Of Evil"), prostitution ("Yes"), anorexia ("4st 7lb") and general despair (everything else). Needless to say, the majori...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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