Album: The Holy Bible Artist: Manic Street Preachers Label: Sony Released: 1994
Aside from the irony of the Manic St Preachers being on the huge corporate beast of a label that was Sony, 1994 saw them release their finest work to date. "The Holy Bible" is an angry and uncompromisingly bleak album; an arrow into the dark heart of humanity in many ways.
Following hot on the heels of "Gold Against The Soul" (an inconsistent and sterile set of songs by comparison) the album is the last album the band managed as a foursome. Richey James disappeared in 1995 (yet to be discovered) and after that the Manics went all mainstream and safe. However strange it may sound now (in an age of millenium welcoming, sell out, stadium concerts), back in 1994 the Welsh angst espousers were daring, innovative and controversial.
"The Holy Bible" opens with "Yes" - a scathing critique of overt capitalism and designer science;
"In these plagued streets of pity You can buy anything, For $200 anyone can conceive a god on video"
The first thing that strikes you (after the initial surprise of the fourth word of the album being the C word) is that the nominal chorus, is inaccesible and rushed. The hook of the song is the wonderfully sung bridge, which features a fuzzy barrage of guitar.
Track two is the succintly titled "Ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayit'sworldwouldfallapart" - surprisingly not a single! Michael Moore is doubtless a fan though. The track starts out goth fringed, with chiming guitars, military drumming and angst-ridden vocals from James Dean Bradfield. A surprisingly accessible chorus acts as a counterpoint to the savagery of
the verses, however the political message of the song isn't watered down;
"I love a free country the stars and stripes and an apple for mommy Conservative say there ain't no black in the union jack Democrat say there ain't enough white in the stars and stripes"
The Manics key themes of imperialist capitalism, racism, death and revolution are all dealt with in this one lyrically catch-all track.
"Of Walking Abortion" is angry-rock with a sharp lyrical tongue, whilst "She Is Suffering" is a beautifully constructed semi-ballad with a dark heart. This brings us on to the dark-hearted "Archives Of Pain" - a debate about the death penalty set to music;
"A drained white body hanging from the gallows is more righteous than Hindley's crotchet lectures...."
After the opening five tracks it becomes obvious to even the most cerebrally-challenged listener that the Manics are on a mission. That mission is to highlight all the wrongs of our modern society within the framework of one compact disc. Highlighting what the band saw to be the sheer vulgarity of life in 1994 didn't make for easy listening though; the pseudo-punk, abrasive, dark sound that the band created isn't for all tastes. "Revol" is at the punkier end of the album's broad range of styles and speeds. A roll-call of failed statesmen, it practically screams out for leaders we can believe in;
"Gorbachev - celibate self-importance Yeltsin - failure in his own impotence"
Unsurprisingly "Revol" concerns itself primarily with Soviet leaders; the Manics obsession with the principles (yet failed practicalities) of Communism is one of their trademarks. "Revol" is semi-anthemic and musically rough-edged - a perfect backdrop for the politically angry lyrical message of the song.
"4st 7lb" is an open-minded, insightful exploration of eating disorders and society's obsession with all things thin. Musically it isn't anything special, although Bradfield's heartfelt vocals allied to some thought-provoking verse makes for a polished end product;
"...diet's not a big enough word I wanna be so skinny that I rot from view I want to walk in the snow and not leave a footprint"
"Mausoleum" is uncompromisingly bleak, yet powerful but leads cleverly into the frenzied power of "Faster." Whilst most of "Faster" is straight-forward punk-by-numbers (except for the wonderful guitars on the outro), the vocal/lyrical strength gives it a power beyond its component parts. Some wonderful phrases are coined in this one track, most notably;
"Self-disgust is self-obsession honey and I do as I please..."
and
"I know I belive in nothing but it is my nothing"
After the aggressively confrontational musings of "Faster", the slow-paced and introspective "This Is Yesterday" comes as a welcome relief. Some slick production and understated, yet clever guitars create the necessary atmosphere for a sad, yet beautiful song. The lyrics are almost certainly penned by the soon-to-disappear (and as yet unaccounted for) Richey James. The themes of lost innocence, despair, alienation and depression that come through in much of James' writing are never better presented than in "This Is Yesterday." Cleverly, he strikes a chord with many a disaffected/depressed listener with lines such as;
"Do not listen to a word I say Just listen to what I can keep silent..."
The bileous, vitriol of "Die In The Summertime" merely adds further proof to the theory that Richey James commited suicide shortly after the release of "The Holy Bible." Muscially the band sound suitably angsty and the vocals are once again spot-on. The words hint at a twenty-something, die-while-I'm-young sensiblity (much akin to Ian Curtis' attitude during the recording of "Closer.")
After the bleakly downbeat "Die In The Summertime" you'd think the depths of the human soul couldn't be plummed any deeper....then track twelve starts! "The aptly titled "The Intense Humming Of Evil" is an uncompromising critique of Nazism - yet on a deeper level - leaders we don't/can't question. Musically the Manics seem to be trying to recreate the sound and mood of concentration camps - harrowing and difficult stuff indeed, yet done in a relatively unpretentious way.
The closing track on this thirteen track epic is "PCP" - a lyrically concise dose of rage against years of failed British government. The pace of "PCP" is frantic - think flat-out 70s punk. In a way "PCP" ties together many of the musical and lyrical ideas of the previous twelve tracks in one final, frantic broadside. The album closes with a shudder-inducing, Thom Yorke-esque line;
"Pass the prozac, designer amnesiac"
Chilling stuff indeed. "The Holy Bible" is certainly not easy listening or reading - I find I read the lyric sheet with as much interest as I listen to the album. That said, it is an excellent record. Anyone looking to top up their angst levels should take one full measure of "The Holy Bible" once a week....you'll soon feel sutiably angry and disaffected.
On a serious note - a more politically radical and lyrically incisive album you won't find. Personally I don't rate anything else they've done (in terms of LP output) and can state confidently that if "Motorcycle Emptiness", "Removables", "Sleepflower" and "The Holy Bible" were all that was ever recorded by the Manic St Preachers I'd be their biggest fan. Unfortunately they sold out many moons ago and now make middle-of-the-road, safe music for thirty-somethings to unwind to. What level of ambition is that?
Anyway, as the band themselves say - "if you really care, wash the feet of a beggar" - maybe they should heed those words! Back in 1994 the MSP's (sounds so political doesn't it?) were worth discussing and listening to. "The Holy Bible" was and indeed IS one of the most challenging, important and radical records released in the last twenty years. (*9)
***
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
i love this album, i didn't realise i could have got it £10 cheaper on the internet. but it's still good
ThierryHenryisGOD 02.12.2004 00:05
Thats the best review I've seen, I thought I was a massive fan of the album but I'm not quite capable of understanding all the themes and lyrics as well as you. I have to say I think Everything Must Go is another classic and although the rest are mixed bag albums I find them to be a great singles band. But I can see where you're coming from, this was the time when the Manics truly were "4 Real"
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...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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...
exceptional by (10%):
very helpful by (90%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
![In Utero [PA] - Nirvana (US) - review by dan_wales](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/stars/2003/stars20.gif)
