Holy Bible, The - Manic Street Preachers > Reviews

Advantages: Great lyrics, work of art
Disadvantages: Too dark for some

...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 ... Read review

Advantages: Best album ever
Disadvantages: its not a party record!!

...Street Preachers 3rd album The Holy Bible. The Album The Holy Bible is probably one of the gloomiest and darkest records to be produced with its bleak nihilistic songs of pure vitriol. Richey, the bands enigmatic songwriter wrote this album during the deepest parts of his depression so this was not going to be any happy album. Topics that are covered in this album range from prostitution, anorexia and self-abuse to the Nazi holocaust and Hiroshima. ... Read review

Advantages: The best album of all time
Disadvantages: But only in my opinion

The Holy Bible is possibly the darkest LP you’ll ever hear if you ever listen to it (unless you’re a goth or something and then it’s the happiest CD you’ll ever hear). It was released in 1994, the same year that Take That were at their peak and Blur released the catalyst for Britpop, Parklife, but it’s safe to say that this is far removed from the sound of the charts. Richey Edwards, the band’s enigmatic “poet ... Read review

Advantages: music, meaningful lyrics, honest, socially aware
Disadvantages: the intense humming of evil

The Holy Bible is unarguably the Manics’ darkest album. With 70% of the lyrics written by Richey in a downward spiral of depression and self mutilation the album is depressing yet uplifting, as best represented by track nine ‘Faster’. The album has many topics of discussion – the Holocaust, America, and other depressing topics… 1. Yes – 4:59 – ‘everyone I’ve loved or hated always seems to leave’ ***** Yes ... Read review

Advantages: Its certainly one of the best albums of the 90's, if not the best
Disadvantages: Its highly difficult to listen to

This album......it's utterly astonishing. A masterpiece. The best rock album to come out of the 90's by far. Utterly captivating. Tears you apart. It's really quite hard to express just how good this album is (wow, I sound so dramatic-bear with me!). Words really can't sum it up, though words are exactly what make this album what it is. This album cannot be said to be the best album the Manics have produced. There is one reason for this, its because ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful, moving album
Disadvantages: Incredibly dark

...they began to get somewhere. The Holy Bible is their third album. The last recorded with Richey James before his disappearance (although his writing was so prolific, Richey’s lyrics pervade many later songs). During this time, Richey was extremely depressed. He was suffering with alcoholism which also caused anorexia. His much recorded self-harm was becoming severe again. They had not only lost their manager & mentor Philip Hall, but Richey had ... Read review

Advantages: 13 great songs
Disadvantages: Depressing

The holy bible is one of the most definitive albums of the nineties, made by a band at the peak of their form. It is one of those albums that has no weaknesses. Be warned though, this album is dark and Often disturbing, there are no happy moments. The lyrics were written Mainly my Richy James Edwards, who dissapeared, shortly before the Bands American tour to promote this album. His lyrics show how Troubled he was at the time, and give clues ... Read review

Advantages: It's unbelievably, achingly, open-mouthedly good.
Disadvantages: Er ... don't play it in front of your gran?

They said this was really Richey's album and there certainly is a very disturbed mind at work here. However, the album's strength is in its scope - yes, it's pretty much all doom and gloom but there are different levels of 'gloomness': from the political (PCP) to the personal (Die In The Summertime); from the all-out rant (Archives Of Pain) to the studied dissection (The Intense Humming Of Evil). And then there's the occasional heart-stopping moment ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful and original
Disadvantages: Not enough good melodies

I think The Holy Bible is the best album the Manics have ever produced. Its probably the least well known album, and it certainly takes some getting used to. The lyrics are about as harsh and gritty as you can imagine, with songs about anorexia, the holocaust, abortion, capital punishment etc. Its not easy listening but the lyrics (written at the height of Richie's illness) are really powerful, and could equally be spoken as poetry. Musically, the ... Read review

Advantages: Manics at their best
Disadvantages: Shocking lyrics and images

Forget the Manic Street Preachers as you know them now. This is the Manic Street Preachers at there manevolent, majestic best. Each track reveals a tiny, sinister insight into the mind of tortured genius lyricist Richy Edwards. The tracks are a lasting testament to the man and capture the band at the height of their powers. This collection is not for the faint-hearted and will no doubt shock recent converts to the Manics, the lyrics are very intense ... Read review

Advantages: A very emotive album.
Disadvantages: None.

...are still a mystery), "The Holy Bible" is one of the Manics' darkest albums. Themes range from the emotional (4st 7lb - about the disturbing mental state of anorexia nervosa) to the political (ifwhiteamericatoldthetruthforonedayitsworldwouldfallapart - about American gun laws and segregation) problems of the world. The strong voice of James Dean Bradfield (lead vocal + guitar) puts emotion into the already strong lyrics, and the frantic drummung ... Read review

Advantages: Powerful strong lyrics
Disadvantages: Songs can often clash and sound jumbled at FIRST

...was classic American rock. The Holy Bible however is an album that is so haunting, so strong and powerful, it can chill you. When I first listened to it, I found it hard to digest, as it all sounded to jumbled together, and it was hard to distinguish each song. However once I started to read the lyrics and understand what James the singer and lead guitarist was saying, it all started to open up. The chilling tones of Archives of Pain, and the power ... Read review