CD Review: Manic Street Preachers, "The Holy Bible (10th Anniversary Edition)"

In 1994, Wales' Manic Street Preachers released "The Holy Bible," a collection of intense, rebellious and visceral songs that has been measured up alongside The Clash's "London Calling" as one of the greatest British rock albums ever made.

It would never reach American shores. The U.S. was already into its own form of angry music--grunge--and Nirvana was the king holding court.

Now, 10 years later, the U.S. finally sees an official release of "The Holy Bible," in the form of this three-disc anniversary re-release. The set includes the re-mastered U.K. mix, the previously unreleased U.S. mix along with some demos and live tracks, and a DVD containing live performances, interviews and music videos.

As each song's lyrics spill with dark vernacular ("I am an architect, they call me a butcher/I am a pioneer, they call me primitive/I am purity, they call me perverted" from "Faster"), they read like songs from an angry metal band, but come out with gorgeous, gripping rock fashion.

What makes the album's bleak themes even more absorbing is the band's unfortunate history with their main songwriter, Richey Edwards. Soon after the album's U.K. release in December 1994--with U.S. Label Sony contemplating a stateside release in early 1995--Edwards went missing. Some say it was suicide, others believe he's still alive. Perhaps this makes "The Holy Bible" a final rant from a tortured soul, but it's interesting that Kurt Cobain would suffer the same fate a few months later.

Taken from: http://www.livedaily.com/news/7790.html