again wit alot of my favourtie albums, this initially didnt grab me. i felt it sounded almost chaotic and all over the place; the lyrics didnt fit into the structure of the music; vocally James sounded as though he was singing in the next room, then all of a sudden he was singing (well, screaming) in your ear. after repeated listens, the chaos comes together and makes perfect sense; this was an album that held a mirror up to humanity exposing it's discord and hypocricies.

opener Yes, sets the tone fo the rest of the album. its fast, frantic, each line filled to the brim lyrically with vitriol. everything that follows after does not disappoint. Of Walking Abortion rages like a beast against man's weakness and their need to be ruled, even via dictatorship. Archives Of Pain is a taut monster of a rock track which staggers about menacingly before giving way to possibly James' finest guitar solo. 4st 7ibs is an almost voyeuristic look at anorexia - the music perfectly reflects the… more »

again wit alot of my favourtie albums, this initially didnt grab me. i felt it sounded almost chaotic and all over the place; the lyrics didnt fit into the structure of the music; vocally James sounded as though he was singing in the next room, then all of a sudden he was singing (well, screaming) in your ear. after repeated listens, the chaos comes together and makes perfect sense; this was an album that held a mirror up to humanity exposing it's discord and hypocricies.

opener Yes, sets the tone fo the rest of the album. its fast, frantic, each line filled to the brim lyrically with vitriol. everything that follows after does not disappoint. Of Walking Abortion rages like a beast against man's weakness and their need to be ruled, even via dictatorship. Archives Of Pain is a taut monster of a rock track which staggers about menacingly before giving way to possibly James' finest guitar solo. 4st 7ibs is an almost voyeuristic look at anorexia - the music perfectly reflects the lyrics, broody, urgent, menacing, before slowing down to the point it wastes itself away. Faster remains a live fan favourite to this day and is arguably Richey Edwards' definitive song, if not the band, while the angry PC-baiting punk of PCP is the most demanded (but rarely played) song at live performances.

the 2nd CD contains the US mix of the album which is equally excellent. if the original mix of The Holy Bible was described as 'claustraphobic' then the US mix is 'agrophobic'. its more polished, but not to the point the essential essence of the original mix is scrubbed out. its certainly a worthy new perspective.

the DVD contains numberous live performances (TV shows, festival appearences) and an interview, which are fascinating especially for newer fans as it gives a glimpse of how The Holy Bible came to be.

make no mistake, this is the Manics' finest hour and for me, is the best album ever created.

Looking back to the late summer of 1994, there were 2 albums that I can recall listening to repeatedly - the Beastie Boys' "Ill Communication" and this, the Manic Street Preachers' best work to date and the album that they're unlikely to better. Apparently this record did not do particularly well upon release in terms of sales, although receiving a fair amount of critical acclaim - it did not even get an American release, despite an American mix of the album being prepared (this mix comprises the 2nd CD of this set). High sales or not, I can recall being absolutely stunned by the power, ferocity and darkness of this record - the only thing I could compare it to at the time in terms of listening experience was Nirvana's "In Utero", which had had transfixed me in similar fashion. And, like that seminal album, the none-more-dark lyrics of "The Holy Bible", the bulk of which were written by then-guitarist Richey Edwards, give an unforgettable glimpse into the psyche of an artist who is… more »

Looking back to the late summer of 1994, there were 2 albums that I can recall listening to repeatedly - the Beastie Boys' "Ill Communication" and this, the Manic Street Preachers' best work to date and the album that they're unlikely to better. Apparently this record did not do particularly well upon release in terms of sales, although receiving a fair amount of critical acclaim - it did not even get an American release, despite an American mix of the album being prepared (this mix comprises the 2nd CD of this set). High sales or not, I can recall being absolutely stunned by the power, ferocity and darkness of this record - the only thing I could compare it to at the time in terms of listening experience was Nirvana's "In Utero", which had had transfixed me in similar fashion. And, like that seminal album, the none-more-dark lyrics of "The Holy Bible", the bulk of which were written by then-guitarist Richey Edwards, give an unforgettable glimpse into the psyche of an artist who is not merely engaged in rock 'n' roll posturing but is, as he once insisted in an infamous act of self-mutilation, "4 Real". The power of the words is backed up by the most urgent and riff-heavy music the Manics had ever produced and abounds in the quirky musical phrasing which they seem to have taken a delight in. Try and sing along to this record and you'll see what I mean. :)

This release offers fans (and the uninitiated) a wonderful opportunity to experience this album as never before, with 2 different mixes of the record, plus a bonus DVD featuring many intriguing (and amusing) performances of material from the album.

They may have gone on to considerable success as stadium rock stalwarts, but the Manics have never been on better musical form than on this record, which stands as a fitting tribute to the talent of the lost Richey Edwards.