Manics return full of fight and ferocity

ACROSS their 30-year career, Manic Street

Preachers have become an enduring symbol of survival, much like the image of the Samurai warrior adorning their latest album.

Rather than the bold experimentation of the last two, their new album draws on three decades of influences as the band revisit the punk of Generation Terrorists, the anthemic rock of Everything Must Go and the politics of Know Your Enemy. The introspection of 1994 album The Holy Bible, however, isn’t as apparent as focus is deliberately shifted away from the band and onto their artistic inspirations. This is perhaps unsurprising after the high-concept, introverted expansiveness of their last album brought the band to breaking point. The rousing chorus of Distant Colours wouldn’t feel out of place on Everything Must Go stylistically; its political topic is distinctive Manics territory too. The emotive Liverpool Revisited is dedicated to the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy and their families. International Blue uplifts with its scratchy guitar punk, as does the excellent Dylan and Caitlin, the band’s soaring duet with The Anchoress.

While the warrior on the cover may look weary, the band still retain their fight and ferocity. and woody acoustics, but it never lifts the songwriting above the adolescent. I have a horrible feeling he might end up being huge and also really nice. from Iran, the Balkans, Spain and beyond. This is their debut album. The song that will bring a smile to every Londoner’s lips is the one that closes the album. Called Hackney, it’s an upbeat eulogy to the borough where all seven members claim they have lived: “Always welcome to Hackney/ No disappointment in Hackney/ Always lock your bike in Hackney!” With main vocals from Miroslav Morski, an former Bulgarian rock star, and superb instrumentalists on guitars, lutes, clarinets and more, The Turbans’ music is energetic, catchy and enormous fun. They play Islington Assembly Hall on April 21.