Gareth - 1/27/2011

A powerful and strong opener to the 10th Studio album from the Manics, with the first single '(it's not war) just the end of love', and a great guitar song, taking the listener back to those days of an 'Everything Must Go' (1996). The second song 'Postcards from a young man', to be there second single, again, a strong guitar song with a catchy lead guitar solo and chorus just making you want to sing along. Ian McCulloch makes an appearance on 'Some Kind of Nothingness' in a duet with James Dean Bradfield, a long time hero of the band, another classic guitar song with beautiful orchestration. After listening the 'The Descent' it becomes apparent that the Manics seem to be back at their best but have learned not to draw our songs for longer than required, as they did on the follow up album to 'Everything Must Go', 'This is My Truth Tell Me Yours'. These songs seemed to have been worked out perfectly in their length and format. 'Hazelton Avenue'. 'Auto-intoxication' and 'Golden Platitudes' follow in much the same vain, a re freshed and energised sounding Manics. 'I Think I Found it' is an early favourite due to the use, of what appears to be the sound of a mandolin? Nicky Wire the bass player and lyricist of the band takes over on lead vocals for 'The Future has been here 4ever' and doesn't do to bad a job of it.
I would say this is a very strong manic album and a good and pleasurable run through with relative ease as in the past sometimes the Manics albums can become hard work to get through. This album is in no way ground breaking or anything new but if you like this sort of music and this sort of band then this album is a must.