Manic Street Preachers - Send Away The Tigers

Manic Street Preachers return with their eighth album ‘Send Away The Tigers’ on 7th May. The title of the record is taken from a Tony Hancock phrase said when the great comedian was drunk.

Originally formed in 1986, the group have changed completely from the four young punks from Wales who wanted to be ‘4Real’. It’s been 12 years since the disappearance of Richey Edwards, at the time one of the bands principle songwriters and at least 11 years since the band biggest success, ‘A Design For Life’ in 1996 and the world is a different place for the Manics circa 2007.

The band have heralded the follow-up to 2004‘s ‘Lifeblood‘ as the return to their ‘classic’ sound. The new tracks on ‘Send Away The Tigers’ are grand and more epic than tracks from their previous efforts. ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘The Second Great Depression’ sound massive and echo the sound from 1996’s ‘Everything Must Go’ album.

The sound of ’Everything Must Go’ also echo’s on the punchy rock tracks. ‘Underdogs’, ‘Imperial Bodybags’ and the lead single ’Your Love Alone Is Not Enough’ are again, grander and more punchy than on previous records and better than anything off ‘Lifeblood’.

The Manic Street Preachers are finally happy with their sound and this album reflects it, the tracks on 'Send Away The Tigers' are not full of pomp and the lack of experimentation and simple riffs works in their favour. Overall this is a very good album and could possibly see the start of a resurgence for the Manics.

The Manic Street Preachers are playing a sold-out UK tour in May and are also playing V, Glastonbury and Rockness festivals. Info and tickets can be found here.

Manic Street Preachers - 'Underdogs'

Manic Street Preachers - 'Imperial Bodybags'

Manic Street Preachers - 'Indian Summer'