The critics had already buried the Manics after the debacle of their last two (objectively) awful albums, but it's hard to keep those guys down and the release of Send away the tigers is a clear sign that Wire&Co are not yet ready to throw the towel.

This new record, albeit it's not The Holy Bible, marks a stunning return to form and gives hope to all the faithful that have been following the Manics for almost two decades now.

Nicky Wire once said that he would have never performed at 40, but here he is, writing a new record and it's a good record, so we can forgive him for going back to his words.

Heralded by the sparkling Your Love alone is not enough, this new album has echoes of the breezy, melancholic beauty of Everything Must Go and in parts it's truly exceptional.

James Dean Bradfield's voice, like excellent wine, has gotten better through the years, and with this last record he has the chance to prove it. Finally not weighted down by a verbosity that had gotten almost ridiculous, he is, in this record, able to show off the depth of his range and not strain to chase an unbearable jumble of words.

It's a simpler mood we find in this record, something far away from the conceited verbosity of Life Blood and the gratuitous obscurity of Know your Enemy.

The feelings are stripped bare, less make up and more guts, but without being obvious and without renouncing to be witty, smart and even caustic in places.

There are the odd moments, like I am just a patsy, but the abrasive thank you to their fans that can be read in Underdogs and the human, bitter and still hopeful Second Great Depression, show that the heart, the soul, the need to be honest, even brutally so, it's still there. And it's still beautiful.

"Maybe older, maybe wiser…"

Long live the Manics.

by Laila