Manic Street Preachers - Distant Colours - Review







The newest single ahead of the release of the band's latest album Resistance Is Futile





The hype for the new Manic Street Preachers album Resistance Is Futile has been immense for fans the world over. The first single International Blue was a strong showing and demonstrating how despite being together for over 30 years they can still re-invent their style and stay relevant in an ever changing musical landscape.





However, despite this, the feeling that they needed to deliver with their newest single was as high as it's ever been. To prove that the last single wasn't merely a flash in the pan and that they are as good as they seem to be.





And it is without doubt that they did deliver. The newest single can only be considered a roaring success for the band. It is a brilliant piece of music and totally different from their previous single. Any doubts of their continued success seem to now be behind them.





Before I get into the song itself I would like to mention the start of the music video. It is a journey around the bands native Wales, taking us through the valleys and capping off in their native Blackwood. This nod to their humble beginnings shows a more raw and delicate side of the band with little to no rock 'n' roll bravado. It is refreshing and touching to see this in a musical climate where everyone feels they need to be the coolest fucker there is. The Manic's seem not to be fussed by this and separate themselves from everyone else. They're still the outcasts as they have always been.





When the song kicks off we instantly hear the James Dean Bradfield's acoustic guitar accompanied with a beat that can only be described as slightly techno, reminiscent of the better parts of their album Lifeblood, this is again showing the progression of the Manic's sound. Along with this we are treated to the delicate, introverted lyrics written by Bradfield. The song seems to be him showing his delicate side and how he is feeling about the world and those around him changing at an alarming pace. This makes it simply a beautiful listen.





Almost as quickly as the song starts off we are treated to the chorus of the song, which is in my mind the best part of it. The melody is euphoric and uplifting, in the same vain as the chorus of Autumnsong. This is accompanied by some of the darkest lyrics they have produced post-Richey Edwards. With lyrics such as, "Broken promise for the soul, never loving never healing" being given a bittersweet poignancy by the accompanying melody. The contrast works beautifully. It then breaks back into the verse just as quickly as it started.





This then brings us to the bridge of the song which jolts into a more rocky-classic Manics sound with an electric guitar smashing through the delicate wall of sound that was built up for the previous 2 minutes. However, this brings me to my only real criticism of the song. There is no real solo from James Dean Bradfield. I understand that this criticism is all based on personal tastes and preferences and some might argue that it wouldn't belong in a song of this softer more personal style, but I would have to disagree with that. However I believe that if something resembling of a solo can be worked into songs such as A Design For Life and If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next then it could be worked into a song such as this and still not effect its meaning. Again that's all based on my personal taste.





However the last chorus break of the song completely blew me away, with all the elements that had built up over the song coming together for one of the most euphoric pieces of music I have maybe ever heard. It is similar to the last chorus of the previously mentioned If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next and packs just as much of a punch. At this point I found it difficult to resist singing along as loud as I possibly could.





Overall this is a very very strong showing from the Manics and if the album is half as good as this then it will blow everyone away. It is a fresh take on their traditional sound, bringing in various outside influences whilst still holding a small amount of the early Generation Terrorist era Manics. I would recommend this to both Manics fans and those who aren't, I promise you that they will be after this song.





Overall I would give this single 8/10





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