New album ‘Critical Thinking’ lands Jan 31, with launch shows in Kingston
Manic Street Preachers, 15th Studio Album Critical Thinking. The Welsh rock icons return with their studio album on January 31, 2025. The band say it marks a new phase of freedom and experimentation.
Studio freedom, familiar fire
Critical Thinking follows 2021’s The Ultra Vivid Lament and was recorded at the band’s Door To The River studio in Caerleon. It’s their first album in over three years, and it lands during a period of renewed creative clarity.
Lead singer James Dean Bradfield put it plainly: “To be honest, I feel an immense sense of freedom.” That energy cuts through the record. Lyrically, it leans inward without losing its edge. Musically, it fuses the Manics’ signature drive with more textured and atmospheric elements.
This isn’t a reinvention, but it’s a step forward. The band sound like they’re making music on their own terms. It’s loud, thoughtful, and layered — exactly what long-time fans want, with just enough risk to keep it interesting.
New singles show the direction
The rollout began with “Decline & Fall” on August 29, 2024 — a bruised and triumphant track that set the tone. Then came “Hiding in Plain Sight,” notable for featuring vocals from bassist Nicky Wire for the first time on a Manics single.
Both tracks hint at a looser, more collaborative vibe. There’s melancholy in the lyrics, but also resolve. Fans of Everything Must Go or Lifeblood will find familiar tones, though the production is more patient, more spacious. These aren’t just promo tracks — they’re statements of intent.
And there’s more coming. The band are releasing two brand new songs on a limited 7-inch vinyl edition, making this one of the more collectible Manics eras in recent years.
Launch shows at Pryzm Kingston
The band will preview Critical Thinking live with two intimate shows at Pryzm in Kingston upon Thames. The first happens December 11, 2024. A second, added due to demand, hits the afternoon of December 12.
These aren’t arena gigs — they’re compact, close-up affairs, letting the new material breathe. Expect sharp sets, deep cuts, and maybe a few surprises. It’s a rare chance to hear the record weeks before its official release in a proper sweatbox.
The shows are presented in partnership with Banquet Records. Album and ticket bundles are available via their site.
Formats, pre-orders and vinyl extras
Critical Thinking is available to pre-order now in multiple formats — LP, CD, cassette, and a deluxe limited 7-inch vinyl featuring two additional tracks. The vinyl edition is pressed on translucent red and already trending among collectors.
Fans can also order bundles that include signed artwork and exclusive merch. The band’s official store and independent UK retailers like Rough Trade and Resident are offering variations, including early shipping ahead of launch day.
This is the Manics doing what they’ve always done best: making every record feel like an event. If you’re a longtime listener, this one looks set to stand tall among their most reflective releases.
Tracklist for Critical Thinking
- Decline & Fall
- Hiding in Plain Sight
- Studies in Paralysis
- Aftermath
- The Last Exit
- Intimism
- Door to the River
- Freedom in Isolation
- Shadows and Reflections
- Critical Thinking
The track titles suggest an album concerned with consequence, aftermath and introspection. But it’s still got teeth. There’s tension, contrast, and a sense of lived experience. This isn’t nostalgia — it’s reflection as forward motion.
Final words on Manic Street Preachers’ Critical Thinking
Nearly four decades in, Manic Street Preachers remain one of Britain’s most consistent — and consistently relevant — rock bands. Critical Thinking doesn’t try to chase trends. Instead, it deepens the Manics’ voice, leaning into wisdom, weariness, and clarity. The music feels lived-in, the lyrics razor-sharp.
These are musicians who’ve survived scenes, labels, and eras. What they’ve delivered here is a record that speaks from that survival — not as a boast, but as a way of life. Fans who’ve grown alongside them will recognise the emotional weight. New listeners might find themselves pulled in by its honesty.
In a time of short cycles and disposable drops, Critical Thinking looks built to last. It’s not about hype. It’s about having something to say. And for the Manics, that’s never gone out of style.
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