Journal For Plague Lovers

Pitchfork 7.8/10 Built around lyrics from presumed-dead founding member Richey Edwards and recorded by Steve Albini, the Manics' latest finds them revitalized.

The Line of Best Fit 9/10 Album number nine for the boys from Blackwood, and their regeneration continues apace.

DIY 4/5 <b>Richey</b>’s lyrics, <b>Jenny Saville</b>’s artwork and snippets of film dialogue.

Clash 8/10 “Riderless horses, Chomsky’s Camelot bruises on my hands from digging my nails out.” Welcome back, Richey.

The Observer 4/5 <p>This defies the odds: not just a dignified salute to an absent friend, but a cracking album in its own right</p>

Pop Matters 8/10 Most artists spend their careers attempting to move away from their early work, refusing to look back or take inspiration from their past.

The Guardian 4/5 <p>It's taken the band 14 years to put music to what turned out to be Richey Edwards last words, and you can see why, writes <strong>Caroline Sullivan</strong></p>

The Irish Times 3/5 This week's rock and pop CDs reviewed

Uncut 8/10 Richey’s lost lyrics set to music? It shouldn’t work, but somehow does