Aspiring to punk ways of rockin' and rollin', the Manics claimed they would split up on purpose after the release of their debut album.

That was back in 1991, when they first signed to Sony. No one really believed them anyway, which is fortunate since 13 years later, although sadly one guitarist (Richey Edwards, who disappeared, presumed dead, in 1995) lighter, they are still going and have just released their seventh album, Lifeblood.

Rumours abound they are in the twilight of their career and many would say they are a mere stone's throw from being dad-rock. Their latest album certainly has a more grown-up air than the slash 'n' burn rock you may remember from their early days.

Described as an elegiac work of pop, the surprisingly low-key new record is influenced by melancholy of post-punk Eighties acts like New Order, early U2, and The Cure. It is layered with lush acoustic guitars and poetic lyrics but is filled with good tunes and has had a general thumbsup from reviewers unlike their commercially unsuccessful and critically bashed about last album in 2001, Know Your Enemy.

Meanwhile, the Welsh wonders are also re-releasing a luxury 10th anniversary edition of their seminal album The Holy Bible. First appearing amidst the giddy upbeat tones of Britpop in the early Nineties, this record dwelt on rather downbeat themes such as genocide, communism and fascism, capital punishment, the hypocrisy underlying the American dream, anorexia, selfharm and suicide, and featured references to Lenin, Pol Pot, Myra Hindley, Winston Churchill, Shakespeare, Slobodan Milosevic and Michel Foucault.

Seventy per cent of this depressing but unprecedented lyrical content was penned by the inspired but dysfunctional Richey just before his vanishing act, and it remains a poignant testimony to a talent sadly lost.

Starts 6.30pm, tickets cost £22.50 (sold out). Call 0870 900 9100.