Manic Street Preachers have experienced a slight shift in their album release timeline for their fifteenth studio album, Critical Thinking. Originally announced for release on 21st January 2025, the album is now set to be released on 7th February 2025. The band describes the album as a complex work exploring "opposites colliding", with Nicky Wire noting the record contains "crises at the heart of these songs" and represents "microcosms of skepticism and suspicion". James Dean Bradfield adds that the focus was simply on presenting their best songs without overcomplicating the concept.

The album will be available in multiple formats, including LP, CD, hardbook CD with bonus demos, and cassette, with a limited 7" featuring two brand new songs. Fans can expect a mix of thought-provoking lyrics and powerful instrumentation, with a set list that will highlight both new tracks and classic Manic Street Preachers anthems. Accompanying the release, the band has also announced a UK tour with dates across various cities in April and May 2025, giving fans the chance to experience the new material live.

Since it was the year of the Manic's first No. 1 single, If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next, why not check out 1998 on Tick Tock Radio on the YouRadio platform.