Manics go manic for Grouse Lodge Studios

Having won this year's Irish Enterprise Award, Westmeath's Grouse Lodge Studios now go through to the World Finals which take place later this month.

Designed by Andy Munroe, the studio has been used by such heavyweights as Muse, Bonnie Raitt, William Orbit, Doves, Hope Of The States, Laura Isibor, Brian Kennedy, Secret Garden, Horslips, Paddy Casey and Manic Street Preachers who assembled their soon-to-be-released Lifeblood album there.

"It's one of the best places in the world to do an album," James Dean Bradfield tells Hot Press. "We created a bit of Grouse Lodge history by being the first band to record there and never use the bar. Being as curmudgeonly and misanthropic as we are, it was great having that monastic solitude."

The singer isn't sure that they endeared themselves to the studio staff. "They kept suggesting that we go for walks, but we were like, 'We come from Wales, we know what hills look like!'"

Niall Crimlish gives Lifeblood the critical once-over in the next issue of Hot Press, out Thursday October 21.