AMARANTHE
Manifest
Nuclear Blast
Manifest is AMARANTHE’s 6th studio album release. This is the fourth album I can say I was humbled and ecstatic to hear. The last album was Helix in 2018. I may be a bit biased but AMARANTHE never fails to deliver. This album is different. This album seems to set a new bar for the band. The production isimpeccable and Jacob Hansen did a stellar job with this masterpiece. Manifest is mixed with cinematic, operatic and symphonic metal. It offers some synth-pop along with a little death metal. AMARANTHE will never put themselves in the death metal genre. They tend to focus on positive energy, passion, strength and love unlike death metal. Manifest conceptually focuses on the world as we know it now and the problems that are plaguing us all.
Olof Morck, the master at writing and arranging, along with Elize Ryd, did a fantastic job. The band is Olof (writer, guitar and vocals), Elize (the songstress-vocals), Henrick Englund Wihelmsson (monstrous hard vocals), Morten Lowe Sorensen (drums), Johan Andreassen (bass) and the amazing Nils Molin (vocals). Nils, who is also known from his band DYNAZTY was with the band when they recorded Helix but he is all over Manifest and brings new life and range to this project. Seriously, his range is phenomenal along with Elize. Elize seems to play with different keys in this album. Her voice is one of the best in the metal world. On this album her vocals seem to show more diversity. Henrick’s hard growls gut punch you throughout. He is part of the vocal trinity that makes this band one of the best vocally in my opinion.
The guitars are strong throughout this album. Not that they aren't always awesome, they just seem to showcase more and the arrangements are badass. Johan seems to step into the light when it comes to this album. He is so much fun to watch in the live shows. Morten’s drums can rival some of the best around. He is faster than lightning with his feet and during some of the tracks you are left to wonder
how is it possible to be that fast?
Manifest has twelve tracks. “Viral” is a bit Hollywood-esque, superhero-themed and I personally love
my superheroes. The video has a Batman feel to it. The lyrics and idea of the song are telling us that we all have something to offer, that we all have a little superhero in us. We can make a difference. The 6th track is “Strong”. This was a kickass collaboration of two metal supervoices, Elize and Noora Louhimo of BATTLE BEAST. The dueling metal queens go head to head over good and evil. The good and evil around us and within us all can make us stronger. Personally loved this single when it was released, easily one of my favorites on the album.
“Scream My Name”, the 3rd track, was another favorite. Personally I needed to hear this, with lyrics like “You can never take back what's mine” and “I’m already over you”. The heavy guitar, the unbelievable drums and vocals from Elize and Nils are perfect and damn, Henrick was off the charts. He was unreal. Looking forward to this live! This song tells us not to change because others were not so good to us. Be the better person, don’t change who we are, don’t be ashamed. “Crystalline” (#8) is a gorgeous ballad that has a guest cellist from APOCALYPTICA, Perttu Kivilaako. Such a beautifully written song, lyrically and musically. Nils and Elize compliment each other perfectly.
Manifest has all you have come to expect from AMARANTHE, only they have outdone themselves with this
album. Every single member of this group excels on Manifest. There is something different about the confidence of each member. Each member's talent coruscates like never before. Looking forward to the world getting back to normal and we can see them here in the U.S. again during a North American tour. Their live shows are incomparable to most. They sound exemplary every time.
5.0 Out Of 5.0
