Manifest

Manifest is the sixth album, tying Amaranthe's greatest weapon — three kinds of vocals — to bolder electronics and metal drive. Released on Nuclear Blast in October 2020. Recording took place under pandemic restrictions in spring 2020 at Hansen Studios in Denmark, in the hardship of a year and a next with no live shows at all. Elize Ryd's transparent singing, Nils Molin's powerful voice and Henrik Englund's screams generate a different viewpoint in each song. It's also the last album with Englund. Pop melody, heavy guitar and the shimmer of programming become one, and the choruses are extremely catchy. Lavish guests line up: Battle Beast's Noora Louhimo on “Strong,” plus “Crystalline,” “BOOM!1,” and “Do or Die” with Jeff Loomis playing. The advance singles “Viral” and “Archangel” cut sharply too. Even so it doesn't lose its aggression, crossing the border between modern metal and dance pop in its own language. A satisfying record that opens outward — you'd never guess it was made when they couldn't play live.