''Manifesto'' is the fourth full-length studio album by German melodic death metal band Deadlock. It was released by Lifeforce Records on 17 November 2008 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan, and on 20 January 2009 in the United States. A box set limited to 1000 copies with two bonus tracks and several items was released as well. ''Manifesto'' is a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

about

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have Moral patienthood, moral worth independent of their Utilitarianism, utility to humans, and that their most basic interests—such as ...

and

veganism Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a vega ...

. Musically, the album marked a change to a more experimental style by the band, incorporating sections of

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempos being in the range from 120 to 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time ( ) and often ...

, rap,

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and orchestral arrangements into its melodic death metal style. The track, "The Brave/Agony Applause", is the first single off the album and has a music video. The song "Seal Slayer" is a slight reinterpretation of the track "Kill, Kill, Kill", which the band previously recorded as a benefit for "The Canadians", an organization against Canadian

seal hunting Seal hunting, or sealing, is the personal or commercial hunting of Pinniped, seals. Seal hunting is currently practiced in nine countries: Canada, Denmark (in self-governing Greenland only), Russia, the United States (above the Arctic Circle ...

, through a request by

PETA People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal right ...

. ''Manifesto'' was promoted by playing one new song off the album each day on their MySpace until its European release. It is Deadlock's last release to feature longtime band member Thomas Huschka on bass.

Critical reception

''Manifesto'' received polarized reviews from music critics. While some had unfavorably critiqued its highly experimental approach, others praised its departure from the melodic death metal style which was prominent during the mid-2000s. Thorsten Zahn of ''

Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' featu ...

'' stood out the band's "uncompromising work" and went on to say that "''Manifesto'' is undoubtedly the best melodic death metal album by a German band." Eduardo Rivadavia of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

was not as enthusiastic however, stating that despite its "oftentimes brave and unquestionably well-intentioned efforts", the diverse influences "feel too forced and scattered ..to shake up those tired metalcore formulas".

Track listing

Personnel

;Band members * Johannes Prem - harsh male vocals * Sabine Weniger - clean female vocals * Sebastian Reichl - lead and rhythm guitars * Gert Ryman - rhythm guitar * Thomas Huschka - bass guitar * Tobias Graf - drums ;Guest/session musician * "Warpath" - 1st rap verse on "Deathrace" * "Sick Since" from Lost Children of Babylon - 2nd rap verse on "Deathrace" * Michael Bernhard Gerber -

solo on "Fire at Will" * Christian Älvestam ( Scar Symmetry) - guest clean male vocals on "Dying Breed" * Morten Loewe - drums on "Altrusim", drum co-producer * DJ Morgoth - remix of "Martyr to Science" (Planetakis vs. Deadlock) ;Crew * Sebastian Reichl - recording, producing, engineering, mixing and mastering on "The Brave / Agony Applause (Live Acoustic Version)", mastering on "Martyr to Spam" * Jacob Hansen - mixing, mastering * Michael Popp - additional programming on "The Moribund Choir Vs. The Trumpets of Armageddon" * "The Hitfarmers" - production, scratches, mixing on "Deathrace" * Adam Wentworth - art direction, design, illustration * Jason Pereira - art direction

References

{{Authority control 2008 albums Deadlock (band) albums 2000s concept albums Lifeforce Records albums