Lifeblood is the seventh studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers, released on 1 November 2004 by Sony Music UK.

Although the album includes songs about disgraced U.S. president Richard Nixon and British suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst ("Emily"), the band's earlier political lyrics are largely replaced by personal reflection,[2] such as on their own past ("1985") and missing member Richey Edwards ("Cardiff Afterlife").

[3] Work on recording Lifeblood began in New York City with legendary producer Tony Visconti, but these sessions led to only three finished tracks: "Solitude Sometimes Is", "Emily" and "Cardiff Afterlife".

[4] The album is a departure musically, replacing the band's traditional guitar walls of sound with more subtle and melodic playing, with more emphasis being given to keyboards and synthesizers.

But as a man who grew up with the Guinness Book of Hit Records, the fact that the album went in at Number 13 just crushed me: 'Not even in the Top 10?!

[10] Lifeblood received generally positive reviews from critics, which had not happened for the band's previous effort Know Your Enemy.

[11] AllMusic awarded the album three stars out of five and stated: "Lifeblood is a pleasant listen, but once you peel away the keyboards, sensitively strummed guitars and tasteful harmonies and concentrate on Bradfield's nakedly open voice and Wire's terminally collegiate lyrics, it's hard to escape the unintentional pathos that winds up defining the album and, conceivably, the band's latter-day career.

"[12] Barry Nicolson of NME wrote: "Where Know Your Enemy strived vainly for relevance, Lifeblood is seemingly content to exist as a highbrow rock record.

Out go song titles that were half-baked political manifestos in themselves ('Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children' anyone?

), in come elegiac pop anthems ('1985') and the welcome presence of Bowie producer Tony Visconti to add a glacial sheen to the whole affair.

"[14] John Garrett from PopMatters wrote "Richey may be long dead, but there's still warm blood coursing through the Manics' veins.

Knowing when to ease off the bombast and how to present soulful, emotive ideas was a process most intently learnt in the writing of this record.

"[22] All lyrics are written by Nicky Wire; all music is composed by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore, with additional lyrics by Patrick Jones on "Fragments"On 12th April 2024 the album was reissued as Lifeblood 20 in single CD, 3CD digibook and 2LP formats to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its original release.

[23] It features two new remixes of "1985" by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson and the Cornish singer Gwenno.