The new project was joined by bassist James Walker and filled out when Locicero came across a newspaper ad by Pann Reed, a singer on the verge of ending his attempts at music success.
Their material caught the attention of Brian Joseph Dobbs who helped record their next demo at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California.
"[3] The demos with Dobbs gained response from American Recordings and prompted a private showcase with label head Rick Rubin.
Throughout the summer, Manmade God toured across the US with established acts such as Adema, Powerman 5000, Ra, Spineshank, Taproot, and Type O Negative.
"[5] IGN's Dave Doray gave a meager 5/10 rating, noting how it "just doesn't introduce us to anything new" while comparing the vocals to Chris Cornell and bass to Tim Commerford.
[6] Melodic.net and MetalSucks.net offered stronger support with the latter calling it "tremendous" and describing Pann's vocal performance as "a soulful, gritty version of Filter's Richard Patrick.
Eric Kretz stood in for an allegedly injured Steve Jacobs for half of the show where Pann expressed to the crowd his disenchantment with the band's lack of exposure, spouting, "You guys are the first to know who we are, 'cause no one knows who we are."
In addition to performing nearly every track from their debut album, Manmade God also played a new song entitled "Awakening" which Pann wryly noted would be on the band's next record if they make it that far.
In a 2011 interview, Locicero reflected that, despite its promising future, Manmade God was "a victim of bad timing" because of label issues causing their album's delay.
It was reported soon after that Systematic frontman Tim Narducci was forming an as yet unnamed group with the former guitarist, drummer, and bassist of Manmade God.
Referring to himself as Manmade God's new frontman, Narducci explained, "We changed our name due a number of reasons, mostly political, but most importantly the sound.