“The Ills Of Modern Man” is Despised
Icon’s third full-length album, second on Century Media Records.
The band plays a hybrid of death metal with thrash/metalcore and maybe a
little grind as well. Their influences are anywhere from Pantera, Suffocation,
Dying Fetus, Between the Buried and Me, Nile, and Hatebreed. The variations
in the songs and parts keep the disc interesting. Vocals are in multiple
different styles with death vocals including guttural, screams, and an odd
deep cricket tone, and ‘core vocals with their typical yells and screams.
Like the vocals, the guitars have their variations as well. You can find
slow, heavy, chunky riffs, heavy breakdowns with brutal foot-stomping riffs,
bluesy thrash riffs like Pantera, speed riffs reminiscent of Soilent Green,
and a few outlandish traits like Cephalic Carnage. Also there are quality
solos, though solid they aren’t really anything special. Continuing
with the loud and aggressive on “The Ills Of Modern Man” are
the drums…anything from heavy rhythmic patterns to drumming at breakneck
speed. Each track has its awesome parts, but there are a few things that
knocked this disc down a peg. In my opinion, it sounds good and atypical
at the same time. What I mean by this is basically the songs are good for
the most part but a few traits seem unusual and cut song flow. Though it
seems that those parts are probably intentional. Call it what you will,
technicality or unorthodox – some is good, some is chaotic. This was
recorded by their former guitarist Yannick St-Amand (Beneath The Massacre,
Ion Dissonance, Neuroaxis) and mixed by the legendary Andy Sneap (Megadeth,
Opeth, Arch Enemy, Nevermore, Testament, etc). Despised Icon has a sound
that fans of death, thrash, and metalcore may find worthy of note. So if
you haven’t already, get conversant with “The Ills Of Modern
Man.”
Rating: 81
Reviewed By: Jeffrey D. Adkins |
