By: Anders

Posted: Jun 21, 2006

The lads from Århus, Denmark are ready with the follow up to "1-800 Vindication", Illdisposed's first album on Roadrunner Records. I found that album rather obscure and wasn't really agreeing with all the praise it received, even though the album was decent. The new album "Burn Me Wicked" is the band’s 8th full length, and to judge from the very fresh sound they once again posses, we have many more in wait.

After the first few seconds of the first song 'Shine Crazy' I was literally blown away and didn't know what to think. Heavy as fuck guitars, with an amazing groove, yet still an aggressive edge. Pounding kick drums, with quite a sloppy, yet suiting sound, hammering in a mid-paced frenzy, melodic and wicked leads and a heavily processed, yet evil and nerve wrecking growl. Nerve wrecking and very hooking, like an instrument in itself the guttural growl leads the way through the songs. Once in a while does Bo Summer get accompanied by Mikkel Sandager from Mercenary, who delivers some vain and high vocals, from an artistic point of view, not his best vocal performance, but damn it is fitting the overall picture and atmosphere of this album perfectly.

All of you who have followed Illdisposed through the years, have heard their fascination for the new technology develop in their music through the years. And samples do also play a role on this album, they aren't used that often, but when they are, the impact is big and they add a lot to the dark and wicked atmosphere on the album. The processed kick drum sound and vocals are yet a sign on the technical progression as well, though it all are kept in awe by the excellent guitar shredding, there are many good riffs and even better leads all the way through the album.

"Burn Me Wicked" is a very surprising record from Illdisposed, I had my doubts about if the band could return to such a heavy sound, as they have. This rocks and delivers a hard hitting blow to the metal scene, modern death metal with a rockish feel, without being wimpy or soft in any way, this is real metal done in another way. The band got a small international breakthrough with their last album, but this will push them even further, the quintet is fierce and delivers multiple slaps to our faces. And the band hasn't lost their self ironic side as well, just listen to the album's closer, the punky straight ahead old Illdisposed styled 'Illdispunk'd', with lyrics in Danish, German and English. Illdisposed anno 2006 is an oasis in a rather dried out extreme metal scene, if you used to like the band, this album will make your head 'bang again, if you never have liked the band… you'll still hate their guts, it is by all means Illdisposed!

Rating: 8½/10

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