The Ills of Modern Man

The Ills of Modern Man is the third studio album by Canadian deathcore band Despised Icon. It was released on May 22, 2007 through Century Media Records. The album sold more than 2,000 copies its first week, and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers.

History
The Ills of Modern Man was record between January until February 2007, with the production of the group former guitarist Yannick St-Amand, and was mixed by Andy Sneap at his own Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, England. The album artwork was made by Don Clark from Invisible Creature. The first music video for this album, is the song “In the Arms of PerditionIn the Arms of Perdition[/track]”, filmed at -40°C on a secluded icy mountain near Quebec City and directed by Jean-Philippe Bernier.

Musical and lyrical themes
In an interview for the magazine Exclaim!, the lead singer Alex Erian said that the main lyrical themes of The Ills of Modern Man are regrets, dealing with disappointment, fears and inhibitions.

Critical reception
The Ills of Modern Man generally received positive reviews, Alex Henderson of Allmusic described the band’s sound as a “example of technical death metal and technical metalcore coming together” and which “they have achieved a balance of accessibility and angularity”. About.com reviewer Chad Bowar praised the album saying, “The Ills of Modern Man is technical, brutal, and most important, memorable.”

Track listing
1. “In the Arms of Perdition” (Alexandre Pelletier, Eric Jarrin, Steve Marois) – 4:24