### Deranged: The redlight murder case

#### 14/02/08 || Kampfar

Kick me in the balls, rip out my teeth and fuck me in the eye sockets, but this cunt regard Deranged as an excellent band, on par with Vomitory even. No kidding. While I have yet to rape and mutilate a person in honor to them here sick Swedes, not that I ever did for Vomitory either, nor will, I’ve been an avid follower ever since butt fucked by “Plainfield cemetery”, an album way more brutal than the person it pays homage to, Ed Gein. Not sicker, mind you, but far from healthy nonetheless. The follow up, “Obscenities in flat-b”, though receiving little love when featured in one of our AA editions, is a likewise album, mental and the musical equivalent of blunt, primitive violence.

So, are they still a sledgehammer to my balls? No. Sure, their old albums still rock my cock but it took me only 12 seconds of “The redlight murder case” to determine it was a letdown. Thing is, they have changed vocalist since last and Mr. Schönherr, while not shitty, far from, is no match for their previous grunting Neanderthal, namely Calle Fäldt. Fäldt added unhealthy doses of blood, guts and overall insanity to the mix; in fact, with him behind the mic, it sounded like the lot would run out after recording and commit murder with whatever they might pick up on their way to town, preferably something blunt and heavy. Not anymore, but the entire blame shouldn’t be placed on one set of shoulders.

The amount of ripping riffs, shrieks and squeals, the latter making sure shit stays urgent, and an overall know how in the art of death, all adds up to a fine dish, as usual, but where “Obscenities in flat-b” was a progression this feels more like a regression. It sounds like their bowl of ideas is pretty much empty by now, and, even though they still make a spectacle, the intensity has dropped a notch too. I blame Mr. Wermén, the drummer dude, for that. He never was the best drummer but he always played with the whole of his heart, not anymore, at least not on record. Almost, yes, but almost won’t do.

All of this negativism can’t fault the fact that “The redlight murder case” is indeed a quality slab of death, head and shoulders above the common lot, but expectations, as most will agree, are more often than not teeming with Chlamydia, hence the negative tone.

I wholeheartedly recommend Deranged to those craving brutality, but pay attention to some of their earlier albums before you dig into the subject of review. Use your imagination, same goes to my deranged friends.

7 out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Regain records
- Website: www.iamderanged.com
- Band
- Martin Schönherr: vocals
- Johan Axelsson: guitar
- Thomas Ahlgren: bass
- Rikard Wermén: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Watch me when I kill
- 02. Strip nude for your killer
- 03. Gently before she dies
- 04. Redlight murderess
- 05. So sweet, so dead
- 06. The killer wore black gloves
- 07. Formula for a murder
- 08. Death walks on high heels
- 09. Body puzzle