The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works

by Simon T Diplock

Album of the year?

"‘Ire Works’ isn’t just a fire-breathing monster of a record but a maniacal, multi-pronged onslaught that’s going to leave the world of heavy music amazed all over again."

People know what to expect with The Dillinger Escape Plan. Oh sure the New Jersey mentalists made most other metal look slack-jawed and stupid with their first releases but the band have been kicking out their fucked-up hyper-intense tech-jams for so long now that they’ve become a by-word for musical intensity. This far into their career, The Dillinger Escape Plan really shouldn’t have the ability to shock, surprise and stun anymore. ‘Ire Works’ however, isn’t just a fire-breathing monster of a record but a maniacal, multi-pronged onslaught that’s going to leave the world of heavy music amazed all over again.

Opener ‘Fix Your Face’ is nothing truly innovative; it’s simply dark, dirty, and destructive - but the frightening, white-hot blur of it all is infinitely more appealing than hearing another metalcore band go through the motions. And then, when the mechanical maelstrom of ‘Lurch’ barges in, it’s clear how lazy most of those bands are, and for just how long we’ve been waiting for somebody to really get technical.

Delve just a little deeper into the album and fresher, stranger sounds begin to blossom and burst. In fact, from the slinky melodies of ‘Black Bubblegum’ (shit’s so smooth s’gonna have the webkids goin’ crazy), through the skittery dementia of ‘Nong Eye Gong’ and ‘When Acting As A Wave’ and into the ominous machine sting of ‘82588’, this thing roars with a life completely of its own. Hell, there are ideas ripping forth here that some bands would never be brave enough to try and others just could never come up with.

However, quite aside from the odd Patton-esque melody or palpable punk hook though, probably the biggest shocks here will be reserved for ‘Milk Lizard’ and ‘Mouth Of Ghosts’. The former, despite sounding like some mutant combination of southern rock, orchestra noise and a 60s cop show soundtrack, is the most straightforward thing the band have ever recorded and should send The Plan supernova. Not that the band care about pandering to anyone mind- the tastemakers nor the die-hards- which the latter, a haunting hymn set to shake the scene’s insides, proves with aplomb.

So sure, people think they know what to expect from The Dillinger Escape Plan. They want aggression, passion, not a second wasted, or an ounce of musical fat untrimmed. But ‘Ire Works’ provides all that along some genuinely astonishing shocks, and much, much, much more. One of the albums of the year without a goddamn doubt.
Dyslogistic said on November 8th 2007 [report abuse]

Fully fucking agree with this review, this won't be shelved for a very very long time.

Jan Trondsen said on November 15th 2007 [report abuse]

Well said. I LOVE Calculating, and certainly don't dislike Miss Machine, but Ire Works is amazing. Their are so many MEH reviews of this record and I don't get it. I can't put it down..... Thanks guys, j!

TIT said on December 28th 2007 [report abuse]

it sucks, weany ass drivel, where did they go wrong? head for Ion Dissonance, Braindrill, Anomalous, Origin for the real deal.

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