Dillinger Escape Plan

Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire WorksIre Works (2007)
Relapse Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: skaboomskaboom
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 13th 2007The Dillinger Escape Plan still have something to prove. Despite establishing themselves as one of the reigning kings of technical metal with their 1999 debut album Calculating Infinity, the band have had little opportunity to rest on their laurels and churn out album after album of complex guitar r.

The Dillinger Escape Plan still have something to prove. Despite establishing themselves as one of the reigning kings of technical metal with their 1999 debut album Calculating Infinity, the band have had little opportunity to rest on their laurels and churn out album after album of complex guitar riffs and off-time drumming. Ire Works took less time to release than its predecessor, 2004's phenomenal Miss Machine, but it was no less tumultuous; both founding member Chris Pennie and longtime guitarist Brian Benoit have left the band, leaving Ben Weinman as the only original member. Despite these difficulties, Ire Works manages to up the intensity of previous albums while continuing to branch out from the now heavily populated "mathcore" scene.

The album starts off with a 1-2 punch of "Fix Your Face" and "Lurch," classic Dillinger tracks that prove the retooled lineup is just as capable of shredding as ever. Things quickly change up with "Black Bubblegum," an industrial-sounding track where vocalist Greg Puciato demonstrates his range with a snarl reminiscent of Mike Patton and even clean singing and vocal harmonies. From there, the band continue to press in different directions. "Sick on Sunday" has a distinct Genghis Tron quality, rapidly transitioning from electronic ambiance to blast-beats, while the instrumental "When Acting as a Particle" employs a wide variety of percussion that could easily back a Tom Waits song. The band avoids an over-reliance on breakdowns, but when they do use them it is absolutely crushing, as heard in "82588." "Milk Lizard" is another standout, using occasional brass instrumentation to complement the Bronx-styled riffs to outstanding effect.

The album stumbles a bit towards the end, with both "Dead as History" and "Mouth of Ghosts" opening with overly-long ambient intros that most people will find themselves skipping over. The latter track is of particular curiosity. At nearly seven minutes long, the album closer spends the entire time working up a crescendo that leads nowhere, as by the time the momentum reaches typical Dillinger intensity, the track and the album are over.

The Dillinger Escape Plan have once again put out an album that pushes boundaries and expands into new genres, while maintaining the ferocity that they are known for. Simply put, this album is fucking angry. A few missteps, including the aforementioned too-long intros and questionable track sequencing, are far overshadowed by the heights these songs reach. The band continues to take risks and these gambles largely pay off.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

samthecritic (June 20, 2010)

my favorite from the band

Chupachup_Punk (November 16, 2008)

I was almost salivating prior to the release of this one, the teaser videos got me very excited. Upon first listen Fix Your Face and Milk Lizard blew me away the latter in the Dillinger pop song kinda way but I wasn’t too impressed with the rest of the album

Now a few months on it all really grew on me, there is so much subtle stuff there that you can constantly pick up on especially in the closing track Mouth of Ghosts

And on the drumming front Gil Sharone is just amazing, a true natural and I was a huge fan of Chris Pennie

NewKid (December 21, 2007)

Just picked up this album. Was definately impressed with it. A little more easy to immediately get into then their previous works. I still need to spend some more time with it tot give it a proper album score.

Eric

sleepwalker (November 21, 2007)

Ire Works is easily the best DEP album. Wonderfully varied, never gets stale. A best-of-the-year album for sure.

Big_Guy (November 18, 2007)

Calculating Infinity is amazing but it was far too one dimensional.

Miss Machine and Ire Works > Calculating Infinity

danperrone (November 16, 2007)

who the FUCK thought "black bubblegum" would be a good idea?!?!?

istapledmyfoot (November 16, 2007)

the guitar tone on this album is starting to grate on me.. and I agree with what someone else, Gil Sharone lacks the feel&flow of chris pennie.

eunomi (November 16, 2007)

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you 21st Century Hüsker Dü!

Metal Circus, Zen Arcade, New Day Rising

Irony Is a Dead Scene, Miss Machine, IreWorks

Think about it.

eunomi (November 16, 2007)

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you 21st Century Hüsker Dü!

Metal Circus, Zen Arcade, New Day Rising

Irony Is a Dead Scene, Miss Machine, IreWorks

Think about it.

eunomi (November 16, 2007)

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you 21st Century Hüsker Dü!

Metal Circus, Zen Arcade, New Day Rising

Irony Is a Dead Scene, Miss Machine, IreWorks

Think about it.

thekeyboardplayersucks (November 15, 2007)

Some people are dumb, this cd is the best of 07 in my opinion. Drummers should know that Gil is better too. Not taking anything away from Chris Pennie, Gil is just that good.

KurtTGS (November 15, 2007)

I'm just really suprised at how melodic big black dicks are.

Dante3000 (November 15, 2007)

Got this CD in the mail today. Certainly a little uneven. It's got some rippers but the ambient stuff is a little much and a little close together. Still a damn good record.
and is anyone else surprised by how melodic it is?
-dante

Stenny (November 14, 2007)

This CD hammers

Gil Sharone, not quite as good as Chris Peinne

Lacks the "flow and funk"

KurtTGS (November 14, 2007)

Big black dicks.

F_Ward (November 14, 2007)

I am diiging the hell out of this one so far.

SloaneDaley (November 14, 2007)

yup he also makes the claim that Avenged Sevenfold was in someway at all ever better than Scared of Chaka which makes that reviewer's point null and void.

chickswithdicks (November 14, 2007)

Posted by DFelon204409 on 2007-11-13 20:51:21
My Score:

This album isn't very good.

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=14195

that reviewer also gave the weakerthans new record a 2.5, american steel a 3.5, yet touts thrice as near perfect.

tenwestchaser (November 14, 2007)

"People love to tout how technical this band is, but they can't write a decnt tune to save their lives."

Really? Because "Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants" and "Milk Lizard" are both great heavy fucking music while focusing more on the song versus the technicality. Just plain great heavy fucking music. Furthermore, for being one of the least heavy DEP songs, Phone Home is one of the best songs of theirs to scream along to. While I'm at it, the guys in DEP openly admitted to the fact that starting with Miss Machine they were trying to prove that they could be both crazily technical and still write great catchy music. I think they have succeeded on every front. Hats off as they continue to rock my socks off.

SydBarrett420 (November 13, 2007)

Big suprise that this gets 4 stars. People love to tout how technical this band is, but they can't write a decnt tune to save their lives.

brown (November 13, 2007)

I will probibly get shat on for this, but this album is what Miss Machine -while still a phenomenal album- should have been. I always looked at that album as a test run for the ideas they've had in their heads, but Ire Works is the full formation of them.

but y'know, thats just me.

brown (November 13, 2007)

DFelon204409 (November 13, 2007)

This album isn't very good.

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=14195

sugarfull (November 13, 2007)

am I the only one who loved the UTRB and Calculating, but hates all their newer stuff?

And DEP>D4. No contest.

brixtongunman (November 13, 2007)

"fuck the escape plan
love the four"

can't we all just learn to love both?

this album is great. possibly album of the year.

branden (November 13, 2007)

this thing doesnt have any songs like unretrofied does it?

TheMarc (November 13, 2007)

"Dudes, this was very possible with about half of Miss Machine."

Somewhat true, but the melodic songs on this album work a lot better then they did on Miss Machine. Plus...come on, who saw that brass line coming?!

Toxic_Toast (November 13, 2007)

i always get excited when i see dillinger because i think it's d4. but it rarely is.

fuck the escape plan
love the four

wentz_equals_death (November 13, 2007)

no seriously, what are their songs about?

denbez (November 13, 2007)

You have to desperately want this album to be good for it to sound like anything but shit. What a letdown.

inagreendase (November 13, 2007)

Maybe I don't "get it" but this band is fucking balls. I saw them open for AFI and every single song sounded exactly alike. Garbage noise passed off as "experimental" because its "fast and technical."

Dillinger definitely made that show worthwhile for me.

I never thought I would be able to sing along with a Dillinger song.
I agree with never thinking I would be singing along wiht a DEP song, or that it would be a good thing.

Dudes, this was very possible with about half of Miss Machine.

istapledmyfoot (November 13, 2007)

rob-rob: what sequencing do you suggest? also, I don't own this yet but later today I plan to go to a real live record store and purchase it. I can't wait.

wentz_equals_death (November 13, 2007)

but what does it all mean?

MyStereoHasMono (November 13, 2007)

"Maybe I don't "get it" but this band is fucking balls. I saw them open for AFI and every single song sounded exactly alike. Garbage noise passed off as "experimental" because its "fast and technical."

No thanks."

I bet all the other 16yr old girls at that show didn't "get" DEP either. Davey Havok = He's so cute!

thus_spoke_sean (November 13, 2007)

This album is good, but it's tracked horibly.

Horse Hunter is fucking AWESOME though, that should have been the album closer. Even though i like horses, and hunting them would be wierd. Actually pretty easy too, they are kept in pens or stalls or pastures, really no where for them to run to....

R3vengeTherapy (November 13, 2007)

I'm kinda bummed got into Dillinger later rather than sooner but better late than never.
-Dante

True, but that means you never saw them play a tiny venue and turn it into utter fucking chaos for 30 minutes while shit flew everywhere. I'm not a huge fan of these guys at all, but I highly appreciate them and their music and I'll never forget the time I saw them play a small venue years ago.

I listened to some song clips on iTunes, and it sounds pretty sweet. I just can't get into them like I used to.

DiscoFucker (November 13, 2007)

Amazing album. And I agree with never thinking I would be singing along wiht a DEP song, or that it would be a good thing.

" I saw them open for AFI and every single song sounded exactly alike."

Funny stuff right there.

tenwestchaser (November 13, 2007)

"Garbage noise passed off as 'experimental' because its 'fast and technical.'"

Not at all. While you are entittled to your opinion of the band the fact remains that their music just flies right over your head and you can't keep up with it to notice the musicality of it all. It's ok they certainly aren't for everyone.

TheMarc (November 13, 2007)

They did it again. I never thought I would be able to sing along with a Dillinger song. I never thought that that would be a good thing, either.

rob_rob (November 13, 2007)

If you rearrange the tracks (haha i'm a nerd) The album flows alot better. Its steller.

victim (November 13, 2007)

the songs definitely don't all sound the same on this one

Holy_Balls (November 13, 2007)

I think I'll buy Celine Dion instead, gang!

ilikenothing (November 13, 2007)

DrGunn (November 13, 2007)

need to get this.

tenwestchaser (November 13, 2007)

Spot on review. I was thinking about reviewing this but was not sure where to start. You certainly nailed all of my thoughts right on the head...especially concerning the song placement. Great album though and track 9 (name is escaping me right now) is probably my new favorite DEP song.

Dante3000 (November 13, 2007)

This album should be showing up in my mailbox in the next day or two. So Stoked. I'm kinda bummed got into Dillinger later rather than sooner but better late than never.
-Dante

listofdemands (November 13, 2007)

i'm really into about half of this record. it's really growing on me.
-nic

DickAround (November 13, 2007)

Gil sharone holyfuck.