Ire Works

Brutality scientists The Dillinger Escape Plan can't be accused of going soft on this experiment in futuristic chaos, 2007's 'Ire Works'. In fact, they're as ferocious and cerebral as ever, representing a twisted fusion of heart and mind. In many ways the perfect band to score a technological apocalypse, DEP's continued growth and exploration into strange realms of glitch-y electronics and sampled discord may anger some hardcore traditionalists, but open-minded listeners will hear a roller coaster ride into a broken future.

The album opens with the familiar sounding "Fix Your Face", another raging monolith of vertiginous time changes, slashing, disjointed Slayer licks, and Greg Puciato's neck cord bursting roar. And while tracks such as "Nong Eye Gong" and "82588" would easily fit on previous DEP records, others, like the Faith No More-influenced "Black Bubblegum", show the band flexing new pop muscles. "Milk Lizard" looks backward, with horns and piano accenting an otherwise straightforward thrasher, and "When Acting as a Particle" mixes shuddering strings, hissing static, and junkyard percussion to chilling effect. 'Ire Works' is the result of a talented band with restless creativity expanding the boundaries of their sound without softening any edges. It's a difficult balancing act, but one that DEP is obviously up for.

"It's Dillinger's willingness to constantly incorporate new sounds that makes 'Ire Works' an experimental-rock touchstone."
-SPIN

"Weinman's licks and riffs corkscrew out of the speakers, cut against the beat as much as they drive it, and lay down thick melodic foundations..."
-ALTERNATIVE PRESS

"With impossibly visceral, grinding, convulsing riffage bolted onto body-wrenching gargled screams... 'Ire Works' flows as an album in ways DEP have never quite succeeded before..."
-KERRANG

"Uncompromising, atonal industrial noise offset with melodious crooning, never once settling for predictable paths."
-Q

"DEP deliver a technically dazzling display, defined by Ben Weinman's intense guitar. The end result is a panic attack-inducing action canvas of noise."
-MOJO

The Dillinger Escape Plan:
Greg Puciato (vocals); Liam Wilson (bass guitar); Gil Sharone (drums).

Additional personnel:
Dimitri Minakakis, Brent Hinds (vocals); Craig Demel (violin); Robin Reynolds (cello); Matt Lupo (trumpet); Phill Williams, Ali Tabatabai (percussion).