After the release of
their watermark album “Calculating Infinity,” The Dillinger
Escape Plan had people in the underground community listening with
rapt attention. Dillinger came forth with a style that has been
described as “math-core” or “smart metal”: a
full-on audio assault of the senses.
Although it may seem like pure white noise on
the first listen, after further listening one can find a combination
that approaches musical genius.
Now forced to follow up “Calculating Infinity,”
Dillinger has enrolled the vocal talents of the man of a thousand
bands, Mike Patton. Patton’s background includes singing for
groups such as Tomahawk, Fantomas, Loveage, Mr. Bungle, and most
notably, Faith No More.
From the first note of the album, it’s plain
to see this is Patton’s show, and Dillinger is simply providing
the background music.
Teamed with Patton, Dillinger’s heavier parts
get pushed into new realms of complexity, only to take a hairpin
turn into soft melodic crooning that is purely Patton.
This album succeeds where other Dillinger albums
have fallen short: On “Irony is a Dead Scene,” you can
actually nod your head and sing along, at least for a little while.
In the end though, Dillinger leaves listeners’ heads spinning.
Not too bad for only being a four-song EP. |
