The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works
Relapse - RR66992 - November 5th, 2007
By Paddy Walsh
Miss Machine was, in retrospect, a perfectly adequate attempt at breaking new ground. The accusations flung at the band at the time were often unfair - that they had sold out, they had softened, that Greg Puciato was a Patton clone (a charge even I was guilty of) - whilst not entirely baseless, they were harsh nonetheless. Following up Irony is a Dead Scene was always going to be difficult, and Miss Machine was an admirable stab at trying to plant their feet into new territory.
Things may not have boded well for Ire Works, then, with the loss of longtime drummer Chris Pennie (to Coheed and Cambria no less!) and guitarist Brian Benoit. Their replacements, Gil Sharone (drums) and Jeff Tuttle (guitar), do an astounding job on this album, as they no doubt had considerable shoes to fill, particularly Sharone. Thus, Ire Works emerges as everything that Miss Machine had the potential to be - so for instance, instead of the somewhat cack-handed nods to catchiness to be found on, say, 'Unretrofied', we are served the likes of 'Black Bubblegum', which simmers like Faith No More about to burst. 'Sick on Sunday', meanwhile, sports Aphex Twin electronics with frequent vocal interjections from Greg. Indeed it is Greg Puciato, now on his second album with the band, who emerges the winner from Ire Works, having settled into his role incredibly well, sounding both confident, commanding and varied, and when the band allow their pop-demons out to play, it truly works this time 'round.
Much of Ire Works twists and dips all over the place (as expected), with the well worn moments of noisy spazz attacks punctured by frequent jazz and electronic interjections that somehow manage to fit perfectly. The Dillinger Escape Plan appear to have discovered the right balance between the all-out sonic extremism of Calculating Infinity and the burgeoning catchiness of Miss Machine, and the result is truly something to behold. Although The Dillinger Escape Plan may have been in danger of being swamped by the deluge of copyists that have emerged in the last several years, Ire Works puts them firmly back at the top of their game.
Official The Dillinger Escape Plan Website
Official Relapse Records Website
Relapse - RR66992 - November 5th, 2007
By Paddy Walsh
Miss Machine was, in retrospect, a perfectly adequate attempt at breaking new ground. The accusations flung at the band at the time were often unfair - that they had sold out, they had softened, that Greg Puciato was a Patton clone (a charge even I was guilty of) - whilst not entirely baseless, they were harsh nonetheless. Following up Irony is a Dead Scene was always going to be difficult, and Miss Machine was an admirable stab at trying to plant their feet into new territory.
Things may not have boded well for Ire Works, then, with the loss of longtime drummer Chris Pennie (to Coheed and Cambria no less!) and guitarist Brian Benoit. Their replacements, Gil Sharone (drums) and Jeff Tuttle (guitar), do an astounding job on this album, as they no doubt had considerable shoes to fill, particularly Sharone. Thus, Ire Works emerges as everything that Miss Machine had the potential to be - so for instance, instead of the somewhat cack-handed nods to catchiness to be found on, say, 'Unretrofied', we are served the likes of 'Black Bubblegum', which simmers like Faith No More about to burst. 'Sick on Sunday', meanwhile, sports Aphex Twin electronics with frequent vocal interjections from Greg. Indeed it is Greg Puciato, now on his second album with the band, who emerges the winner from Ire Works, having settled into his role incredibly well, sounding both confident, commanding and varied, and when the band allow their pop-demons out to play, it truly works this time 'round.
Much of Ire Works twists and dips all over the place (as expected), with the well worn moments of noisy spazz attacks punctured by frequent jazz and electronic interjections that somehow manage to fit perfectly. The Dillinger Escape Plan appear to have discovered the right balance between the all-out sonic extremism of Calculating Infinity and the burgeoning catchiness of Miss Machine, and the result is truly something to behold. Although The Dillinger Escape Plan may have been in danger of being swamped by the deluge of copyists that have emerged in the last several years, Ire Works puts them firmly back at the top of their game.
Official The Dillinger Escape Plan Website
Official Relapse Records Website
