By Geoff Topley
Much like the man they named themselves after, The Dillinger Escape Plan have been giving my musical radar the slip until now. I’ve saw their name in written press but for some reason have never actually considered paying them any further attention. The Echoes and Dust Metal Editor practically dared me to take up this review and I’m glad he did as new album One Of Us Is The Killer is one incredible chaotic, mesmerising thrill ride down extreme alley. Oh, forgot one other adjective there…it is BRUTAL.
My first encounter with the band was a video of them performing single ‘Prancer’ at some metal award ceremony. Quite a performance too, vocalist Greg Puciato stands astride a huge speaker stack before jumping off onto the stage, while hirsute bassist Liam Wilson sets about playing his bass like he’s trying to murder it. The song itself is a hurricane of complex riffs, twisted and mangled, it seems as it this band have never met and are each doing their own thing. But that seems to be how these guys work, repeated plays reveal that the fury that is being unleashed is, for the most part, an extremely technical performance and the manic thrashing of guitars and drums is all part of the equation that is math metal. After repeated plays, ‘Prancer’ becomes a sleek, driving sledgehammer of a song with one thing on its mind. To bury itself in your brain, it is bloody great.
The savagery continues with ‘When I Lost My Bet’ which sounds like the bet was to record the noisiest cacophony possible in the shortest possible time. Often the riffs and drums are so chopped up that it sounds like the CD has got dust on it and the laser’s skipping. ‘Magic That I Held You Prisoner’ and ‘The Threat Posed By Nuclear’ also edge that wee bit too much into untenable territory for these ears, no matter how many listens I give them, I ain’t getting it. (Sorry extreme metal fans, but I had to say it.)
When it’s good, it’s exceptionally good, the title track ‘One Of Us Is The Killer’ finds Greg sound so much like Mike Patton I thought it was a guest vocal turn. There’s a much needed downturn in tempo and the first semblance of melody as the eerie falsetto sung verse gives way to a snarled croon. Not one to ever take much note of lyrics, the chorus of “One of us must die, but the killer won’t survive” is a tremendous twist that adds a suspense element to the song, which is already on a knife edge.
‘Nothing’s Funny’ also brings the Faith No More influence to the fore, again, The Dillinger Escape Plan show that they have an ear for a tune amongst the violent malevolence of the music throughout. ‘Paranoia Shields’ also adequately provides the hum factor, as does ‘Understanding Decay’ although the latter is also one of the most frenetic tracks on the album. Penultimate track ‘Crossburner’ adds a little dubby atmospherics to the melting pot.
I’m fully aware that The Dillinger Escape Plan will have their fanbase, most of who will have grown up with the band and will be knowledgeable about them and more in tune with their sound, so to you I apologise if this review comes across a little cack handed. I accepted the challenge to write the review, my musical tastes only ever dip into waters this choppy, but it’s a credit to the band that they can engage the likes of me, draw us in and overcome us. I’m intrigued enough to seek out their back catalogue and hear more. There are many facets to The Dillinger Escape Plan sound, there’s a complexity to the songs that requires attention. Give them your attention and be rewarded.
