OPTION PARALYSIS

When I was getting into Between The Buried and Me around 2008/09, a lot of people came up suggesting I should listen to The Dillinger Escape Plan, so I got a few of their albums and really never got it. It all seemed too chaotic and insubstantial. And then hearing the release of this album, I decided to give it a shot. I'm really glad I did.

Looking at it now, it's the culmination of everything they decided to do after Calculating Infinity, refined, then refined again, because what I failed to notice in Miss Machine was a lot of experimentation going on along the lines of Faith No More, and it really works for them. Especially in songs like Gold Teeth On A Bum and Chinese Whispers where very melodic vocal parts are seamlessly intertwined with the frantic mathcore they're known for.

In terms of listenability this is definitely one of their easiest listens yet, but it still isn't for one who isn't accustomed to mathcore or metal in general. Greg Pusciato has a great scream and a great melodic voice, highlighted especially well in the album's climax, Widower.

Now as for Widower it is by far the best song on the album. So much so that it really deserves its own paragraph. It starts off with a light piano accompaniment from Mike Garson(who also did work for Smashing Pumpkins and David Bowie) and Greg almost crooning his lines. And then the rest of the band come in. The mood tenses up as the pianos take a back seat and the vocals grow heavier. Eventually it reaches it's climax and everyone goes all out with the piano just staying out for the climax of not only the song, but the album itself. They quickly calm down to just piano noodling in about a minute, before one last outburst reminding the listener of what exactly they're listening to.

The band itself is absolutely flawless although I'd hesitate to call each one out on their merits. They really all work together in a cohesive unit, no one really outshining the other, while turning together on a dime when the music calls for it.

Overall as a mathcore album you really can't go wrong with this, and if you're considering buying a DEP album, this should definitely be your first stop.