Ire Works＜Black, Blue, Silver with Magenta, White, Silver Splatter Vinyl＞

After Miss Machine, Dillinger Escape Plan fans were divided. Many of the folks who were attached to the screaming mathematical metal of Calculating Infinity bailed on the band, disapproving of the experimental musical direction and the meathead appearance of new singer/screamer Greg Puciato. Open-minded listeners were excited about the progressive journey they were taking and many critics hailed the group as a true innovator of metalcore. Ire Works succeeds in many of the same ways that their previous album did, while branching out creatively. They continue to toy with technical metal, blistering hardcore, jazz breaks, and post-punk, but here they evolve again by adding more twists and turns with additional electronic elements. While the merging of too many styles in hardcore can make for a convoluted result (see Avenged Sevenfold's self-titled release), the added instruments and genre changeups enhance the result rather than acting as ornamental distractions. Edgy Aphex Twin-style drill'n'bass drum breaks and stretched and squeezed electro blips feel strangely at home next to the psychotic time-signature changes and manic riffs, especially on the tracks "Sick on Sunday," "Dead as History," and "When Acting as a Wave." Violins, pianos, and trumpets sit nicely in the mix, and the group's willingness to take chances leads to stunning artistic endeavors rather than stale attempts at crossing genres just for the sake of being clever. Original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis makes an appearance, as does Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, but the most notable inclusion is drummer Gil Sharone, who proves himself an expert at picking up the slack after the departure of founding member Chris Pennie to play in Coheed and Cambria. Undoubtedly, this act added anger to fuel the fire of their heavier numbers. "82588," "Fix Your Face," and "Party Smasher" are as wicked and manic as their most difficult earlier stuff; conversely, the melodic hooks and falsetto of "Black Bubblegum" and the watery ambience of "Mouth of Ghosts" balance out the album nicely. It can be inaccessible and terrifying all at once, but in a genre overly saturated with formulaic groups, Ire Works is a true standout. If DEP aren't careful and continue down this innovative path, they could easily be labeled the Radiohead of metalcore. A visceral metal album that pushes the envelope? Who would have thunk it? ~ Jason Lymangrover

前号で特集されたカオティック・ハードコアの先駆者にして4度も来日を果たしている彼らのニュー・アルバムは、またしてもフォロワーを遥か彼方へと置き去りにする驚愕の内容だ。メタルやプログレを通過した従来どおりのジェットコースター・ナンバーも収録されているが、本作ではテクノ、インダストリアル、ディスコ、ファンクなどの要素を貪欲に採り入れ、〈踊れるエクストリーム・ミュージック〉とも言える新境地を開拓している。よりフロアに寄ったこの変化は、トチ狂った轟音の中に身を投じて感じ取るのが大正解!　どうして彼らはこんなにも凄まじいサウンドを作り続けるのか?　それはハードコアの進化の歴史自体を変えてきたパイオニアたる所以としか説明のしようがない。
bounce (C)塀戸門家