Unthinkable as it seems, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN could be Relapse's next mainstream cash cow. Last year MASTODON left the label for major Warner and DEP could be next.

2004's "Miss Machine" was a hectic cacophony of sound, almost free jazz in a way (JOHN ZORN was never far away). For mathcore lovers it was heaven, actually.

For "Ire Works" however, DEP has begun to tap real musical depth. All the influences they claim (PINK FLOYD, THE POLICE, KING CRIMSON) seem to come to the surface. The opening tracks "Fix your Face" (with former vocalist Dimitri Minakakis in a guest role) and "Lurch" are still typical mathcore. But after that, things get a little wackier. Tracks like "Black Bubblegum" and "Dead as History" recall prime FAITH NO MORE (ironically, FNM singer Mike Patton contributed vocals for 2002's "Irony is a Dead Scene" EP). On the other hand, "When Acting As A Particle" and "When Acting As A Wave" will turn heads with an experimental electronics vibe a la APHEX TWIN. The album ends with an almost jazzy/Latin track "Mouth of Ghosts." Numerous points throughout the disc indicate singer Greg Puciato can do a lot more with his voice than just scream his lungs out. The same goes for the rest of the band; instead of going for blinding Olympian speed, their efforts seem focused on creating a well-rounded album. "Ire Works" may signal a u-turn for purists, but the overall effect is satisfying. The mainstream seems to be lurking in the background for DEP, so it should be interesting to see how the next album comes together.

- Michels

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/dillingerescapeplan

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