Dillinger Escape Plan, The - Option Paralysis (2010)Release ID: 1750
Technical metalcore has been scratched through many inches of speed and aggression. Part of it is maniacal proficiency, and the other part is primitive stripped-down rock-core. Dillinger's 1999 debut album Calculating Infinity is a game-changing easily-imitated album that is focused on said primitive proficiency. It looks easier than it really is! TDEP has controlled more arrangements than many of the bigger metal bands out there, but those arrangements are executed in raw energy and chaos.
Over a decade later, Option Paralysis continues the band's overthrowing power but while still critically successful, doesn't completely top the previous 3 albums. Once again, unlike the well-focused Calculating Infinity, the band continues to make their 21st century sound more stylistic while doing their best to keep their original sound. Calculating Infinity can never has its sound truly repeated by the band due to radical lineups changes affecting their direction. Miss Machine and Ire Works have a broadening crossover sound, where they do traditional melodic rock one minute, then hideously radical screaming mathcore the next. Option Paralysis continues that diverse style.
Say hello to their mathcore again with "Farewell, Mona Lisa"! It was a track that really teased what new direction the band might take in that album. The band gets really frantic in the first two minutes before the midsection artistry. The melodramatic chaotic ending breakdown is probably one of the band's heaviest moments since Miss Machine. "Good Neighbor" has some good elements of blistering heaviness. Now heading in less abrasive riffs, "Gold Teeth on a Bum" has some moments that can make a nice action-heist movie soundtrack, while bringing together a once-hated mix of metal and pop.
"Crystal Morning" continues the wild instrumentation and screams that punch deep into the bone. Same with "Endless Ending", where new drummer Billy Rymer shows some technical versatility riding through blast beat-cymbal adrenaline. "Widower" has a more open free structure and is one of the band's rare ballads with Greg Puciato's vast vocals alongside piano performed by Mike Garson, best known for performing in some of David Bowie's albums. Then the impulsive riff-barrage returns towards the end.
What's really spine-chilling is "Room Full of Eyes", not because of the creepy song title but also the song itself, especially when Greg Puciato screams "'CAUSE WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!!!" during the ending. "Chinese Whispers" has some more imperially thrilling lyrics like when he sings "Everything that you cling to will not last," during the black metal-like blast beat instrumentation. I wouldn't care if you didn't like "I Wouldn't If You Didn't", I would still listen to it. After a complex couple minutes of headbanging metal, there's seems to be a Latin swing section with more of Mike Garson's piano. Eat your heart out, Diablo Swing Orchestra!! The sinister closer "Parasitic Twins" mixes eerie experimental soundtrack with doo-wop harmonic vocals. It may sound unsettling to some listeners, but a satisfying ending nonetheless.
Forget Faith No More, TDEP is one of the more experimental bands out there. They can really do stuff like add blast beats into a Foreigner section. They have shown that they're not soft sell-outs, by making an album like Option Paralysis mostly astounding. This band should be in the compilation, Now That's What I Call Tech-Math-Metalcore!
Favorite Tracks: Farewell, Mona Lisa, Gold Teeth on a Bum, Widower, Room Full of Eyes, Parasitic Twins
It's a real pleasure to hear such a well-produced & focused recording from a group of very talented musicians. Not a style that I would usually enjoy but I just can't help but be drawn to the pure energy that Dillinger give off. It's a real achievement to be able to pull of a record as diverse as this in such a clean fashion. Singer Greg Puciato puts in a huge performance here. His clean vocals remind me very much of Mike Patton (Faith No More) at times. There are quite a few really catchy vocal hooks that I'm finding infectious. Some of the hardcore chaotic stuff is bit much at times but the music changes so often that it doesn't really detract from the experience too much. It's actually the slower, crunchier moments that are the real highlights for mine. The clean stuff is also well executed. The sound is brilliant throughout. This will get some very loud repeated listens in my car for sure.
