Grade: A
In the past decade, The Dillinger Escape Plan has established quite a reputation. The first three albums by the New Jersey-based mathcore quintet have been highly acclaimed, and they are known as one of the most talented bands on the mathcore scene.
Their latest album, Option Paralysis should only serve to cement that reputation. This album features 10 tracks of blistering, in-your-face metal, with guitars that attack the listener while Greg Puciato's aggressive, violent vocals assault them. Make no mistake; this is the sort of music that would make Slayer blush.
That sound is firmly established on the album's first track, "Farewell, Mona Lisa", a scorching five minute-opus that features Puciano at his angriest. When he screams "wash away your smile" at the top his lungs, it becomes clear that he means business.
Equally intense is the vitriolic "Endless Endings". The track only lasts for two minutes, but that's all it needs to get the point across. For 152 glorious seconds, it sounds like the world is ending and it's absolutely marvelous.
Luckily, not every track here is violent angry metal. To prevent listeners from getting migraines, the band kindly included a few mellow tracks. The strongest of these is the six-minute epic "Widower", which begins as a lounge type number, before evolving into a medium paced heavy-rocker.
Tracks like "Widower", and the excellent closer "Parasitic Twins", show that while loudness is the band's bread and butter, they can be mellow and introspective when they want to be. Truly, diversity is one of their strongest attributes.
This album is a great accomplishment, a potential masterpiece from a band that's already done amazing work. The Dillinger Escape Plan has now made four wonderful albums and they show no signs of stopping.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Album covers courtesy of Island Records, The Avalanches, Warner Bros. Records, 88rising Records, Smithsonian Folkway Recordings and Numero Group
