Genre: Mathcore
www.DillingerEscapePlan.com
Whats that I hear? Sold Out you say? Man, has this disc caused some major hype over the past month. Yet, its really not all that surprising – in light of the bands fearsome reputation and their almost genre defining debut of five years ago (Calculating Infinity), such a response from fans and the critics alike was always to be expected. However, unlike the universal praise that The DEP received (and deservedly so) after the debut and the Mike Patton fronted EP of 2002, the response to Miss Machine is going to cause some undoubted fractures in the fan base.
To be honest, the DEP were always going to be up against it with their follow up to their debut. Calculating Infinity was one out of the box, a disc so full of unbridled fury and off-kilter wizardry that it literally spawned a thousand imitators. I like to think that Botch and Human Remains had a rather large say in it, but as far as Math-core goes, Calculating Infinity was the shit. The follow up was always going to present problems because sound wise The DEP had no where to go they literally could not become any more complex or overwhelming than they already were.
Rather than try to top Calculating Infinity, The DEP have done the smart thing and moved their style just a little to the left. Their core sound of choppy, off-kilter insanity is still very much a part of what they do, however it is clear that The DEP have decided to embrace experimentation and progression for this album. For me, it was the necessary move for the development of the band as a whole. However, it must be stated that the DEP have taken some massive risks with MM, as a fair slice of this disc boldly ventures into accessible, commercial territory. For the die-hard DEP fan, this doesnt actually sound too inviting and its their cries of rejection that I was alluding to at the top of this review.
Miss Machine is without doubt a much more accessible Dillinger album. Whereas their previous material was all about no holds barred, unrestrained chaos, MM works in the opposite fashion. The DEP sound more like a band working together in unison there is a fluid approach to their song writing and less emphasis on frenzied time changes for the sake of it. Not that such an approach didnt work first time around, its just that The DEP have kept a certain red line running through their songs this time. If youre not happy with this change, I can pretty much guarantee that MM isnt going to please you.
Miss Machine is also a much more diverse album. The deliberate song writing approach and willingness to embrace other ideas has allowed this to happen. For me, this makes The DEP a much more listenable band (Still, play this to anyone not familiar with The DEP and theyll look at you like youre on drugs!!). Musically, the essential differences are rather dramatic on MM. Believe me, The DEP havent just thrown in some subtle nuances here and there and called it progression. There are some clearly commercial leanings employed on this disc right down to the clean Greg Puciato vocals (check Unretrofied which sounds like Faith No More) who has obviously embraced the Mike Patton style explored on the Irony EP. Weve got straight forward rock elements, slower jazz like noodlings and programmed beats and loops that have come straight out of the handbook of Trent Reznor (see Phone Home). Thing is, most of what is captured here works extremely well. Of course, this all depends of which side of the fence you sit.
There is no doubt that this album has a much more accessible atmosphere about it. It WILL polarize the fan base. As much as MM is a sign of a band ready to embrace a new audience, I cant help but like the majority of it. The Math-core/Hardcore elements are still there, just less imposing. You could say that The DEP have become a little less dangerous because of it, but on the other hand they need to be applauded for making some rather bold departures with this album. Furthermore, The DEP are still way more interesting that the rest of your try hard Math-core imitators. Theyll always be defined by their classic debut, but for the moment Miss Machine will do just fine.
note: 8/10
Tracklist
1. Panasonic Youth
2. Sunshine The Werewolf
3. Highway Robbery
4. Van Damsel
5. Phone Home
6. We Are The Storm
7. Crutch Field Tongs
8. Setting Fire To Sleeping Giants
9. Baby's First Coffin
10. Unretofied
11. The Perfect Design
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