Dillinger Escape Plan

After becoming the defining band of the mathcore genre with 1999 debut 'Calculating Infinity', Dillinger have taken their template, made by face-melting technique, bone-crushing aggression as well as mad-scientist insanity, and woven many different styles into their sound over the years. There's been jazz technique, pop melody, electronic overtones, classical grandeurs and their most recent record 'Dissociation' saw them being more adventurous than ever and displaying their maximum potential. Along with putting out their finest album, Dillinger have decided to call it quits, making these their last UK shows. They play Manchester tonight to display how to do it live.

Firstly though we have some rather crushing support from Primitive Weapons who display crunchy, concrete heavy slabs of thick metal, with each low note feeling like a brick to the ear. Ho99o9 are the best kind of maniacs delivering a hip-hop, hardcore punk hybrid whilst doing somersaults, stage-diving, throwing a bin or cornflakes at the crowd, stomping around the stage or getting in the pit.

They nearly match tonight's main event, but Dillinger have too many tricks up their sleeves to be shown up. Where to begin with this band and this show? How about what they're most known for and that's their mathcore ragers. Tracks like 'Sugar Coated Sour' and tonight's opener 'Limerent Death' with all their contorted intensity, thanks to all-over-the-place fretwork and maladjusted swing, which make the dance floor a warzone with people charging everywhere mindlessly.

Continue reading: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Manchester Academy 2 January 20th 2017 Live Review

The Dillinger Escape Plan have arguably been the finest heavy band or experimental band on the planet for nearly two decades now and certainly one of the most interesting in music in general. 1999 debut 'Calculating Infinity' saw Dillinger become the essential mathcore band with incomprehensible rhythms, uncaged noise and face melting technical ability. With each following release they've welcomed new elements, be it pianos, electronics, pop hooks or jazz interplays. They've always been capable of executing it all seamlessly thanks to guitarist/multi-instrumentalist (and only original member) Ben Weinman being a mastermind, long-time frontman Greg Puciato having incredible range capable of throat tearing barks, conquering soaring and delicate intimacy as well as the most constantly sh*t-hot rhythm section regardless of who's been in or out of it at any particular time. Newest album 'Dissociation' is also unfortunately the band's last before they split up next year, but in true Dillinger fashion they set fire to any kind of rulebook one last time.  

Kicking things off is 'Limerent Death' which is a factory of riffs, each one made to flatten you like a pancake. Whether it's all-over-the-place fretwork, sharp, high pitched jolts, burly grooves which flex their muscles or Puciato's manic vocal delivery, Dillinger tick every box when it comes to delivering the aggressive. Just when you think you think you have this song sussed out, the tempo suddenly doubles to leave you ruined. 

Luckily there's time to recover with 'Symptom Of Terminal Illness' which instantly switches to a whole other side to Dillinger and that's their catchy one. Thanks to some Latin guitar, bendy Mike Patton-esque vocals and a chorus that soars, Dillinger deliver a song just as memorable as anything conventional, without sacrificing their mad-scientist edge. Whilst they're most well known for their chaos, they're also masters of melodic gold when they want to be and this is a prime example of that.  

Continue reading: The Dillinger Escape Plan - Dissociation Album Review