Ire Works Review

Release Date: Nov 5, 2007
Label: Wea/Relapse
Genres: Experimental Rock, Grindcore, Post-Hardcore
Number Of Tracks: 13
Ire Works succeeds in many of the same ways that their previous album did, while branching out creatively.

Sound:	8.3
Lyrics:	9
Impression:	8.7
Overall rating:	8.7
Users rating:	9.3
Comments:	28

overall: 8

Featured review by: South-of-Heaven, on november 13, 2007

Sound: The Dillinger Escape Plan are a very special band indeed. Progression is a big thing for the manic math-metallers, seeing as they covered the gap between insanely technical, electronic grindcore and open minded generic oddballism in just five years. Ire Works more or less picks up where 2004's Miss Machine left off. You have your heavy as hell face melters such as "Fix Your Face", "Lurch" and "Nong Eye Gong", atmospheric tracks such as "Mouth of Ghosts", and "When Acting As A Partical", and then your interestic numbers such as "Sick on Sunday" and "When Acting As A Wave" which remind you how good the band are at counting past four. The track that really surprised me was the third song "Black Bubblegum". The vocals here daringly sound like pop rock style melodies, with Greg Puciato's meaty vocals sound like something you'd hear on the morning chart shows on E4. The song itself is sort of like an even lighter "Unretrofied", from Miss Machine. I favoured this song, nonetheless. // 7

Lyrics and Singing: Seeing as you have to have to break into the CD case itself to get the lyrics sheet, and Greg's yelling is nigh on indecipherable, I wouldn't expect the band to expect much credit for the lyrics themselves. Nevertheless, the lyrics are pure poetry, "Lurch" containing my favourite lines: "I don't know your name from my window/Do you lust for fame or forgiveness?/Well I'll give you everything you want", describing himself as a pervert, or a secret admirer of somebody, and are sung with angst, and torture. However chaotic the music may seem, the vocals are definately in time with the instruments. Greg switches between hell-hot, flesh tearing screams to his sweety, innocent, yet tormented clean vocals, which demonstrate his inner pain, painting pictures of a tortured, twisted young soul. Ironically, Dimitri Minakakis, the band's old vocalist performs backing vocals on this album, more specifically opener "Fix Your Face". Mastodon's Brent Hinds also performs backing vocals on the pen-ultimate track "Horse Hunter." // 9

Impression: When I ripped the songs onto my iTunes, I was disappointed to see many songs last under two minutes. But after listening, I realised that these were usually the instrumental and heavier tracks, and was thankful that they last as long as they do, otherwise my head would have imploded due to the constant barrage of insane velocity protruded by Ben Weinman's own two hands. Yes, he really is that fast. My favorites are probably "Black Bubblegum", "Milk Lizard", "Party Smasher", "Fix Your Face", and "When Acting As A Wave". The only two songs I have no time for are the fourth track "Sick on Sunday" and closer "Mouth of Ghosts", for the simple reason they lack feeling and momentum. Sure I would enjoy them if I was in a morose, sombre mood, but they come rarely to me so meh. I love the way the album is packaged, with a strange booklet showing mysterious block shapes in place of a lyrics booklet, and the lyrics sheet is oddly placed behind the CD. Also I was surprised how easy to comprehend the whole album is, through reading magazine reviews I was expecting to need to listen to each song about 10 times to figure out what was going on. But no, I could understand it, and after having the album just two days I know what happens and when and where. Not everything, but enough. That may be just me, but still, don't expect too much complexity from this album. // 8

overall: 8.7

Reviewed by: salamander121, on august 11, 2008

Sound: The very first time I heard Dillinger Escape Plan's "Ire Works" it really hit me, as I had never really been into the hardcore/mathcore scene. Their music to me can easily be summed up in two words: organised chaos. Dillinger Escape Plan are well known for their mathcore style music and powerful vocals, which in this album is easily fufilled. "Ire Works" was formed soon after their old drummer (Chrus Pennie) had left to join the metal-core group Coheed and Cambria and when their old guitarist (Brian Benoit) suffered nerve damage and could no longer play guitar. Luckily they found their new drummer, Gil Sharone, who filled Pennie's place quite comfortably and new guitarist Jeff Tuttle as new guitarist. This was the first time I had ever heard mathcore and I had stumbled upon it by chance. For me, it took a few times to listen to as the odd time signatures incorporated as well as the strong dissonance. The more I listened to it, the more I noticed how much musical craftmanship had gone into it, which got me addicted to it for a while. At first, it looked very promising. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics to "Ire Works" to me seems to be telling some kind of strange story but I just can't tell what. It seems to sound like somebody who manages to rise to fame but abuses it and everything falling down on them, which to me makes for good listening. As it is mathcore, Greg Puciato's singing fits perfectly to the madness that they create. Then again Greg's voice can be very two sided. Based on what I found from comments on songs such as Black Bubblegum or Milk Lizard, people can prefer his clean vocals much more to his shotuing/screaming vocals vice versa. A lot of people hate Greg's clean vocals as it's not like 'their old stuff' but to me, it takes a lot of guts to do something new or different. On the other hand Greg's shouting/screaming vocals can get quite tedious if you listen to it over and over again, but I guess that can happen with a lot of albums. To sum up: the signing is mostly good in all their songs shouting or otherwise but I think the best result happens when Greg's mixes both clean and shouting vocals into one song. // 8

Impression: Compared to other albums it sounds quite individual but then again you can get people wqho sound exactly like them. I didn't know I was into this genre of music until I listened to this so I guess this openeed a lot of new gates for me to expand my music taste. As for a good mixture of examples of what's on this album it would have to be: 'Fix Your Face', 'Black Bubblegum', 'Milk Lizard' and 'Horse Hunter'. There are one or two songs that I don't tend to listne to that much, simply because I find them slightly odd such as 'Sick on Sunday' which seems to be a drone of noise with a little song at the end, the same goes for Mouth of Ghosts, which is a good song when it gets into it, but it seems to have to much of a build up into it. But don't let that put you off; "Ire works" is a great sounding album, which despite first listening, must of taken much skill to compose and put together. // 9

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: BlackMagic17, on may 28, 2008

Sound: On Ire Works, Dillinger Escape Plan works their Math-Core magic despite the loss of legendary drummer Chris Pennie. This album is a solid offering from a band that continues to reach out of the underground scene that they have resided in for so long. The first thing that I noticed when I listened to this album is the prominent guitar work of duo Ben Weinman and Jeff Tuttle. The guitar is at the same level of technicality of past albums, but has taken a more central role in the music. The guitar tone is heavier and has greater presence than on past Dillinger albums, which adds to the prominence. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: Greg Puciato has filled the shoes of lead vocalist well since Dimitri Minikakas left the band in 2001. His ability branches out on this album, with more singing vocals that are usually heard in Dillinger songs. With catchy songs like Milk Lizard and Black Bubblegum that have killer vocal hooks, Greg has added his own style of songwriting to the foundation that Dimitri laid so long ago. As far as skills go, not many vocalists could coherently follow along with the rapidly changing time signatures that the ingenious instrumentalists write, but Greg does the job exceptionally well. // 10

Impression: Dillinger Escape Plan has made one giant step forward with Ire Works. It is easier to listen to than past albums, but retains the Math-Core feel that makes the band remarkable. If I had to choose my favorite songs from the album, I would pick the single-worthy Black Bubblegum, for it's sheer pop sensibility, and 82588, for it's traditional Dillinger sound. I would buy this album several times over, as it is one of my most listened-to albums. Other bands have tried and failed to copy Dillinger, but even with only one original member, these hardcore giants continue to make music that lives up to the first albums. I'm curious to hear what their new drummer, Gil Sharone, comes up with on the next album, when he has to write his own parts instead of using Chris Pennie's sheet music. // 9

Comments

[carrotcake]

woo 1st comment!!!
Is this album better then Miss Machine or CI, cause it doesn't sound like it, and I don't wanna waste my money on a crappy cd.....

[fender_NiNE]

decibel magazine gave it an excellent review...and that's saying something.

[people_hate_me]

from the songs i have heard so far it is amazing, they have still got it.

[huevos]

this album is pure win.
the pop style of Blackbubble Gum was disconcerting to me at first, but it has become one of my favorites. it gives me the chills. idk why, but its one of their most frightening songs ever.

[facedown_018]

Like many say, this band still has it.

[JRowe3388]

2nd Best CD I heard all year, Dethklok being first. >_>

But seriously, its the ****ing win.

[SOUPerman432321]

everyone swears DEP is technical but there is a difference between technical and not knowing what a measure is

[loxer]

CD of the year.

[MachineHeart]

SOUPerman432321 wrote:

everyone swears DEP is technical but there is a difference between technical and not knowing what a measure is

the thing is the go beyond measures. there are songs the have that do fit inot particular measures but the also make their own counts which shows more technicality because not only does the drummer have to remember the ridiculous count numbers, but so do the guitars, bass, and vocals... which all ,makes this band one of the most technical bands out there.

[Maggotkiller]

I personally love this album I just bought it today after reading reviews on it I went in to listening to this masterpiece w/ a different state of mind and personally i have nothing bad to say about this album except that it could be longer. Favorite songs: Fix your Face, 82588, Milk Lizzard, Black Bubblegum, Horse Hunter, and Dead as History

[Batrash]

A really like these guys, but compared to there other stuff I thought this album was total crap. Maybe the whole album isn't bad but don't buy the whole thing for sure.

[Mattylightning]

i love this band and it really was more or less a little easier for me to try and play a song by ear(I tried milk lizard ony to nail the main opening riff and rhythm line) but other than the riffs being less complex it was well written considering the band had to make like 3 member changes during the writing process. also going back to what MachineHeart said i agree in terms of what they mean by technical playing as a band altogether.

[jazzmetalguitar]

SOUPerman432321 wrote:

everyone swears DEP is technical but there is a difference between technical and not knowing what a measure is

what?! sugar coated sour starts in 9/8 alternating with several other odd 8 measures. just because something isn't in 4/4, 3/4, or 6/8 doesn't mean it isn't a measure. in fact, chris pennie, the old drummer has a drum clinic where each limb is following a different time to create polyrhythm like there were multiple percussionists. nahhhh not technical at all....

[+}-136-{+]

Great album. Definitive DEP.

[nolanxxx]

carrotcake wrote:

woo 1st comment!!!
Is this album better then Miss Machine or CI, cause it doesn't sound like it, and I don't wanna waste my money on a crappy cd.....

are you saying that Calculating Infinity was crap? It's an amazing album and much better than both the new ones...I do however like the new ones...just not as much

[JRowe3388]

Ire Works is AMAZING,

[Death_To_Emo]

Hey everyone, join the "The Dillinger Escape Plan Owns All" group.

[plague_runner]

I saw these dudes live, they sound just as good on the cd's.....They also now how to entertain the crowd...Greg(the singer) was climbing on the otwer thing and about 15 feet up he falls, lands his head on a speaker(splits the speaker in half doing so) and cuts the back of his head open...this guy must have been on crack because he jumps right back up and smears the the blood on his face and continues to sing.
By the way Ire works is an amazing work of art, noisy yet shows some of the best musician ship to date.....Dillinger rules.

[withgunstoglory]

what's up with Coheed being called a Metalcore band?

[Brendan.Clace]

My band writes all of our stuff based on odd-time guitar/drum basis. Some of our songs contain choruses that rotate 5/4, 6/8 time and does that mean that we don't know what a measure is? GTFO and get off your theory high horse and learn to appreciate the beauty that is math metal.

[lethaldosage45]

A lot of stupid noise songs... but the actual songs are GREAT!

[Linos]

Ire works disappointed me.

[[x]Huffy[x]]

SOUPerman432321 wrote:

everyone swears DEP is technical but there is a difference between technical and not knowing what a measure is

IS DAT SUM IGNORANCE?!

DEP go beyond the boring measures in the stuff you listen to. They experiment.

Ire Works is a brilliant album.

[The Spoon]

I love this album

[carrotcake]

I used to hate this album, now it's in my top favorites.

[shnurs]

plague_runner wrote:

I saw these dudes live, they sound just as good on the cd's.....They also now how to entertain the crowd...Greg(the singer) was climbing on the otwer thing and about 15 feet up he falls, lands his head on a speaker(splits the speaker in half doing so) and cuts the back of his head open...this guy must have been on crack because he jumps right back up and smears the the blood on his face and continues to sing.
By the way Ire works is an amazing work of art, noisy yet shows some of the best musician ship to date.....Dillinger rules.

Are you serious, this sounds like bull crapoola to me.

[XXXjonasbros666]

Are you serious, this sounds like bull crapoola to me.

i saw them live. ben weinman accidentally hit him with a guitar. he laughs and went back to screaming.
suck it.

[CherryWaves631]

Well... this cd is absolutely incredible. it has some of the most insane timings and riffs in general on it. i learned "fix your face" and they basically created a pattern to follow, and excluded the fact that measures even exist!! doin that is the coolest shit, cause then they know that once u hear the parts that are in time, they are that much more enjoyable. i dont even have a favorite, i love every song just as much as the next. the sketchy instrumentals arent as good as the rest of it, but they really make the cd creepy and tense, which is awesome. each one that is an actual song, however, is beyond brilliant. insane live as well, i saw them at a show they didnt seem to care about but it was a heavier show, so they played most of their short fast songs like nong eye gong, 82588, fix your face, lurch, and so on