Calculated Chaos - Dillinger Escape Plan : Counting Infinity (Review).

Welcome, before I get heavily into reviewing this album I wanted to give you a little background information as to why I am even trying to review anything. Back around 2004 to 2005ish, I had become bored one day and as well as sick, I had nothing to do at home. I had recently purchased Rage Against The Machine’s The Battle of Los Angeles, their third album and was obsessed with the band at the time. So I sat down and wrote about it, I did this for the next fallowing months for several albums, including Hatebreed, Marilyn Manson, Cypress Hill and Various others over a short time, only so many where actually read. I use to send it out under “Abuse Method News” due my old e-mail Address being Abusemethodeleven. Now, nearly 5 years later, I am writing my first review since that area. And I figured why not try it again, see how it feels and it felt pretty damn good, so I just hope it’s worth reading.

Album Info.

Dillinger Escape Plan, Counting Infinity (first full length album.)

Released on September 28th, 1999.

BAND.

Ben Weinman, Guitar, Bass, Synth, Producer.

Chris Pennie - Drums, producer.

Dimitri Minakakis - Vox.

Adam Doll - Bass.

Brian Benoit - Guitar.

Other Credits.

(Steve Evetts - Producer, Engineer.)

(Alan Douches - Mastering.)

(Aaron Harris - Assistant.)

(Jason Hellman - Assistant.)

(Matthew F. Jacobson - Executive Producer.)

(Adam Peterson - Graphic Design.)

TRACK LISTING.

1. “Sugar Coated Sour” - 2:24.

2. “43% Burnt” - 4:31

3. “Jim Fear” - 2:22.

4. “#” - 2:41.

5. “Destro’s Secret” - 1:56.

6. “The Running Board” - 3:22.

7. “Clip the Apex… Accept Instruction” - 3:29.

8. “Calculating Infinity” - 2:02.

9. “4th Grade Dropout” - 3.36.

10. “Weekend Sex Change” - 3:12.

11. “Variations on a Cocktail Dress” - 7:56.

Intro.

I’ve studied many forms of “Heavy Metal” over the last how ever many years, not out of need, but rather out of want. I’ve come across a few select bands that really stand out to me as pioneers, one of them is Dillinger Escape Plan, they’re methods nearly defined the very (as of now) loose genre known as Math-Core or Math-Metal. Typically an offshoot of Grindcore and Metal, but now is being realized into a more defined genre. Dillinger along with The Locusts, Converge and many others have put they’re own stamp on “math-metal”. Technically other bands also fit into this genre due to the “calculated chaos” you experience during an album by either Dillinger, Locusts or Converge, but also Meshuggah fits into the genre due to they’re odd and complex time structures. Given Meshuggah belongs more to the Experimental / Progressive tree, but I believe strongly that Math-Metal fit’s under that tree just fine.

The Feel.

Dillinger’ first album sounds raw, planned and organized with a careful ear. They’re not sloppy nor are they Unforgiving with their assault on the ears, the album feels much like 3 to 4 different albums from the same band played together in sequence, with the perfect timing by each. A lot of the sound relays on technical abilities, surprising that some people having claimed this band as industrial metal. As an over all, the album feels complete, masterful and original. Though it isn’t every one’s cup of tea. 

Package.

The packaging is very important to me, I don’t know nor care how important it is to some music fans but I know I am not the only one who likes to open up a booklet and read something interesting, doesn’t have to be lyrics, could be poetry, could be commentary, could be random tidbits of information. Anyway, the packaging is crisp. Simple, yet not to complex, easy on the eyes. Track listing is easy to read, so is the font on the inside of the booklet. The booklet, however is something interesting which I haven’t seen much, the booklet comes with a “slip-sleeve” that only covers most of the book. You can view the image of the album almost in widescreen due to how it is designed. The interior artwork is simple but fits with the rest of the packaging. The booklet contains lyrics for the songs, as well as a message from Adam Doll (band’s bassist), as well as a thank you note. The interior photographs are quite lovely as well. Over all, very simple and perfect to the rest of the album.

Sound.

Is F---king chaos, it’s loud, in your face, messy, obscure and takes so many turns, you could loose yourself in the mixture of what is going on, before you loose your breath, take a minute and relax. This album is a rush to listen to and it’s over before you know it. The guitars, drums, bass, and everything else fits perfectly, nothing is out of place or makes you feel like the band stubbed their toes on anything. Interestingly enough, this is one of three releases with vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, whom departed for various reasons , his screams are fluent with the music and his sound is sour and near violent, but doesn’t seem to change much through out the album, but it’s forgivable due to him being able to keep up with the band. The sound is like a choppy river, and it even has it’s lucid moments, time for you to breath and make sure your still on your feet.  

Final Thoughts.

Overall, I give my recommendation to anyone who wants something fast, brutal and calculated. This album is a masterpiece in a band’s catalog of masterpieces. I think if you want something new or just not mainstream, I suggests picking this up. I’d give it a rating but I dislike ratings to much, I rather just go on and yap about it as long as I can. So I say it’s good, though it’s up to you to find out if it is really your cup of tea!

Related Bands.

Mister Bungle, The Locusts, Converge, Meshuggah, Fantomas, John Zorn’s Naked City.

(if you have an album you want me to review, let me know, I’ll see what I can do, till then, I’ll just review whatever the heck I want to.)

- Andrew.