The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity (1999)
Man, these sons of bitches got out from under the running board and now that they're in the truck, they don't know how to take their feet off the damn pedal! Some music, like Frank Ocean's for example, can be described as a slow Sunday drive, but this is like a Bugatti going full-speed into a brick wall and somehow winning! If you ask me on any given day how the hell this shit works, I honestly won't be able to answer it and that's what we should be funding our scientists into figuring out instead of some "how do we cure/prevent [insert disease]?" shit, because THIS is what Bush should've investigated while in office.
Seriously, what happened?! Sure, the past two EPs were interesting and fun to listen to, but this shit is just on another level entirely. From the opening track, "Sugar Coated Sour" to the final track "Variations on a Cocktail Dress", the album never lets up, aside from the occasional ambient/jazzy interlude meant to make you feel uneasy, as you never know when the music is going to start exploding like a nuclear bomb in your ears again, but dammit, this is a nuke I didn't mind being dropped on me! This shit will make you want to play GTA and punch hookers to death. You'll probably end up kicking the same dead hooker on the ground for 30 minutes before someone breaks you out of your daze.. By hearing the music on your stereo and stealing the controller away from you, certain they can "fuckin' kill that dead bitch" even better than you can!
Just listen to the sharp, cutting riff of "43% Burnt" leading into the weird almost circus-like bridge, or the explosive sounds of "Jim Fear" launching into full effect, or even one of my personal favorites, "Destro's Secret", which sees calmer moments clashing with the insane, as vocalist Dimitri Minakakis almost delivers a slam-poetry-esque delivery before launching into his insane harsh vocals that sound like he's out for blood. YOUR blood! Hell, probably actually menstrual blood because he sounds like the type. Now THAT'S some shit to spread on your peanut butter sandwich!! SMUCKERS BE DAMNED!!
The music is even more technical, the riffs are even more memorable, and just the songs in general are a shitload better than they were before. The music on this album is pure, unadulterated violent musical schizophrenia in its harshest rage, swinging at anything and everything, occasionally taking a breather to psyche you out, not knowing when the next punch is coming, or from where, but one thing's for certain: It's gonna fuck you up, drop your corpse, and move onto the next victim.
8/10
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Feel free to check out the song previews/buy this album using my Amazon Associate link!
