Gamma Ray Burst to the Face

The Dillinger Escape Plan -- Ire Works
For a band who are praised for its unpredictable nature, and don't-give-a-fuck attitude, DEP sure do seem to attract a lot of negative attention for being unpredictable and not giving a fuck. "Why don't they make another Calculating Infinity?" cries the Dillinger "faithful," and like a band concerned only with making only the most intense, relevant music they humanly can, DEP soldier on, following their own muse and blowing the doors off expectations (unless that expectation is the same album over and over again).

Accurately describing a Dillinger record is difficult, but for those who have never heard the group (are you out there?), I'll do my best: A huge variety of tones playing a huge variety melodies and textures, performed by men as violently and emotionally as possible spanning speeds ranging from "headspinningly breakneak" to "atmospherically slow." How else to describe an album that encompasses such technical barnstormers as "Fix Your Face" and "Lurch" as well as melodic, catchy, but equally complex compositions like "Black Bubblegum" and the simply outstanding "Milk Lizard"? How else to reconcile the hyperspeed blur of Calculating with the oddball electronics of Irony is a Dead Scene? These guys have fucking talent - regardless of who happens to be in the line-up

So is it any good? For the all the talk about selling out and the gossip and the petty bullshit, there is only one relevant question about Ire Works: Does it deliver the goods? The answer is a resounding "YES."

Heavy

Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today
Electric Wizard was the undisputed "Heaviest Band in the Universe." Crushing releases like Dopethrone and Let Us Prey made sure that this title remained theirs. No one riffed harder, slower, or was more stoned. But then something happpened. The band's legendary weed intake caused the band to fall apart. But all was not lost! Electric Wizard reformed and then tripped over its own enthusiasm and gave the world the decent, if completely forgettable, We Live. Now, two years later, the Wizard have dusted off their denim jackets and devil-shaped bongs and gave us the proper follow up to Let Us Prey. With the exception of the (gasp) sung vocals, this album could actually sit quite comfortably between DT and LUP. It sounds that much like the Wizard of old.

The riffs lie somewhere between Black Sabbath and Hawkwind, and the addition of sung, albeit highly distorted, vocals and occassional use of organs enhance the damaged, 70's vibe running through the album.

No, it's not Dopethrone pt. II, which may annoy change-fearing, internet whiners, but Witchcult stands as the most consistant and enjoyable Electric Wizard album yet. The title remains in competent hands.