Picture © Adrien Chabal / Achablive (Flickr)

Option Paralysis: the tendency, when given unlimited choices, to make none. Ironic, given that the question of whether or not to buy this record contradicts this dilemma completely. For me, this is the musical event of the year. The upcoming Devil Sold His Soul, Deftones and Protest the Hero offerings can all go suck a fat one – relatively speaking.

I doubt many of you reading this will be unaware of this incredible band; they transcend and skullfuck just about every boundary in extreme music we have. Defying categorization, they are inarguably aggressive, intelligent and groundbreaking in equal measure.

Opening track Farewell, Mona Lisa has been floating around the internet for a good while now. The video was premiered at the beginning of March, but its quality hasn’t diminished despite its now-tremendous familiarity. Chinese Whispers also reared its head fairly recently to a rapturous internet reception, and is (if my interpretation reads correctly) a well-deserved middle finger to the Calculating Infinity-era purists.

There is something here for every Dillinger fan, however. Good Neighbor, a perfectly formed burst of syncopated time signatures and staccato strumming, harks back to their early sound, whilst epic jazz-lounge (not even kidding) tour de force Widower wouldn’t be out of place on Ire Works.

In no way is this amalgamation an effort to please everyone though – more the logical progression of what’s come before.

I’d perhaps like to have seen a little more variation on the patented Dillinger ‘all-at-once’ formula. Whilst the combined force of immediate and simultaneous guitars, drums and vocals is a potent weapon, it is not one to be abused. But I guess it’s a moot point when the tracks still sound utterly amazing. View Full Article »