Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works review by Chad Bowar,

With a Dillinger Escape Plan CD, you expect technical and complex mathcore/grindcore. Ire Works delivers that in spades. It's DEP's angriest album yet, and this is a group with a lot to be angry about. Health problems, drummer Chris Pennie quitting the band to join Coheed and Cambria (he was replaced by Gil Sharone from Stolen Babies) and a few other issues left the future of the band in doubt.

The brutality begins with the opening track "Fix Your Face," which features a guest appearance from the band's former vocalist Dimitri Minakakis. But Dillinger Escape Plan shows they are about a lot more than technicality and anger. Songs like "Black Bubblegum" are as mainstream as the band has ever done, with melodic vocals and a catchy, radio-friendly chorus.

In addition to the melodic songs and the mathcore/grindcore tracks, DEP also explores a more experimental and eclectic side with jazzy, electronica influenced instrumentals and songs. Greg Puciato's screaming ability has never been questioned, and his melodic singing is more than capable. In addition to Puciato and Minakakis, Mastodon's Brent Hinds lends his talents to the song "Horse Hunter."

Dillinger Escape Plan will always draw criticism from fans who want them to sound exactly like they did on their early CDs, but they've evolved, matured and have a lot of different members in 2007. Ire Works is a diverse and extremely engaging album with creative songwriting and great musicianship.