Album Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan- One of Us Is the Killer

The Dillinger Escape Plan are widely regarded as one of the most groundbreaking and important bands in the modern metal scene. Their music is thoroughly unpredictable and draws from everything to art rock to grindcore. Their latest release, One of Us Is the Killer, further solidifies Dillinger Escape Plan's legacy as one of the most inventive and exciting bands in all of metal.

One of Us is the Killer continues to take Dillinger Escape Plan in a more accessible/melodic direction without giving up any of the raw aggression they've become known for over their 14-year career. The constant shifts between melody and chaos in the record are slightly less frequent on this record. What we get instead is a bit more of a focus on making strictly heavy or progressive songs, which was previously uncharted territory for Dillinger but thankfully the results are just as effective as their previous material. The album starts off in typical psychotic fashion with the punishing "Prancer" and "When I Lost My Bet", which are relentless, whirlwind songs that leave the listener with very little time to breathe. The record goes in a more artsy direction with the brilliant "One of Us Is the Killer" (which showcases the soulful clean vocals of Greg Puciato to the fullest extent) and "Nothing's Funny", which is one of the most melodic songs in their catalog before it explodes into a breakdown during the last 20-30 seconds. The second half of the album sees Dillinger's going into a slightly more tame version of their trademark chaos and this is where the album really picks up and becomes special. "Paranoia Shields",  "Magic That I Held You Prisoner", "Crossburner" and "The Threat Posed by Nuclear Weapons" perfectly blend balls-out insanity with triumphant hooks and crafty instrumentation. These tracks are some of the most genre-bending songs Dillinger has ever created and the balance of crushing heaviness and melodic beauty in these songs is simply amazing.

One of Us Is the Killer is Dillinger Escape Plan doing what they do best: creating layered, unpredictable chaotic music that will garner a strong reaction from its listener. Their music might be more accessible than before, but don't mistake that for them softening up: Their musical attack is just as savage as it was in the past, it's just a bit more refined with more calm in-between storms. It's beautiful, it's bat-shit crazy, it's Dillinger Escape Plan and One of Us is the Killer is another incredibly satisfying musical journey with these warped metal masterminds.

4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Paranoia Shields
2.Magic That I Held You Prisoner
3.One of Us Is the Killer