Every time you listen to a Dillinger Escape Plan record, you're expecting to experience a slice of controlled musical chaos packed into a sprawling yet cohesive package. Dissociation takes that Dillinger trademark characteristic and injects with a shitload of performance-enhancing drugs. The level of gleefully strange experimentation on this record is so constant that it makes the rest of their discography look accessible by comparison. Opening track "Limerent Death" does an excellent job of teasing the madness the rest of the album offers up. The song combines massive grooves, subtle violins, vocalist Greg Puciato's ear-piercing shrieks and guitarist Ben Weinman's signature fret-board spanning spazzouts to create a monster of track that kicks the listener in the teeth for four minutes.
The twists and turns only get crazier as Dissociation progresses. Dillinger incorporates everything from prominent strings ("Nothing to Forget") to oft-kilter jazz guitar passages ("Honeysuckle") to eerie, atmospheric synths that wouldn't be out of place on a Boards of Canada song (the title track) into their chaotic musical attack. Unlocking all of the different layers present on Dissociation will take even longer than usual for a Dillinger record and the adventure that comes with re-listening to this album is a large part of why it's so special.
Of course this cornucopia of wide-spanning musical influences wouldn't work nearly as well if it wasn't for Dillinger Escape Plan's tremendous musicianship. You can feel that each member of the band wanted to push the boundaries of what they were capable of musically here and it results in Dissociation featuring some of the most dense, awe-inspiring compositions they've ever crafted.
Like just about every other one of their records, Weinman and Puciato end up giving the most attention-grabbing performances on Dissociation. Weinman's absurd technical chops and Puciato's staggering vocal range allow Dillinger to make even the most drastic tempo or genre change sound effortlessly organic. Tracks like "Surrogate", "Wanting Not So Much to as to" and "Manufacturing Discontent" feature some of the most frantic, creative guitar passages and stunning clean-sung/screamed vocal sections that Dillinger has ever recorded. The musical versatility and songwriting prowess of Dillinger's unofficial power couple ensures that Dissociation is one of the finest releases they've ever put out.
While Weinman and Puciato are Dillinger's two primary mad scientists, the rhythm section of bassist Liam Wilson and drummer Billy Rymer still play an integral role in the success of Dissociation's whacked-out experiments. Wilson's thunderous bass lines and Rymer's elaborate fills often serve as the guiding force that prevents this chaotic machine from spontaneously combusting. Weinman and Puciato may shape the identity of Dillinger Escape Plan, but I hope that history that doesn't forget the significant contributions Wilson and Rymer have made to this band over the years.
Dissociation is about as satisfying of a final record as you'll ever hear in the music industry. This is exactly the type of beautiful, unpredictable and violent record I'd hoped Dillinger Escape Plan would end their career with. I'm obviously really bummed that they're calling it quits while they're still in their prime, but at least they went out with an album that's as inspired and true to their roots as Dissociation. I can't thank Dillinger Escape Plan enough for their contributions to the metal community over their nearly 20 years of activity and I know god damn well that they'll never be another band as intense, strange or dynamic as them ever again.
4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Honeysuckle
2.Apologies Not Included
3.Manufacturing Discontent
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