Ire Works (Relapse)

Featuring seizure-inducing solos and frenetic genre-splicing even headier than anything the Dillinger Escape Plan has done before, the latest mind-bending long player by the tech-metal favourites will have bangers rejoicing worldwide.

Lead guitarist Ben Weinman still runs circles around axe-slingers from Yngwie Malmsteen to Pat Metheny, but Ire Works sees the shredder toning down his jazz-fusion tendencies. Only "Horse Hunter" finds the guitarist embarking on lounge-lizard runs. Exploring new territory, the outfit adds glitched-out electronic music ("Sick on Sunday") and baroque piano balladry ("Mouth of Ghosts") to its spasmodic metal jams.

Easily the weirdest song in the band's entire catalogue, "Black Bubblegum", eschews otherworldly time changes in favour of standard rock conventions. Spooky organs and an epic chorus take the place of blistering fret work, shifting the Dillinger Escape Plan's long-running Mike Patton worship from his oddball outfit Mr. Bungle to the more radio-friendly Faith No More. Vocalist Greg Puciato even takes a breather from bursting his vocal chords as he delivers sinewy falsetto whispers and heartfelt rock crooning on the propulsive track.

Though uncomfortably close to making 99.3 The Fox's jock-rock playlist, "Black Bubblegum", along with Ire Works' other experiments, prove this New Jersey outfit still has a lot to offer.

Link: The Dillinger Escape Plan official site