An extension of Thomas Edison’s discovery of electricity, the lightbulb has enabled a plethora of ideas previously unexplored. However light bulbs do not last forever. Circuitry gets worn out, fuses go out and ultimately the light inside vanishes. Turn their metaphorical lightbulb from their inception back in 1997, twenty years on The Dillinger Escape Plan reach the end of their longstanding career. Jetissoning their entire creative energy into their grand finale Dissociation chanelling their potent electrical flow to finally make their incandescent light bulb explode. 

[tracklist]

1. Limerent Death
2. Symptoms Of A Terminal Illness
3. Wanting Not So Much
4. Fugue
5. Low Feels Blvd
6. Surrogate
7. Honeysuckle
8. Manufacturing Discontent
9. Apologies Not Included
10. Nothing To Forget
11. Dissociation
    [/tracklist][details]
    [length]46:00[/length]
    [record_label]Party Smasher[/record_label]
    [release_date]October 14th 2016[/release_date]
    [/details]

Known to be a band to completely disregard musical harmony, The Dillinger Escape Plan create music that should, in theory, not work. Making the unlistenable somehow listenable, we come to the final chapter in the bands saga. Kicking things off with “Limerent Death” the band immediately assault the listener. Similarly to a defenceless seal in the jaws of a Great White. Simply put you’ve got no chance. Puciato’s anguished bargaining, creates this idea of total and utter desperation pleading to unwavering entity. Yet whilst Dillinger might thrive in this milieu of the feral, they show up dressed to the nines. With the top hat tipping Jazz ensemble of “Low Feels Blvd” temporarily muzzles the band. Inviting the bewildered listener into their newfound sound of serenity before once again pulling the rug from underneath us, being consumed by uncontrollable rage. Acting like an unscratchable itch the indecisive guitars of Ben Weinman, temporarily compose themselves for the more straightforward “Apologies Not Included“. 

Despite his wanton for rabid nonsense, Puciato has over time solidified his talent as a singer and this sections crooning “Symptoms of A Terminal Illness” conveys his Patton-esque sense of delirium. Able to throw out musical red herrings like they are going out of fashion, the band consistently block and parry the presumptions of the listener. Instrumental “Fugue” takes us back to the days of Aphex Twin with its breakbeat madness making for an interlude no less intense before moving into atmospheric, ambient tones. Previously anchoring themselves in feelings dread, the ominous passages of “Surrogate” create the unhinged, unpredictable nature of The Dillinger Escape Plan. The stalking instruments gang up on the listener intimidating with the likes of the deliciously titled “Honeysuckle” being anything but.

Walking into surgery mid way through would give the appearance of murder most foul. Taking this metaphor into account the same can be applied to understanding Dillinger’s incessant battering of dissonance. Coming in from the cold it’s a cacophony. Yet with the wallpaper of context, this being the band’s grand finale, their piéce de resistance, Dillinger are unique in their ideas and execution. As the douceur of “Dissocation” oozes out of the speakers, their sense of desperation, of total and utter anarchy coupled with a serene understanding of self will never be matched. The lightbulb has indeed smashed and its pieces might be one day put back together but will only shine bright with the correct assembly. Adieu The Dillinger Escape Plan.

[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]After eight individual studies in dissonance, Dissociation sees The Dillinger Escape Plan go out in blaze of paradoxical organised chaos. A fitting end to such a forward thinking band.[/why]

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