Review by Allan on March 7, 2002.

The Dillinger Escape Plan is an all out insane bunch of guys hailing from New Jersey. “Calculating Infinity” is the bands first full-length record and has done nothing but please the masses that just about creamed themselves after hearing the bands previous material.

Dillinger Escape Plan are a grindcore/hardcore band that have jazz and rock influences in their music, and unlike many other grindcore bands who sacrifice musicianship and melody for speed and power, Dillinger make use of everything they can find around them and they do it damn well. Some might say that this band is controlled chaos! Sounds odd, I’m sure, but buy the album and see for yourself. Everything from the devastating and polyrhythmic guitar playing to the intense drumming to the suffocating screams. An obvious aspect of the band is their undeniably skillful musicianship.

The guitarists shred everything with their destroying and funky riffs, along with their exotic scales that last for only a breath or two before pushing forward into another assault on your eardrums. The drummer is very interesting and isn’t obsessed with double bass. He is one of the not so many drummers that amaze me without being only super fast. He is fast, complex, intense, and creative. The vocals are screamed, screamed, and then screamed again. Actually, it does let up for a little bit every here and then were the vocalist throws in some whispers, which give the songs another dimension. The band isn’t only good at creating chaotic songs. You’ll notice how great it sounds when they slow it down to a more emotional level on songs such as 'Destro’s Secret', 'Calculating Infinity', and 'Weekend Sex Change'. The band is extremely tight with every aspect of their music, whether it is their not so obvious humor, their songwriting, or their ability to play together well.

Bottom Line: This is an album that obviously isn’t for everyone. Anyone who is interested in heavier forms of music, complex and precise musicianship, or anything out of the norm, I suggest you give this band a try. It will be interesting to see how the band does on their next effort, as it’s going to be hard to surpass this.

Originality: 10
Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10