Genre: Mathcore / Experimental Metal / Hardcore / Chaoscoreโข
From: Morris Plains, New Jersey, USA ๐บ๐ธ
Active: 1997โ2017 (R.I.P. to your eardrums)
Name Origin: A nod to notorious bank-robbing legend John Dillinger โ fitting, because this band stole your sense of rhythm and punched your jaw on the way out.
Their sound?
Imagine Mr. Bungle jamming with Meshuggah while on fire inside a collapsing drum kit. Yeah. That.
๐ฃ THE BAND THAT COULDNโT SIT STILL (Line-up evolved A LOT):
Core Wrecking Crew:
- Ben Weinman โ Guitar / Architect of the chaos, human pinball
- Greg Puciato โ Vocals (2001โ2017) / Shred-throat savant, sex symbol of screams
- Liam Wilson โ Bass / Groove ninja, chakra king
- Billy Rymer / Chris Pennie / Gil Sharone โ Drums / All absolute lunatics. We mean that lovingly.
- Brian Benoit / Jeff Tuttle / James Love โ Live guitar commandos
Early fans will remember:
- Dmitri Minakakis โ OG vocalist (1997โ2001)
- Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle / Faith No More) โ Guest vocals on Irony Is a Dead Scene ๐ง ๐งโโ๏ธ
๐ฟ DILLINGER DISCOGRAPHY โ NO SKIPS, JUST SCARS
๐งจ Calculating Infinity (1999)
๐ง 43% Burnt, Sugar Coated Sour
Vibe: Straight-up mathcore masterpiece.
Legacy: The technical blueprint. Brutal, brainy, berserk.
๐ง ๐ฅ Still scares drummers to this day.
๐ญ Irony Is a Dead Scene (EP, 2002 โ feat. Mike Patton)
๐ง When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
Vibe: Art-metal madness. Patton unchained.
Legacy: Unreal vocal chaos. A fever dream with breakdowns.
๐ Miss Machine (2004)
๐ง Panasonic Youth, Unretrofied
Vibe: Chaos meets melody. Greg Puciato arrives.
Legacy: The shift begins. STILL HEAVY. More dynamic.
๐ฅ๐ค Unretrofied = Dillinger doing Depeche Mode while bleeding.
๐งฌ Ire Works (2007)
๐ง Milk Lizard, Black Bubblegum
Vibe: Genre-bending brilliance. Funk, jazz, grind โ all in one.
Legacy: Divisive for purists. Brilliant for chaos gremlins.
๐ Option Paralysis (2010)
๐ง Farewell, Mona Lisa, Gold Teeth on a Bum
Vibe: Dark, destructive, intelligent.
Legacy: Maybe their best blend of madness & emotion.
๐ฅ One of Us Is the Killer (2013)
๐ง Prancer, Nothingโs Funny
Vibe: Rage, beauty, and massive grooves.
Legacy: A masterclass in restraint and release.
โฐ๏ธ Dissociation (2016)
๐ง Limerent Death, Symptom of Terminal Illness
Vibe: The swan song. Equal parts tragic and triumphant.
Legacy: A band ending on their own terms. Emotional chaos.
๐๐ฅ Farewell tour broke hearts โ and probably venue ceilings.
๐ฅ THE RIFF REPORTโS ESCAPE PLAN PLAYLIST:
๐ธ 43% Burnt โ Mathcoreโs national anthem
๐ธ Milk Lizard โ Saxophone breakdowns?! Sign us up.
๐ธ Prancer โ Live show starter. Goes OFF.
๐ธ Farewell, Mona Lisa โ Emotional destruction
๐ธ Limerent Death โ Puciatoโs final scream = goosebumps AND nightmares
๐ THE DILLINGER LIVE SHOW โ PURE FERAL MAYHEM
- Ben Weinman once stage-dived WITH HIS GUITAR MID-SOLO
- Greg Puciato has literally thrown his mic stand across the venue
- Gear got smashed. Lights got pulled. Blood was real.
- They once set fire to their own amps. No joke.
It wasnโt just a gig โ it was survival. If you left a Dillinger show unbruised and unshook, did you even go?
๐งจ WHY DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN STILL MATTER:
Because they:
- Redefined heaviness without ever repeating themselves
- Brought artistry to brutality โ and vice versa
- Refused to play safe โ or even in 4/4 time
- Influenced literally EVERY chaotic modern band (looking at you, Knocked Loose and Rolo Tomassi)
- Went out on THEIR terms. No cash-grab reunion. Just… boom. Done.
And because no band ever did it like Dillinger. Or ever will.
๐ค FINAL VERDICT FROM THE RIFF REPORT:
The Dillinger Escape Plan were chaos in human form.
***They didnโt just make metal โ they rewrote the damn manual and then shredded it on stage with a flying dropkick.
Want riffs that punch through concrete?
Want songs that sound like quantum math having a breakdown?
Want live shows that leave you sweating, sobbing, and slightly concussed?
Then ***you donโt listen to Dillinger โ you survive them.
๐ฅ NO ONE ESCAPES. ๐ฅ
The Riff Report sets the amps ablaze and salutes the kings of chaos:
LONG LIVE THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN.
Now go learn โ43% Burntโ on guitar, ya coward. ๐งจ๐ค๐
