Ire Works
The Dillinger Escape Plan · 2007
38 min · 13 tracks · mathcore
A chaotic blend of mathcore and experimental sounds fueled by frenetic energy and unpredictable song structures.
Top tracks — play these first
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Black Bubblegum — This track stands out for its juxtaposition of heavy riffs with catchy melodies, highlighting the band's ability to merge aggression with accessibility. Its distinctive sound helped it become one of the album's most recognized songs.
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Milk Lizard — With its complex time signatures and dynamic shifts, Milk Lizard exemplifies the band's technical skill while also delivering an emotionally charged narrative. This track showcases both chaos and melody in equal measure.
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Dead as History — The expansive nature of this closing track reveals a more atmospheric side of The Dillinger Escape Plan, providing a stark contrast to the album's frenetic energy. Its layered instrumentation creates a haunting yet powerful finale.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Ire Works showcases innovative structures and contrasts, making it a standout in mathcore.
What we noticed
- The album features abrupt tempo changes, with tracks often shifting from chaotic sections to quieter, more melodic passages.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- chaotic energy for adrenaline seekers
- unexpected melodic passages surprise
- brief tracks for quick bursts
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward song structures
- seek long, relaxing listens
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 2007, Ire Works marked The Dillinger Escape Plan's fourth studio album and was a follow-up to their critically acclaimed release, Miss Machine. At this point, the band had solidified their reputation for technical prowess and boundary-pushing compositions, further exploring diverse influences while maintaining the intensity that had characterized their earlier work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Converge· Botch· Every Time I Die
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Dead as History
Towards the end, the lyrics shift from despairing reflections on mortality to a more contemplative tone about legacy and existence.
This transition encapsulates a thematic evolution throughout the song, moving from chaos to introspection and allowing for a profound emotional release in its conclusion.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Fix Your Face 2:41
- 2 Lurch 2:03
- 3 Black Bubblegum 4:04
- 4 Sick on Sunday 2:10
- 5 When Acting as a Particle 1:23
- 6 Nong Eye Gong 1:16
- 7 When Acting as a Wave 1:33
- 8 82588 1:56
- 9 Milk Lizard 3:55
- 10 Party Smasher 1:56
- 11 Dead as History 5:29
- 12 Horse Hunter 3:11
- 13 Mouth of Ghosts 6:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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