The Dillinger Escape Plan

The Dillinger Escape Plan formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey, growing out of an earlier hardcore group called Arcane. The band evolved from an earlier hardcore punk group called Arcane in March 1997, originally featuring vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, guitarist Ben Weinman, rhythm guitarist Derek Brantley, bassist Adam Doll, and drummer Chris Pennie, though Brantley left after just two shows, forcing the remaining members to record their debut EP as a four-piece. From the start, the band's use of dissonance, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and unconventional drum patterns became a staple of their sound, although later albums incorporated more melody, and influences from a range of genres. Their ferocious, unpredictable live shows quickly became legendary, as the band gained notoriety in the hardcore scene for the intensity of their performances, which have incorporated light shows, fireworks, fire breathing, and other special effects. The band's true breakthrough came with their 1999 debut full length, Calculating Infinity, recorded at Trax East in New Jersey. The album established their signature mathcore sound through frenetic tempos, odd time signatures, and screamed vocals by Dimitri Minakakis, which influenced subsequent extreme metal acts. The record became a cult phenomenon, and achieved a cult status selling well over 100,000 copies, which made the band the highest-selling artist on Relapse at the time. After Minakakis departed in 2000, the band held a nationwide search and selected Greg Puciato as the new singer. Puciato fronted the band through its most celebrated era, including 2004's Miss Machine, which introduced cleaner production and Greg Puciato's versatile vocals, blending hardcore with melodic elements and marking a commercial breakthrough as the band's first Billboard 200 entry. Across two decades, the band's lineup shifted repeatedly, but Weinman remained the only constant founding member throughout the group's existence. The last surviving lineup also included longtime members Liam Wilson on bass, Greg Puciato as lead vocalist, and Billy Rymer on the drum kit, alongside then-newcomer Kevin Antreassian as rhythm guitarist. The band continued to push boundaries across releases like Ire Works, Option Paralysis, One of Us Is the Killer, and their final studio album Dissociation, earning wide critical acclaim and recognition, including nominations from award shows and publications such as the PLUG Independent Music Awards, Kerrang!, Revolver and Metal Hammer, and in 2017 the band won an AIM Award for "Outstanding Contribution to Music." Ahead of Dissociation's release, the band announced they would be disbanding at the end of the album's touring cycle, and their final shows took place at Terminal 5 in New York City from December 27 to 29, 2017. The story did not end there. In December 2023, the band announced that they were reuniting for three shows in New York in June 2024 with original frontman Dimitri Minakakis to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Calculating Infinity. That reunion expanded into extensive touring, with a blistering set at California's No Values festival in mid-2024, followed by a run of US shows that reignited fan devotion and critical praise alike. Puciato, meanwhile, went on to a busy solo and collaborative career, including work with Better Lovers, Killer Be Killed, and The Black Queen, while Weinman also joined Suicidal Tendencies. The band's uncompromising sound and reputation for chaotic, dangerous live performances left a lasting mark on heavy music, influencing generations of mathcore and metalcore acts who followed in their wake.