#166 - The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine

<p>This week on Riff Worship, we dive into the chaotic evolution of mathcore pioneers The Dillinger Escape Plan and the transformative journey behind their sophomore album, Miss Machine.</p><p>Formed in Morris Plains, New Jersey, in 1997 from the ashes of the short-lived hardcore band Arcane, Dillinger immediately set out to break the boundaries of heavy music. By fusing free jazz, progressive metal, and new-school hardcore, they built a legendary reputation on fractured song structures and notoriously unhinged live shows.</p><p>After releasing their explosive EP Under the Running Board and their landmark 1999 debut Calculating Infinity, the group reached a major crossroads. Following the departure of original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, the band brought on frontman Greg Puciato and bassist Liam Wilson to kickstart a new era.</p><p>Refusing to simply record Calculating Infinity Part 2, they spent years meticulously balancing their signature technicality with newfound melody, electronic textures, and structured songwriting.</p><p>From recording in blocks with long-time producer Steve Evetts to navigating depleted budgets, financial gambles, and grueling tour cycles (including near-arrests on Warped Tour and hostile crowds on Gigantour), this episode uncovers the full story behind the creation of Miss Machine!</p><p>In this episode, we’ll cover:</p><p>Arcane’s transition into The Dillinger Escape Plan and their formative work at Trax East with producer Steve Evetts.</p><p>Overcoming devastating accidents, lineup changes, and trading away publishing rights to finish their debut album.</p><p>How an open audition tape and a collaboration with Mike Patton on Irony Is a Dead Scene set a new standard, bringing Greg Puciato into the fold.</p><p>The four-year writing process for Miss Machine, guerrilla studios, Pro Tools tracking, and deliberate stylistic risks on tracks like “Panasonic Youth,” “Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants,” and “Unretrofied.”</p><p>Surviving brutal injuries on the road, charting on the Billboard 200, and cementing their status as extreme music innovators!</p><p>Recommendations:</p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_no3m2-JFMMWwjvq_L3HoUnjb13ZhrHF78&si=Emqslp0HGBJ8ekJQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Idiot Pilot - Wolves</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C14aZ71AtJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Long Goodbye - A Whispered Promise of Failure</a></p><p><a href="https://godflesh.bandcamp.com/album/decay" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">GODFLESH - Decay</a></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k4yeBNbCJLDBeqj_QsTlpRoncOxmGLQDo&si=j8k7eFAc31cdxWfU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Metallica - Ride The Lightning</a></p><p>Photo courtesy of Dustin Rabin</p><p>Facebook: ⁠<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DustinRabin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.facebook.com/DustinRabin/⁠</a></p><p>Instagram: ⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dustinrabin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.instagram.com/dustinrabin/⁠</a></p><p>Website: ⁠<a href="https://www.dustinrabin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.dustinrabin.com/⁠</a></p><p>Follow Riff Worship</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/riffworshippod/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/RiffWorshipPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RiffWorshipPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Check out our Official Playlists:</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37W4wEyb5ELf2y0YYlhRy2?si=631b8a9006