The Dillinger Escape Plan was a band from Morris Plains, New Jersey, United… Read Full Bio ↴The Dillinger Escape Plan was a band from Morris Plains, New Jersey, United States. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band performs a fast-tempo, technically proficient style of heavy music popularly known as mathcore. The band recorded their second EP with Relapse Records in 1998 entitled Under the Running Board. A year later, this was followed by the album Calculating Infinity, which was met with great acclaim from both underground and mainstream press. The band was renowned in the hardcore scene for the intensity of their performances, which have at times incorporated extensive light shows, fireworks, fire breathing, and other special effects.
The band’s lineup has changed multiple times over the years, in part due to a variety of injuries. Guitarist Ben Weinman and former drummer Chris Pennie have been present in many of the lineups. After the departure of vocalist Dimitri Minakakis in 2000, the band held a nationwide search and selected Greg Puciato as the new lead singer. The band has since released five full length albums with Puciato on vocals: 2004’s Miss Machine, 2007’s Ire Works, 2010's Option Paralysis, 2013's One of Us Is the Killer, and 2016’s Dissociation.
Early years (1996–1998)
The band’s beginnings can be traced back to a hardcore band called Arcane. Prior to Arcane, Adam Doll, John Fulton and Chris Pennie played together in the bands Samsara and Malfactor from 1992–1997. Managed by longtime friend Tom Apostolopoulos and guitarist Ben Weinman, Arcane recorded a self-titled demo under the name The Dillinger Escape Plan which Now or Never Records offered to release on CD. Shortly before their first tour under the new name, guitarist Derek Brantley left the group and was replaced by John Fulton.
The band gained notoriety in the hardcore scene for the intensity of their performances. This notoriety drew the attention of Relapse Records representatives, who attended one of the band’s shows in Pennsylvania, ultimately resulting in the signing of a multi-record deal. The band recorded Under the Running Board on Relapse, but shortly after its release, Fulton left the band.
Calculating Infinity (1999–2001)
The three-song EP release served to bolster anticipation for their 1999 full-length release, Calculating Infinity. Before the recording of Calculating Infinity, bassist Adam Doll was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. The accident was a minor fender bender, but because Doll had leaned over to pick up a CD beneath the stereo, the accident caused a small fracture in his spine, inducing paralysis. Guitarist Weinman played both guitar and bass on the album, though liner notes credited Doll as providing a great deal of help.
Shortly before touring began for the new album, former Jesuit guitarist Brian Benoit auditioned for the band, taking the place of the departed John Fulton; Jeff Wood, former M.O.D. bassist took the place of the injured Adam Doll. Calculating Infinity was met with great acclaim from both underground and mainstream press, even drawing the attention of former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton, who asked Dillinger Escape Plan to tour with his band Mr. Bungle. Over time, their notoriously intense shows grew more so, incorporating samples, a light show, fireworks, fire breathing, and other antics.
After several months of touring, including appearances on the Warped Tour and March Metal Meltdown, the band and Wood parted ways, with Wood moving on to his own project, Shat. Liam Wilson, also the bassist for Starkweather, took his place. In 2000, Now or Never Records re-released the band’s self-titled EP with added bonus tracks. Later that year, the Minakakis parted ways with the band.
Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002–2003)
Without a vocalist, The Dillinger Escape Plan began a nationwide search for a replacement via their website, releasing an instrumental version of “43% Burnt” from Calculating Infinity and inviting prospective vocalists to record and submit their own vocal tracks.
It was during this time period the band found itself in a transitory period, with no set future course. Among the band’s lead hopefuls was Andrew Field-Pickering of Redline and The Chase fame.
While the search was underway, vocal duties were handled by a number of the band’s friends, including Sean Ingram of Coalesce and Mike Patton, who agreed to help the band produce an EP. The plan to record with Patton was in place before a replacement vocalist had been found. By the time Mike Patton had recorded vocals and the EP was released, the band had been touring with Minakakis’s replacement, Greg Puciato, for nearly a year.
Released in August 2002 via Epitaph Records, Irony Is a Dead Scene featured Weinman, Pennie, Benoit, Wilson, and Mike Patton on vocals, with ex-bassist Adam Doll helping with keyboards and samples. It marked Doll’s last appearance with the band. The four-song EP contained, among others, a cover of IDM artist Aphex Twin’s “Come to Daddy”. Buddyhead Records released a limited vinyl version.
Miss Machine (2004–2005)
In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met Greg Puciato, one of many would-be vocalists who had submitted a recording to the band. Puciato included both a faithful version of “43% Burnt” (in the style of Calculating Infinity) and the same song with his own personal spin. The band offered him the job after two practice sessions. He accepted, first appearing at the 2001 CMJ Music Festival in New York City. Soon after, Puciato and the band recorded two songs for a Black Flag tribute compilation.
In 2003, the band appeared on the soundtrack for the motion picture Underworld with the song “Baby’s First Coffin”, their first original song with Greg Puciato on vocals. They also recorded a cover of “My Michelle” for the Guns N’ Roses tribute album Bring You To Your Knees, released in March 2004.
In July 2004, Relapse Records released the band’s first full-length album with Puciato, entitled Miss Machine. Miss Machine sold 12,000 copies its first week, becoming the band's biggest-selling release. The album polarized the Dillinger Escape Plan audience; some fans were critical of the band’s increasing artistic and musical departures from their earlier efforts, while others preferred them.
Following the controversial release, Dillinger Escape Plan began a two-year touring cycle, headlining tours of their own or occasionally providing support for acts such as Slipknot, System of a Down, and Megadeth. These tours were replete with injuries; in late 2004, guitarist Benoit suffered nerve damage (brachial plexus neuritis) in his left hand, and other than a short return to the stage in 2005, he has not played with the band since. Former Fenix TX guitarist James Love ended up playing most shows in the late 2004–2006 period. In 2005, the band was forced to drop out of Dave Mustaine’s “Gigantour” slightly early due to a rotator cuff injury guitarist Weinman sustained in a car accident, despite the best efforts of the bands touring masseur, Jason Hamacher (of Frodus Conglomerate International).
Plagiarism (2005–2006)
In June 2006 the band released both an iTunes exclusive EP of cover songs entitled Plagiarism. The title is a reference to the fact that four of the EP’s six tracks are covers faithful to the original songs. And their first DVD, a short accompanying piece to Miss Machine (entitled Miss Machine: The DVD).
Four shows before the end of the 2006 tour with Coheed, Weinman flew home for undisclosed personal reasons and the band played on for a while as a quartet.
In late 2006 the band contributed a track to We Reach: The Music Of The Melvins, a compilation tribute to The Melvins [6]. It would be their last recording with drummer and founding member, Chris Pennie.
Ire Works (2007–2009)
Ire Works was produced by Steve Evetts at his studio Omen Room in Los Angeles. Drums were recorded at Sonikwire Studios in Irvine, California. On June 15, the band announced the departure of Chris Pennie (now with Coheed and Cambria). Gil Sharone of Stolen Babies handled drum duties for the album. Ire Works was released on November 13, 2007. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #142 with 7,000 copies scanned but was later corrected when it was revealed that Relapse somehow forgot to scan the pre-release album sales, which made the first week total actually around 11,000.
Also missing from the new lineup was guitarist Brian Benoit who had left the band due to injury. Although assured his place in the band is secure should he ever be able to perform again, Jeff Tuttle (formerly of Heads Will Roll and Capture the Flag) will be taking his place on stage for the foreseeable future. Tuttle, however, does not make an appearance on the record.
Option Paralysis (2010-2012)
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records (and reportedly dissatisfied with Relapse's handling of their previous album, Ire Works), the band released the album through Party Smasher, Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. It marks the first Dillinger Escape plan release to feature Billy Rymer on drums since Gil Sharone left the band in January 2009 due to the frequent touring schedule and to focus on his brother's band Stolen Babies.
One of Us Is the Killer (2013-Present)
One of Us Is the Killer is the fifth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on May 14, 2013. The album is the second release under their Party Smasher, Inc. imprint, as well as release through Sumerian Records. Sumerian Records. It is also their second recording with drummer Billy Rymer.
Dissociation and disbandment (2015–2017)
In May 2015, Kevin Antreassian, a former member of New Jersey progressive metal band Knife the Glitter and former guitar student of Ben Weinman, became the new rhythm guitarist of the band replacing James Love.[62][63] In July, Weinman announced during an Australian interview that the band would return to the studio in November to record the follow-up to One of Us Is the Killer.[64][65] In the following year, BBC Radio 1 premiered the band's new single "Limerent Death", which would be featured on their sixth studio record Dissociation.[66] In an interview with Noisey, Weinman said the Dillinger Escape Plan would stop performing,[67] with Puciato later saying "we're breaking up".[68] Puciato was quoted saying that the band still enjoyed writing, recording, and performing together but "we started to reach what felt like a thematic conclusion to our band", comparing the decision to a filmmaker who enjoys the current film he is creating but cannot continue the process indefinitely.[69] Weinman said, "we are going to do the cycle for this album and that's it."[67] Dissociation was released on October 14, 2016, through Party Smasher in partnership with Cooking Vinyl.[70] In 2019, the singer acknowledged this album as the first part of a trilogy, followed by his 2019 book Separate the Dawn (written during their last tour), and finished with The Black Queen record Infinite Games.[71]
On February 12, 2017, during their European farewell tour, The Dillinger Escape Plan was involved in a vehicle crash after a truck collided with their bus near Radomsko, Poland. The truck driver, who ended up seriously wounded, pleaded guilty to falling asleep while driving.[72] Thirteen people in all were injured, but the band members were not gravely hurt.[73] Revolver reported that they "narrowly survived" the incident.[72] In April 2018, Antreassian revealed he had two fractured vertebrae and, as a consequence, played with a back brace for a month.[74] Puciato tore a quadriceps, which he did not treat immediately, and later revealed that he began to suffer from serious mental health issues during this tour, including panic disorder and hypochondria, but following the accident, his symptoms became "almost unlivable" and had to receive treatment.[75] Fans raised over $20,000 in a week to the band following the crash.[76]
On September 5, The Dillinger Escape Plan were honored at the 2017 Association of Independent Music Awards. The band received the "Outstanding Contribution to Music" prize at the ceremony at The Brewery, Clerkenwell.[77]
The band's final show took place at Terminal 5 in New York City on December 29, 2017, with Code Orange and Daughters as support acts.[78] The band also played two additional shows on December 27 and 28, before the final show. For the first show the band announced that they would be joined by Mike Patton to perform their collaborative EP, Irony Is a Dead Scene and were supported by God Mother.[79] On the December 28 show, the band was joined on stage by original frontman Dimitri Minakakis, and he performed several early Dillinger Escape Plan songs. Minakakis also sang with Puciato during the encore performance of 43% Burnt.[80] Minakakis appeared again on the last night, whereas former guitarist Brian Benoit joined them for parts of the December 27 and December 28 shows. Original bassist Adam Doll joined as well for the final night, playing keyboards on their last song "Dissociation".[81]
Post-Dillinger Escape Plan activities (2018–present)
After the Dillinger Escape Plan disbanded, the members remained active in music. Puciato continued touring with his electronic band The Black Queen throughout 2018[82] and has plans to record as Killer Be Killed for a second album.[83] Weinman became the rhythm guitarist for Suicidal Tendencies in 2018.[84] and is the manager for Grammy award-winning artist Kimbra,[85] while also running an animal sanctuary from his home in NJ.[86] Wilson formed the progressive metal band Azusa with members of Extol and Sea + Air and released their debut album in November 2018.[87] He has also been playing bass occasionally for Devin Townsend. In September 2019, Rymer reunited with Weinman while playing a series of shows for Suicidal Tendencies as a fill-in for Dave Lombardo. He has also been performing as the touring drummer for Ho99o9,[88] and has joined the band thoughtcrimes.[89] Antreassian owns and operates Back Room Studios in Rockaway, New Jersey, which operates as a full recording studio and rentable rehearsal space.
Puciato released the poetry and photography book Separate the Dawn on February 12, 2019, marking the second anniversary of the band's bus accident in Poland. It was written during the last Dillinger tour and released through Federal Prisoner.[71]
The band’s lineup has changed multiple times over the years, in part due to a variety of injuries. Guitarist Ben Weinman and former drummer Chris Pennie have been present in many of the lineups. After the departure of vocalist Dimitri Minakakis in 2000, the band held a nationwide search and selected Greg Puciato as the new lead singer. The band has since released five full length albums with Puciato on vocals: 2004’s Miss Machine, 2007’s Ire Works, 2010's Option Paralysis, 2013's One of Us Is the Killer, and 2016’s Dissociation.
Early years (1996–1998)
The band’s beginnings can be traced back to a hardcore band called Arcane. Prior to Arcane, Adam Doll, John Fulton and Chris Pennie played together in the bands Samsara and Malfactor from 1992–1997. Managed by longtime friend Tom Apostolopoulos and guitarist Ben Weinman, Arcane recorded a self-titled demo under the name The Dillinger Escape Plan which Now or Never Records offered to release on CD. Shortly before their first tour under the new name, guitarist Derek Brantley left the group and was replaced by John Fulton.
The band gained notoriety in the hardcore scene for the intensity of their performances. This notoriety drew the attention of Relapse Records representatives, who attended one of the band’s shows in Pennsylvania, ultimately resulting in the signing of a multi-record deal. The band recorded Under the Running Board on Relapse, but shortly after its release, Fulton left the band.
Calculating Infinity (1999–2001)
The three-song EP release served to bolster anticipation for their 1999 full-length release, Calculating Infinity. Before the recording of Calculating Infinity, bassist Adam Doll was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. The accident was a minor fender bender, but because Doll had leaned over to pick up a CD beneath the stereo, the accident caused a small fracture in his spine, inducing paralysis. Guitarist Weinman played both guitar and bass on the album, though liner notes credited Doll as providing a great deal of help.
Shortly before touring began for the new album, former Jesuit guitarist Brian Benoit auditioned for the band, taking the place of the departed John Fulton; Jeff Wood, former M.O.D. bassist took the place of the injured Adam Doll. Calculating Infinity was met with great acclaim from both underground and mainstream press, even drawing the attention of former Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton, who asked Dillinger Escape Plan to tour with his band Mr. Bungle. Over time, their notoriously intense shows grew more so, incorporating samples, a light show, fireworks, fire breathing, and other antics.
After several months of touring, including appearances on the Warped Tour and March Metal Meltdown, the band and Wood parted ways, with Wood moving on to his own project, Shat. Liam Wilson, also the bassist for Starkweather, took his place. In 2000, Now or Never Records re-released the band’s self-titled EP with added bonus tracks. Later that year, the Minakakis parted ways with the band.
Irony Is a Dead Scene (2002–2003)
Without a vocalist, The Dillinger Escape Plan began a nationwide search for a replacement via their website, releasing an instrumental version of “43% Burnt” from Calculating Infinity and inviting prospective vocalists to record and submit their own vocal tracks.
It was during this time period the band found itself in a transitory period, with no set future course. Among the band’s lead hopefuls was Andrew Field-Pickering of Redline and The Chase fame.
While the search was underway, vocal duties were handled by a number of the band’s friends, including Sean Ingram of Coalesce and Mike Patton, who agreed to help the band produce an EP. The plan to record with Patton was in place before a replacement vocalist had been found. By the time Mike Patton had recorded vocals and the EP was released, the band had been touring with Minakakis’s replacement, Greg Puciato, for nearly a year.
Released in August 2002 via Epitaph Records, Irony Is a Dead Scene featured Weinman, Pennie, Benoit, Wilson, and Mike Patton on vocals, with ex-bassist Adam Doll helping with keyboards and samples. It marked Doll’s last appearance with the band. The four-song EP contained, among others, a cover of IDM artist Aphex Twin’s “Come to Daddy”. Buddyhead Records released a limited vinyl version.
Miss Machine (2004–2005)
In late 2001, Dillinger Escape Plan met Greg Puciato, one of many would-be vocalists who had submitted a recording to the band. Puciato included both a faithful version of “43% Burnt” (in the style of Calculating Infinity) and the same song with his own personal spin. The band offered him the job after two practice sessions. He accepted, first appearing at the 2001 CMJ Music Festival in New York City. Soon after, Puciato and the band recorded two songs for a Black Flag tribute compilation.
In 2003, the band appeared on the soundtrack for the motion picture Underworld with the song “Baby’s First Coffin”, their first original song with Greg Puciato on vocals. They also recorded a cover of “My Michelle” for the Guns N’ Roses tribute album Bring You To Your Knees, released in March 2004.
In July 2004, Relapse Records released the band’s first full-length album with Puciato, entitled Miss Machine. Miss Machine sold 12,000 copies its first week, becoming the band's biggest-selling release. The album polarized the Dillinger Escape Plan audience; some fans were critical of the band’s increasing artistic and musical departures from their earlier efforts, while others preferred them.
Following the controversial release, Dillinger Escape Plan began a two-year touring cycle, headlining tours of their own or occasionally providing support for acts such as Slipknot, System of a Down, and Megadeth. These tours were replete with injuries; in late 2004, guitarist Benoit suffered nerve damage (brachial plexus neuritis) in his left hand, and other than a short return to the stage in 2005, he has not played with the band since. Former Fenix TX guitarist James Love ended up playing most shows in the late 2004–2006 period. In 2005, the band was forced to drop out of Dave Mustaine’s “Gigantour” slightly early due to a rotator cuff injury guitarist Weinman sustained in a car accident, despite the best efforts of the bands touring masseur, Jason Hamacher (of Frodus Conglomerate International).
Plagiarism (2005–2006)
In June 2006 the band released both an iTunes exclusive EP of cover songs entitled Plagiarism. The title is a reference to the fact that four of the EP’s six tracks are covers faithful to the original songs. And their first DVD, a short accompanying piece to Miss Machine (entitled Miss Machine: The DVD).
Four shows before the end of the 2006 tour with Coheed, Weinman flew home for undisclosed personal reasons and the band played on for a while as a quartet.
In late 2006 the band contributed a track to We Reach: The Music Of The Melvins, a compilation tribute to The Melvins [6]. It would be their last recording with drummer and founding member, Chris Pennie.
Ire Works (2007–2009)
Ire Works was produced by Steve Evetts at his studio Omen Room in Los Angeles. Drums were recorded at Sonikwire Studios in Irvine, California. On June 15, the band announced the departure of Chris Pennie (now with Coheed and Cambria). Gil Sharone of Stolen Babies handled drum duties for the album. Ire Works was released on November 13, 2007. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at #142 with 7,000 copies scanned but was later corrected when it was revealed that Relapse somehow forgot to scan the pre-release album sales, which made the first week total actually around 11,000.
Also missing from the new lineup was guitarist Brian Benoit who had left the band due to injury. Although assured his place in the band is secure should he ever be able to perform again, Jeff Tuttle (formerly of Heads Will Roll and Capture the Flag) will be taking his place on stage for the foreseeable future. Tuttle, however, does not make an appearance on the record.
Option Paralysis (2010-2012)
Option Paralysis is the fourth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records (and reportedly dissatisfied with Relapse's handling of their previous album, Ire Works), the band released the album through Party Smasher, Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. It marks the first Dillinger Escape plan release to feature Billy Rymer on drums since Gil Sharone left the band in January 2009 due to the frequent touring schedule and to focus on his brother's band Stolen Babies.
One of Us Is the Killer (2013-Present)
One of Us Is the Killer is the fifth full-length studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on May 14, 2013. The album is the second release under their Party Smasher, Inc. imprint, as well as release through Sumerian Records. Sumerian Records. It is also their second recording with drummer Billy Rymer.
Dissociation and disbandment (2015–2017)
In May 2015, Kevin Antreassian, a former member of New Jersey progressive metal band Knife the Glitter and former guitar student of Ben Weinman, became the new rhythm guitarist of the band replacing James Love.[62][63] In July, Weinman announced during an Australian interview that the band would return to the studio in November to record the follow-up to One of Us Is the Killer.[64][65] In the following year, BBC Radio 1 premiered the band's new single "Limerent Death", which would be featured on their sixth studio record Dissociation.[66] In an interview with Noisey, Weinman said the Dillinger Escape Plan would stop performing,[67] with Puciato later saying "we're breaking up".[68] Puciato was quoted saying that the band still enjoyed writing, recording, and performing together but "we started to reach what felt like a thematic conclusion to our band", comparing the decision to a filmmaker who enjoys the current film he is creating but cannot continue the process indefinitely.[69] Weinman said, "we are going to do the cycle for this album and that's it."[67] Dissociation was released on October 14, 2016, through Party Smasher in partnership with Cooking Vinyl.[70] In 2019, the singer acknowledged this album as the first part of a trilogy, followed by his 2019 book Separate the Dawn (written during their last tour), and finished with The Black Queen record Infinite Games.[71]
On February 12, 2017, during their European farewell tour, The Dillinger Escape Plan was involved in a vehicle crash after a truck collided with their bus near Radomsko, Poland. The truck driver, who ended up seriously wounded, pleaded guilty to falling asleep while driving.[72] Thirteen people in all were injured, but the band members were not gravely hurt.[73] Revolver reported that they "narrowly survived" the incident.[72] In April 2018, Antreassian revealed he had two fractured vertebrae and, as a consequence, played with a back brace for a month.[74] Puciato tore a quadriceps, which he did not treat immediately, and later revealed that he began to suffer from serious mental health issues during this tour, including panic disorder and hypochondria, but following the accident, his symptoms became "almost unlivable" and had to receive treatment.[75] Fans raised over $20,000 in a week to the band following the crash.[76]
On September 5, The Dillinger Escape Plan were honored at the 2017 Association of Independent Music Awards. The band received the "Outstanding Contribution to Music" prize at the ceremony at The Brewery, Clerkenwell.[77]
The band's final show took place at Terminal 5 in New York City on December 29, 2017, with Code Orange and Daughters as support acts.[78] The band also played two additional shows on December 27 and 28, before the final show. For the first show the band announced that they would be joined by Mike Patton to perform their collaborative EP, Irony Is a Dead Scene and were supported by God Mother.[79] On the December 28 show, the band was joined on stage by original frontman Dimitri Minakakis, and he performed several early Dillinger Escape Plan songs. Minakakis also sang with Puciato during the encore performance of 43% Burnt.[80] Minakakis appeared again on the last night, whereas former guitarist Brian Benoit joined them for parts of the December 27 and December 28 shows. Original bassist Adam Doll joined as well for the final night, playing keyboards on their last song "Dissociation".[81]
Post-Dillinger Escape Plan activities (2018–present)
After the Dillinger Escape Plan disbanded, the members remained active in music. Puciato continued touring with his electronic band The Black Queen throughout 2018[82] and has plans to record as Killer Be Killed for a second album.[83] Weinman became the rhythm guitarist for Suicidal Tendencies in 2018.[84] and is the manager for Grammy award-winning artist Kimbra,[85] while also running an animal sanctuary from his home in NJ.[86] Wilson formed the progressive metal band Azusa with members of Extol and Sea + Air and released their debut album in November 2018.[87] He has also been playing bass occasionally for Devin Townsend. In September 2019, Rymer reunited with Weinman while playing a series of shows for Suicidal Tendencies as a fill-in for Dave Lombardo. He has also been performing as the touring drummer for Ho99o9,[88] and has joined the band thoughtcrimes.[89] Antreassian owns and operates Back Room Studios in Rockaway, New Jersey, which operates as a full recording studio and rentable rehearsal space.
Puciato released the poetry and photography book Separate the Dawn on February 12, 2019, marking the second anniversary of the band's bus accident in Poland. It was written during the last Dillinger tour and released through Federal Prisoner.[71]
Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants
The Dillinger Escape Plan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First off let me say you look so tired
Rest your head and shut your eyes
Empty ambition blankets the sky
I'm thinking 'bout another world tonight
So drop the gown the game's over
Just push your face into the fight
And it breaks my heart like dancing up all night
Ride so high we both start thinking
'Bout another world tonight
And it feels so wrong
Like nothing we've ever felt before
The stranger's candy takes you where
You ought to be
In broken alleys
In the back of every street
Close your eyes tonight, baby
You can have it, ooh baby
Gnaw me down to the bone
Soon you'll find I'm never
Gonna take you back home
Well there's so much you never told me
And there's not much I want to know
Cause your pretty face will do just fine
You'll be the star of my every last show
Let's go for a long ride
I'll show you places you won't ever want to leave The stranger's candy takes you where
You ought to be
In broken alleys
In the back of every street
Tonight we could bring it all down
We could bring it all down
They think this body's a dead note
Dancing to the beat but they'll never see
This corpse coming 'til it kills them
Rest your head and shut your eyes
Empty ambition blankets the sky
I'm thinking 'bout another world tonight
So drop the gown the game's over
Just push your face into the fight
And it breaks my heart like dancing up all night
Ride so high we both start thinking
And it feels so wrong
Like nothing we've ever felt before
The stranger's candy takes you where
You ought to be
In broken alleys
In the back of every street
Close your eyes tonight, baby
You can have it, ooh baby
Gnaw me down to the bone
Soon you'll find I'm never
Gonna take you back home
Well there's so much you never told me
And there's not much I want to know
Cause your pretty face will do just fine
You'll be the star of my every last show
Let's go for a long ride
I'll show you places you won't ever want to leave The stranger's candy takes you where
You ought to be
In broken alleys
In the back of every street
Tonight we could bring it all down
We could bring it all down
They think this body's a dead note
Dancing to the beat but they'll never see
This corpse coming 'til it kills them
The lyrics to The Dillinger Escape Plan's song, Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants, are charged with vivid imagery, emotion, and satire. The song begins with a message of empathy: "First off let me say you look so tired / Rest your head and shut your eyes." However, the lyrics quickly shift tone, critiquing "empty ambition" and urging the listener to "drop the gown the game's over / Just push your face into the fight." The "stranger's candy" beckons, leading the listener down dark, broken alleys and backstreets. The song speaks to the seductiveness of destruction, the thrill of chaos, and the disillusionment of modern society.
The chorus repeats the phrase "The stranger's candy takes you where / You ought to be / In broken alleys / In the back of every street," driving home the idea that the listener must abandon the constraints of society and venture into the unknown. The lyrics play with the idea of being lost and found, of giving in to temptation and ultimately being destroyed.
Overall, the lyrics to Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants are a powerful commentary on contemporary life, showcasing The Dillinger Escape Plan's signature style of blending complex musical structures with intense, thought-provoking lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
First off let me say you look so tired
The singer acknowledges that the listener appears weary.
Rest your head and shut your eyes
The singer encourages the listener to relax and sleep.
Empty ambition blankets the sky
The singer observes that ambition is lacking in the world.
I'm thinking 'bout another world tonight
The artist is contemplating an alternate reality.
So drop the gown the game's over
The artist wants the listener to stop pretending and face reality.
Just push your face into the fight
The singer urges the listener to confront challenges head-on.
And it breaks my heart like dancing up all night
The singer is emotionally pained like they've danced all night.
Ride so high we both start thinking
The artist suggests that the listener and the artist get high together.
'Bout another world tonight
The artist is again fantasizing about another reality.
And it feels so wrong
The situation feels immoral or abnormal.
Like nothing we've ever felt before
The feeling is unique and unprecedented.
The stranger's candy takes you where
The artist describes the effects of an unknown drug.
You ought to be
The effects of the drug are desirable.
In broken alleys
The singer describes the location where the listener would be taken by the drug.
In the back of every street
The drug leads the listener to hidden places.
Close your eyes tonight, baby
The artist suggests that the listener relax and sleep.
You can have it, ooh baby
The artist offers the listener the drug.
Gnaw me down to the bone
The singer invites something or someone to consume them.
Soon you'll find I'm never
The singer states a fact about their relationship with the listener.
Gonna take you back home
The artist is not going to allow the listener to return to their previous life.
Well there's so much you never told me
The artist is aware that the listener has kept some secrets.
And there's not much I want to know
The artist is not interested in learning those secrets.
Cause your pretty face will do just fine
The singer values the listener's appearance more than their personality or history.
You'll be the star of my every last show
The listener will be the center of attention for the artist's future plans.
Let's go for a long ride
The singer suggests that the listener join them on a journey.
I'll show you places you won't ever want to leave
The singer promises to take the listener to desirable locations.
Tonight we could bring it all down
The singer proposes that they act together to tear things apart.
We could bring it all down
The artist envisions destruction.
They think this body's a dead note
Others underestimate the artist's capabilities.
Dancing to the beat but they'll never see
The singer is acting with hidden intentions.
This corpse coming 'til it kills them
The singer will succeed in their plan regardless of others' perception of them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN ALLEN WEINMAN, GREG PUCIATO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@MANTARD
(Verse 1)
I became for you what you had asked
you're too young to ask outloud
I'm too old to not know that
I can talk like you've not heard
I know weapons
you think words I exposed you to these terms
you still chose to roll unheard
that could work but
not so fast
you're so open
I'm so crass
I'm to weak to hold that back
you still think intrigue will last
you can't imagine of my past
I just can't explain all that
I wish I could trad you're place
so romantic full of faith
I must spare you
I must learn
I refuse to be your first
first to put you in your place
first to make you speed your pace
I'm a man now (good or bad)
you're a girl still, (good for you)
don't think this don't make me sad
this is something I must do
Hook:
keep you own time (leave me be)
trying to spare you (trying to be)
god melodic (man on fire)
coward long gone (all desire)
fuck you raw now (it's my fault)
fuck you raw dog (I can't stop)
should have listened
should have left
I can't stop unless you're dead
it's so simple...open head
I will knit my savage thread
help me help you (walk away)
leave this un-amazing grace
you don't know you from pure disgrace
you still think I'm here to save
I'm not even really here
I can't give what I can't take
what a ride
what a slide under the door
what a score
you think I'm a genius?
I know I'm a whore
what a time
what a climate for our lives
what's in store?
you see live forever
all I see is war
I will pull your hair back
fuck you on the floor
pour myself into the act
poor myself (boo hoo I'm bad)
cause I know that these moments end
but telling you the truth is sad
you deserve the ignorance and bliss that I still wish I had
don't you let me keep you here
don't ignore my greatest fear
I need you to not need me
you need not beleive just flee
I will put myself in side you
find some way to run and hide you
I can't be responsible
do as I say, not as I do
Hook
this is not my ego talking
I know I'm no perfect draw
and I do love the way you lat there
and I do like the way we talk
maybe I'm just condescending
maybe this thing isn't wrong
maybe you should lay right there
put your hands up in the air
[Fades out:]
You still think I'm here to save
this is my type of religion
@C.o.m.m.u.n.i.c.a.t.o.r
First off let me say you look so tired
Rest your head and shut your eyes
Empty ambition blankets the sky
I'm thinking 'bout another world
Tonight, you're right, you're right, you're right
So drop the gown, the game's over
Just push your face into the fight
And it breaks my heart
Like dancing up all night
Ride so high, we both start thinking
'Bout another world tonight
And it feels so wrong
Like nothing we've ever felt before
You're right, you're right, you're right
The stranger's candy takes you where you ought to be
In broken alleys, in the back of every street
Close your eyes tonight
Baby, you can have it
Baby, you can have it
Oh baby, you're on me down to the bone
Soon you'll find I'm never gonna take you back home
Well, there's so much you never told me
And there's not much I wanna know
'Cause your pretty face will do just fine
You'll be the star of my every last show
Let's go for a long ride
I'll show you places you won't ever wanna leave
The stranger's candy takes you where you ought to be
In broken alleys, in the back of every street
Stranger's candy, broken alleys, yeah, tonight
We could bring it all down
We could bring it all down
They think this body's a dead note
Dancing to the beat but they'll never see this corpse
Coming 'til it kills them
@jemimallah
puciato's head wasn't really designed to have hair on it
@antoinefortin6269
HAHAHA
@channingaustin
AGREED lol
@hayes4762
jemimallah I was literally just thinking that, went to comment something along those lines and now I'm laughing my ass off
@diegosepulveda4669
so true
@mynameisthegong
He kind of looks like a mad scientist, which he is.
@jaredhoeft2832
The world never deserved a band this amazing
@HKLegend139
A-fuckin'-men
@kaisaniatan263
YOU’RE RIGHT!!!! YOU’RE RIGHT!!!! YOU’RE RIIIIGGHHHHHTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!
@allistergraham6704
@@LexTNeville wut