Greg Puciato really needs a holiday. The enigmatic vocalist of New Jersey mathcore outfit The Dillinger Escape Plan, who have just released their fifth studio album, hasn’t had a holiday in “like, fucking ever”.
After wrapping the latest offering, One Of Us Is The Killer, the band’s characteristic perfectionism closed any opportunities to snatch some extended downtime.
“I wanted to party for weeks, that was a goal, I wanted to go on vacation, so I really wanted to go somewhere for once that wasn’t for going on tour, like Hawaii or Mexico or somewhere for ten days, and turn my phone off and not take my laptop…or at least go on some kind of bender!” the effortlessly disarming singer laughs, speaking to Tone Deaf from Wisconsin, where the chaotic rockers are on their first headlining American tour in three years.
“I didn’t get to do any of that,” the singer laments, “because we took so long to record, and went way past our deadlines.”
“I thought it was going to break me down, I was telling a friend of mine, there’s no way I can go on tour right now, and live and breathe Dillinger Escape Plan without having a fucking breakdown.”
It’s no wonder Puciato harboured such worries given the exhaustion he and fellow band members, guitarists Ben Weinman and James Love, bassist Liam Wilson, and drummer Billy Rymer, are subject to. “We really try not to read reviews, we try not to pay too much attention to whether people like us or dislike us, or whether we’re popular or whether we’re not popular, because those things corrupt you artistically.” – Greg Puciato
Helmed by long-time producer Steve Evetts, the new album took four months to produce 40 minutes of music, with daily 12-hour sessions. Such application is reflective of their artistic worldview – one of collaborative purity, uncontaminated by external expectations.
“We stay really insular you know? We really try not to read reviews, we try not to pay too much attention to whether people like us or dislike us, or whether we’re popular or whether we’re not popular, because those things corrupt you artistically.”
Puciato is open about his lyrical predispositions, known for their poetic brutality, piercing depth, and reference to relationships and wrongdoing. The latest album is no exception.
When it is suggested the “killer” in the title is a reference to himself or Weinman, he agrees wholeheartedly.
“I had a couple of relationships in my life that were very important and at the time, very co-dependent, and self-destructing at an alarming rate and that was one of them. I think that record, writing the record together, allowed us both to understand our own roles in the deterioration of our personal relationship, and it fixed it immediately,” the singer reflects.
“The whole record to me is kind of about understanding decay, understanding your role in the deterioration of something important, even if it seems like it’s the other person’s fault, you have to assume 50% each.”
While he discusses, with somewhat reserved intensity, the importance of music to him as an expressional canvas, the singer has not always gotten away with using his personal life for raw material.
He remembers when his ex-fiancée was upset by 2010 album Option Paralysis: “Some of the songs on that record referenced that relationship fairly heavily… when it came out, she was kind of like, what the fuck?” he laughs. “But you know, if you date someone that makes art, you kind of go into that with a silent contract that you might get used as material. I’m not writing products, I’m writing my life.”
The singer’s relationship with his lyrics is a multi-dimensional affair. He remarks there are numerous messages within all Dillinger records that only a handful of individuals, close to him, will understand.
Case in point is the brief jam track on the new album, curiously titled ‘CHE 375 268 277 ARS’. “If you date someone that makes art, you kind of go into that with a silent contract that you might get used as material. I’m not writing products, I’m writing my life.” – Greg Puciato
“Those numbers are a code, it’s a secret message to a friend of mine…I’ll never say anything about who it’s about, the person who is supposed to get it, does,” he cryptically notes. “I feel like it’s kind of an enigmatic song, there’s no lyrics, there’s no vocals, so kind of a perfect song to give a weird code name to.”
Such creative license manifested in more playful ways recently. The convenience of recording in Los Angeles meant a handful of “much bigger than us” musicians were able to ‘contribute’ to the album, through a single hit of a tambourine or a cymbal, on certain songs.
“I really don’t like the way people treat their art like products, it really doesn’t sit well with me… [so] we thought it would be hilarious to have those people do things they weren’t really well known for,” he says with casual amusement.
As for “real collaboration” – it doesn’t look like Puciato will be able to take that holiday any time soon. He is continuing work on The Black Queen, a melodic, electronic side project with Josh Eustis (Puscifer, Nine Inch Nails) and begins recording with Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and Brazilian metal demigod Max Cavalera in September.
For now, Puciato is focused on the band’s hectic touring schedule throughout the U.S. and set to hit Europe in June. He tentatively suggests December for a visit down under – and gives a glowing review of his Aussie fans.
“Honestly, I really do think you guys are just the raddest people on earth. We always felt like you guys understood, a little bit more, what we were doing. It’s really refreshing to go down there,” he enthuses.
The feeling is mutual. At Dillinger’s 2012 Sydney Soundwave set, a fan passed ice-cream to Puciato on stage after he said how hot it was.
Puciato remembers the incident and laughs when asked what flavour he would like next time, initially answering “cookies and cream” before enthusiastically revising his preference.
“No – you know what I’ve really been into lately? Green tea. Green tea ice cream is the shit, so get me green tea. When we come to Australia, I’m expecting a bevy of green tea ice cream.”
One Of Us Is The Killer is out now through Party Smasher/BMG. Available through iTunes, online, and all good record stores.
