In case it wasn't clear enough, _Miss Machine_ introduces a very different Dillinger. Although the mathcore mayhem of _Calculating Infinity_ still occupies a seat at the head of the creative table, DEP have taken a more measured and mature approach this time round, juxtaposing liberal amounts of groove against the sonic madness. That is only the half of their progression though. On "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants", new boy Greg Puciato shows off his Patton-esque crooning skills to great effect on a chorus that is as simple as it is mind-bendingly ingenious. There's simmering electronica that leads the listener down the coal-black wind-tunnel of "Phone Home". And, lest one forget -- the (arguable) highlight of the album in the chugging grit of "Van Damsel".

Of course, it's almost unavoidable that ten steps forward for this band are going to equate to twenty steps in the wrong direction for a few elitists -- afraid that -their- band is going to be heard by more than five people. But if burning a few bridges is what it takes to produce something of this extraordinary quality, then I say: "Blowtorches at the ready!"