Music these days has become awfully hard to categorize, if that's the kind of thing you're into. With so many genres, who can tell who where what goes? Finally, this "genrification," as I call it, has met its ultimate match in a band called Dillinger Escape Plan. Why try and classify a band that in only four tracks can bring in elements of jazz, hardcore, punk, bossanova, metal, Viking rowing songs, and finally good ol' Rock N' Roll?

The new EP, released on Epitaph Records and titled "Irony is a Dead Scene" is the end result of a collaboration with former Faith No More frontman and musical madman Mike Patton. The band, whose original singer departed sometime last year, had long been in contact with Patton to put something together, and what they finally came up with is possibly the world's first hardcore symphany.

Beginning on the blistering "Hollywood Squares", the CD retains a frenetic pace throughout even its quiet moments. "Pig Latin," the second track, is possibly the most schizophrenic on the CD, with a million changes in the mood and tempo of the song and Patton's percussive vocal track with seems at times to pummel the listener into time with the songs. Track three, the comically titled "When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" begins with Patton alone screaming "I'm the best you'll ever have" and keeps up a certain level of intensity until about the mid point of the six-minute song when it slows down considerably and lapses into a softer beat with Patton's best bass voice lulling the listener into a false sense of security. That is, until the song picks up again 15 seconds later, finally slowing to a false ending with a graceful fade, followed by an ultra-heavy shout at the end. Finally, the last track, "Come to Daddy" a cover of the 1997 Aphex Twin single, could possibly one of the most disturbing songs I've ever heard: it begins with guitarists Brian Benoit and Benjamin Weinman laying a backdrop for Patton's vocals, a very whispery, wind-like sound this time continually saying "I want your soul/ I will eat your soul." You definitely have to hear it for yourself.

Of course, all of the members of the band are absolute beasts at their own instruments, drummer Chris Pennie is one of the brightest drummers alive right now, with his ability to match the insane time signatures set forth by guitarists Benoit and Weinman. Also, bassist Liam Wilson lays down a very, very solid low end and keyboards/samplers man Adam Doll unwaveringly provides a ton of atmosphere to the band's already impressive music.

All in all, Patton fits in incredibly well with this unbelievably talented band. The EP flows very well, up to the very end, with "Come to Daddy," which, while it's a great song, doesn't meet the tone of the rest of the album as well as it should. If you haven't heard Dillinger Escape Plan and enjoy heavy music with some kind of brains, check them out.