Although few EP’s get the Classic Albums Revisited treatment here at Ghost Cult, we have to pause and give all to the glory that The Dillinger Escape Plan‘s 1998 short-player Under the Running Board deserves. Their first release for Relapse Records, it not only boosted them to a higher profile as artists, it definitely was a harbinger of what was to come on future Dillinger releases in terms of a further harnessing of their power and experimental leanings.

Once again working with hardcore producer Steve Evetts, Under the Running Board is even leaner than their eponymous 1997 EP, and clocks in at just 7:33 for the three tracks. Early trademarks of screamed vocals, chugging riffs, odd meters and spastic shifts in moods were still there. But there was a definite refinement of style and a lot of growth, all at less than a year after their first efforts.

Ripping off the band-aid with ‘The Mullett Burden’, the sub-two minute riff assault just clobbers you into submission. It still holds up as a powerful tune to this day, with just absurd levels of frenetic beats and crazy guitar licks. Vocalist Dimitri Minakakis’ roaring vocals gave no quarter ot the listener.

‘Sandbox Magician’ is another killer track laden with grooves. Even at the nearly grind tempo achieved at one point, the track has a swing to it. Chris Pennie’s slick stick work is also notable here. The jazzy, minimalist outro is an approach they would revisit in the coming years.

Final track ‘Abe the Cop’ remains a beloved anthem by Dillinger fans. The longest track here, ‘Abe the Cop’ goes through a few different personalities musically. Bassist Adam Doll gets to flex here, especially in the final build-up to the end. The most “metal” of these tracks, the staccato licks just crush and kill, halftime hardcore grooves satisfy that need and flowed well for the times, while Minakakis’ wails away again and again.

The band themselves has called out the importance of EP, with their 10th-anniversary reissue in 2008, complete with a tin of live bonus tracks. They also played the entire EP in sequence at their next to last show ever in 2017 and played ‘Sandbox Magician’ at their final show as well. While the band would scale to higher heights just a short time later, and this release helped smooth the way.

KEITH CHACHKES