Now departed from Relapse Records, tech-core riff masters The Dillinger Escape Plan have begun a "creative umbrella" under French avant-metal label Season of Mist. Option Paralysis, only its fourth full-length album, finds the band continuing to perfect the sound that has evolved since the exit of original singer Dimitri Minakakis (after Calculating Infinity) and original drummer Chris Pennie (after Miss Machine).

The result is an album that is similar in feel to Ire Works, its previous album, but one that relatively scales back the ornate instrumental complements to emphasize the aural punishment. The pizzicato strings that appeared on Ire Works make a brief cameo at the beginning of "Gold Teeth on a Bum," yet the stirring piano ballads make as many or more appearances — notably as the crux of the beautiful and briefly jazzy "Widower" and as the coda of "I Wouldn't if You Didn't."

"Farewell, Mona Lisa," the disc's opener, is an epic jam that combines most of the band's crucial elements — molten rhythms, jaw-shattering power chords, and harmonic choruses. After another half hour of assaulting listeners, Option Paralysis then closes with one of the band's best songs, "Parasitic Twins," which makes use of a piano-pop bridge and a hot-blooded rock-and-roll outro.

Like any DEP album, Option Paralysis becomes more and more enjoyable with subsequent listens. Whether or not this vies to be the band's best album, The Dillinger Escape Plan proves again that it is utterly peerless.

The Dillinger Escape Plan: "Farewell, Mona Lisa"
The Dillinger Escape Plan: \"Farewell, Mona Lisa\"

J.G. Thirlwell: Manorexia: The Mesopelagic Waters (Tzadik)

A man of many aliases, J.G. Thirlwell is the mastermind behind the unclassifiable industrial oddities of the Foetus moniker and all its incarnations. His instrumental work, which strongly calls upon classical and big-band orchestrations, also has taken many forms, including Manorexia, Steroid Maximus, and the soundtrack for The Venture Bros. TV show.

Whereas Steroid Maximus and the Venture Bros. music veer towards spy noir and cinematic sounds, the sample-based Manorexia material trends towards spacier, textured, celestial works that drift in and out of dark chamber pieces. On The Mesopelagic Waters, Thirlwell's first release under this name since 2002, the Manorexia back catalog is re-imagined and reconfigured with the help of a live string quartet and percussion ensemble.

Ultimately, many pieces are as tranquil or sorrowful as their originals, but a stronger sense of drama is present throughout the album. "Zithromax Jitters" is a pulsing, pounding rendition with sporadic piano accompaniment that is even darker than its first version.

Thirlwell's adventure into the world of avant-classical composition has drawn well-earned praise, and the Australian native just debuted his second piece for the Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall. With another studio album of Manorexia material and a new Foetus release slated for later this year, Thirlwell is staying as prolific as ever.

J.G. Thirlwell: "Zithromax Jitters"
J.G. Thirlwell: \"Zithromax Jitters\"

Autechre: Oversteps (Warp)

For years, many have remarked upon the esoteric nature of Autechre, an English electronic duo that has captivated as well as puzzled listeners, particularly as it evolved into its complex brand of IDM.

A common generalization of Autechre is that its creations are atonal noise, but refined listeners will note that its melodies are subtle and elongated, often teeming below a blippy or abrasive surface. The music is as dependent on atmosphere as on what can seem like chaos. Other times, melodies are front and center, such as for the twinkling sounds of "See on See."

Regardless, Oversteps is inaccessible to those not in search of otherworldly sounds and tricky rhythms. For those who can dig it, however, Autechre remains as genius and unique as ever.

Autechre: "Known(1)"
Autechre: \"Known(1)\"

John Zorn / The Dreamers: Ipos: The Book Of Angels vol. 14 (Tzadik)

As the third release by The Dreamers, Ipos continues John Zorn's expansive Book of Angels, his second Masada songbook that features 300 songs written in just three months.

The material that Zorn has written for The Dreamers is some of his most accessible, calling upon tropical, exotica, Latin, surf, and film styles to craft a serene musical journey. The sextet, which does not utilize Zorn as a player, receives key contributions from vibraphonist Kenny Wollessen and guitarist Marc Ribot, whose instruments are key to the relaxed style.

]Honorable Mentions

Bonobo: Black Sands (Ninja Tune)

High Places: High Places vs. Mankind (Thrill Jockey)

Joe Zawinul & Absolute Ensemble: Absolute Zawinul (Sunnyside)

Kid606: Songs About Fucking Steve Albini (Important)

Jamie Saft: Soundtracks (Tzadik)

Serena Maneesh: S-M 2: Abyss in B Minor (4AD)

Twelve Cups Records, the new label run by avant-garde violinist Carla Kihlstedt, has issued its first release. Titled Ravish (and Other Tales for the Stage), the album is a collection of music for theater and dance written by Kihlstedt, bassist Dan Rathbun, and drummer Matthias Bossi — each a member of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

The Dillinger Escape Plan has hired Billy Rymer (of The Rivalry) as its new drummer, replacing Gil Sharone, who will resume focusing on Stolen Babies with his brother Rani.

Beautiful electro-acoustic duo Lymbyc Systym begins a European tour today.

The Alex Skolnick Trio, an experimental jazz group led by Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick, has announced a short series of show dates, mostly in California. Skolnick's trio focuses on original pieces but also includes jazz renditions of rock and metal songs, including Testament's "Practice What You Preach."

After performing in France on New Year's Day, risque music/dance troupe Extra Action Marching Band returns to the Bay Area to play at The Uptown in Oakland on January 24.

Rock cellist Helen Money (the solo moniker of Alison Chesley) just finished a new album at Electrical Audio. Details of its release are forthcoming.

Video-game/metal experimentalists Horse the Band will begin recording a new album in March, likely with Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart at the boards. The album should be released in May or June on an unrevealed new label.

One of jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark's upcoming recordings is a disc of live and studio improvisations with German saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson. The group, Sonore, will have the album released in fall of 2009 on an undetermined label.

The request of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) to appeal the retrial of Jammie Thomas has been denied. Thomas was deemed liable for $222,000 in damages in 2007 for sharing 24 songs on Kazaa, but the same judge ruled months ago that the initial case was a mistrial. A new trial is set for March 9.