in 1998 the band wrote and recorded an ep titled "under the running board". during this time period, the dillinger escape plan gained notoriety in the hardcore punk scene for the intensity of their performances which were increasingly wild, and often violent. these features, as well as the creative, technical approach of their music led a record executive of relapse records to offer the band a multi-record contract. shortly after the ep, rhythm guitarist john fulton left the band to focus on his computer programming studies.