Ohio-based metalcore powerhouse The Plot in You have had a busy year so far. Coming hot off a huge North American tour supporting Beartooth, and with an imminent European invasion on the cards, the quartet continue their trajectory with the release of their new EP, Vol. 2 via Fearless Records. This project is a follow-up to their highly praised Vol. 1 EP, which dropped in January this year and comprised of three older tracks, including the now fan-favourite Left Behind.
Lead single, Closure builds on the band’s well-established dynamic lore, with lead vocalist and founder Landon Tewers plucking on our heartstrings in his lyrical search for emotional catharsis. Originally teased through the band’s Instagram with the caption Closer to Closure, the track ebbs and flows between dreamy, almost R&B-infused verses, supported by the embellishments of guitarist Josh Childress. Anchored by the rhythmic precision of bassist Ethan Yoder and drummer Michael Cooper, the song progresses to a powerful, yet infectious chorus bound to energize audiences at their upcoming shows.
The crushingly heavy Don’t Look Away is sure to satisfy even the most hardened of the gatekeepers, with its unrelenting pace and grab-you-by-the-face attitude from the get-go. The main hook combines a frenzied wall of noise aided by tasteful stabs of glitches and electronica, driving a pounding pulse while also allowing listeners to instinctively headbang from the outset and throughout. The chorus gives us a chance to breathe, if only for a second, with its halftime feel and the call-and-response vocal line gives off strong Bad Omens vibes.
All That I Can Give feels like a culmination of both EPs, seamlessly combining punchy and syncopated instrumentals with emotionally charged and powerful vocals. This song here exemplifies the stellar production behind the whole project, with double-vocal tracks on top of multi-layered guitar samples – if you listen closely, you can make out pinch harmonics and fuzz runs throughout the chorus line. Compositionally, the band pulls its punches with the verses and interludes sounding introspective and sparser, before they kick in full gear for the grand finale.
A short but rewarding experience, Tewers has reiterated in the past he’d rather forever release EPs and singles so that the fans can indulge in each individual song fully, in the same way the band themselves have when making them. In truth, many of their contemporaries have favoured this artistic direction over the years with the likes of Spiritbox, Falling in Reverse and Down seeing a resurgence in their streaming engagement.
At a time when artists can die on their sword based on digital presence alone, Tewers and co. have cracked the code between releasing high-end content whilst keeping relevant – and judging by their dedicated following, too much of The Plot in You is never enough.
8/10
Standout Tracks: Closure, Don’t Look Away
For Fans Of: Bad Omens, Of Mice & Men, Too Close to Touch
Written by: Dimitris Vasileias
