Review Summary: Heavy and fast as well as slow-paced and balladic, along with decent riffs and an awesome vocalist/songwriter...The Plot In You brings you their latest release: 'Happiness In Self-Destruction'. This album is a rollercoaster ride journey through real life
So I’ve been sleeping on these guys for ages. I remember when this album dropped back in late 2015 and I recall all the hype that surrounded it at the time. I thought nothing of it originally…boy what a fool I was. This release is the first I heard from Plot, aside from a couple of ‘Wife Beater’ tracks, and I must say that I really fell in love with this album from first listen.
Getting right into the thick of it, the vocals, provided by Landon Tewers, are definitely one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever heard in my life. His versatility and range really give all other modern metalcore front men a run for their money. The transitioning between cleans, growls and screams throughout the album truly are memorable and add a ton of raw emotion to the music. Notably, the vocals in the tracks ‘Time Changes Everything’ & ‘Hole in The Wall’ show off this talent of Tewers’.
Aside from the vocals, the instrumentals are pretty standard, yet they do aid in keeping the composition and structure. I just wish there were a bit more notable guitar riffs or maybe some solos. Don’t get me wrong; the material that is already existent in the mix is great…I really enjoyed it the first few times I listened to this release. However, they just leave me longing to hear more variety. However, I will say that the melodies are very catchy. As a bass player also, I do appreciate that I was able to hear a bit of the bass lines herein this album.
Getting into the tracklisting, there are fifteen (15) songs in total; some being rather soft and poppy ballads (e.g. ‘Better Vibes’ & ‘Take Me Away’), and others being heavy as hell (e.g. ‘Runaway’ & ‘Die Like Your Brothers’). So, all in all, there is something here for almost everyone.
Personally, ‘Time Changes Everything’, ‘Mind Controlled’, ‘Better Vibes’ and ‘Die Like Your Brothers’ are my fave tracks on this album simply because of how well written and catchy they are. The heavier songs hit hard…and the softer songs stay in your mind for ages. The album starts out with a heavy track, then goes into a softer track, then a heavy track and so on. The alteration in between heavy and soft is really groundbreaking to me. I honestly cannot think of a track that I dislike.
The titular song, ‘Happiness in Self-Destruction’, is pretty unique and is also the longest track on this release. Basically, the song’s lyrics relate to an instance in which a man reminisces about how things were back when he was a kid, all the things he did and all the unsavory substances that were abused along with his friend. He expresses remorse and regret for his past actions. Notably, the ending of this album features a quiet little rant by Tewers against his former label Rise Records. You REALLY have to turn the volume up to hear it, but it’s essentially about how Rise was taking advantage of his project along with other artists and the way in which he resents them now.
Finally, the themes of this album discuss mostly real-life subjects such as substance abuse in ‘Happiness in Self-Destruction’ and ‘Pillhead’, overcoming depression and heartbreak in the songs ‘Better Vibes’ and ‘Time Changes Everything’, as well as bringing about change in one’s livelihood.
In conclusion, this album by The Plot In You is one that all fans of metal and core should listen to all the way through at least one time. It really does have almost everything in terms of variety: songs that are both heavy and fast as well as slow-paced and balladic, decent riffs and instrumentals, an awesome vocalist and songwriter, and, arguably…heart & soul. I really do enjoy this album aside from the only nitpick being a slight lacking of guitar technicality in riffage…but that could just be me. This is easily their best and most mature release by miles for me. It’s a great album for sure and a step in the right direction for these guys.
Pros:
- outstanding vocal variety
- raw emotion in every track
- catchy melodies
- very lengthy
- deals great with real-life themes in lyrics
Con(s):
- slight lack of riffs in certain sections
Favourite track: ‘Time Changes Everything’
