American metalcore band The Plot In You has finally returned to the United Kingdom after their 2022 European headliner. This time, they played five dates across the country, starting in London and finishing the leg at SWX, Bristol, where we were lucky enough to witness their energetic and powerful stage presence, as well as hear several new releases from their highly anticipated EP trilogy.
On September 10th, doors opened at 7pm, and despite the horrendous weather conditions, fans were already queuing hours before entry. The lineup featured two other bands, with British act Acres opening the show. Since last reviewing Acres back in May on the Resolve’s ‘Human’ tour, the band has released a new single titled ‘Lost,’ which made an appearance on tonight’s setlist. They’ve also made some updates to their stage outfits—most notably vocalist Ben Lumber’s blazer, detailing a handwritten design and the words ‘what it’s like to feel worthless’ across the back, which is possibly a reference to the song’s lyrics.
They played a short but fun setlist that surely got the audience moving, with the front few rows headbanging in unison. I overheard some crowd members praising drummer Konnor Walsh’s performance in particular, who delivered an impressive and steadfast beat throughout the set. Acres successfully drove the momentum of the performance with their melodic guitar parts and passionate vocals, seamlessly setting the tempo and atmosphere for the night with consistent strength throughout the tour.
Next up was Invent Animate, hailing all the way from Texas. This American band certainly kicked the event up a notch. Their energy on stage was palpable and instantly reciprocated by a more vibrant crowd, with the addition of several crowd surfers, causing the venue to erupt into a flurry of movement. On stage, the band’s attention to detail in their live presence was evident, from the background graphics to their coordinated white embellished outfits. They were definitely eye-catching, if not captivating musically.
Invent Animate’s setlist featured several songs from their latest album Heavener, including the title track itself. They ended their set with an ambitious ‘Bristol Wall of Death,’ as vocalist Marcus Vik dubbed it, where the entire floor was encouraged to split in two. The audience complied and delivered on this command, meeting in the middle with an abundance of energy, which was met with another powerfully delivered breakdown from the band. This earned the group a well-deserved, passionate round of applause before they left the stage.
Last, but not least, The Plot In You took the stage. The eagerness of the crowd instantly intensified with the pre-show playlist encouraging everyone to sing along, as echos of ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ filled the room. Moments after, vocalist Landon Tewers entered with a brutal scream, launching into the opener ‘Don’t Look Away,’ accompanied by confetti blasting from the stage.
The venue immediately erupted into a frenzy of activity—head banging, crowd surfing, pushing in the pit, jumping, and yelling lyrics as loud as possible. Every segment showcased the audience’s enthusiasm and appreciation for the setlist. The band played songs from their newest releases, alongside several fan favourites and older tracks like ‘Crows’ from 2016 and ‘Time Changes Everything’ from 2015. Throughout the set, they remained consistent and captivating to watch, and the audience in turn never missed a moment to reflect that energy, most noticeably at the end of the set. After the crowd filled the encore with chants for two additional songs, The Plot In You played ‘Feel Nothing,’ and Tewer’s vocals were almost drowned out by the voices of the audience.
After tonight’s performance, The Plot In You is set to embark on the European leg of their tour, bringing this show to the doorsteps of fans in The Netherlands and Germany. Tonight’s performance alone makes it clear that they are worth all the attention. If the multiple sold-out dates on this tour are not a testament to their popularity, then experiencing this live for yourself is highly recommended.
Written by: Daniel Wilkes
Photographed by: Daniel Wilkes
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
