The Plot In You // Invent Animate // Acres // UK Tour // Live Review // Rock City // Nottingham

The Plot In You // Invent Animate // Acres // UK Tour // Live Review // Rock City // Nottingham

I don the The Plot In You band shirt I bought during the Leeds date. To say I’m a big fan of this band is an understatement. The UK have waited a long time to see The Plot in You grace us with their presence and the time is finally here.

Acres is a British 5-piece and our opener for this tour. The band seems to have a strong fan base already in this area. I can see people singing along and stretching out their hands to the stage. The vocalist announced at the start of their set it was “great to be back.” Fans lost within the pit let out a big cheer as the band commenced their 30-minute set.

The band works so well opening for metalcore audiences that you can’t help be pulled along. No wonder their fanbase has grown so much since securing these insane support slots (my first time seeing them last year when they supported Dayseeker). The band perform amazingly on stage, and the confidence the vocalist has shines through and enables you to listen to every word he says. If he says to sway your hands, you’re going to sway your hands.

It would’ve been great to see more movement from the guitarists, to be fair there are three of them and the guitarist on support vocals was facing the side as I assume they didn’t have room in sound check. Gave an interesting depth to the stage. Just moving around or going to the edge of the stage to pump up the crowd would help you feel that fire from them. To be fair though, a mosh pit did form during the last song (once again showing their popularity within the area. The performance during “My Everything” especially hit you in the gut with its stable vocals and sweet melody accompanied by sick drums.

Invent Animate come on to a droning melodic piano. The American band is set on a mission to convert as many people to their music and they’re doing it successfully. The melodic sequences mixed with the guttural lows and pitch screams are so dirty, that you can’t help but grimace in admiration. You just find yourself frowning whilst you bob your head. The stability of the vocalist on his own is already amazing to witness in person and the beatdown on those drums is something I vibe with. The band’s song “Heavener” going down, especially a treat with the audience.

About midway through the set, the guitarist wanted to challenge the audience to see how many crowd surfers we could get. I lost count of how many people I saw come over the barrier. The influx was insane and this audience was more than ready to show they weren’t afraid to be held in the safe arms of security, as they launched them off the barrier and told them to get out the photo pit.

I always love it when a band puts thought into their state presence. With their all-white outfits and mismatched pieces of white knitwear, Invent Animate managed to put on an incredible show tonight. The crowd were living for it and more than ready to let loose before the headliner of the night, even singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the drummer of the band. I imagine Invent Animate will be long-awaited in the UK, like The Plot in You Were, once this tour ends.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting. The sound of “Country Roads Take Me Home” started to play.

The Plot in You came on, opening with their song “Don’t Look Away”. As soon as that first lyric hit- confetti filled the room and fluttered down to the sick beatdown of the drums. The crowd erupted into an insane scream, as hands reached up to catch confetti and the band made their presence known. The vocals hit immediately, even listening to the song on something like Spotify. Imagine it in person.

The fanbase The Plot in You has in the UK is nothing short of impressive. The band originally sold out rescue rooms, a 450 capacity, and upgraded to Rock City, a 2k cap venue. I can see fans dotted around the venue already donning their merch tees. There’s like a sense of pride to The Plot in You fans. It’s no doubt that this band are one of the most innovative in metalcore, at the moment. They continue to reach new levels with each new single and visuals they release. Peak. They’re peak.

The presence of the band is a crazy one to analyse. The guitarists switch sides but never really interact with the audience. The vocalist offers words of praise and commands now and then, like when he asked for more surfers and about 15 came at once. They have such a way of captivating the audience you can’t look away. Pardon the pun. The band had Invent Animate’s vocalist joining them on stage at one point before they wrapped and once they did, the crowd chanted “two more songs”. Because we all know the setlist now, so let’s get this game of peekaboo over, I want to hear “Feel Nothing”.

The Plot In You is a band that have been in the scene for a while but has blown up to an insane level during the past 2 years. The sound the band brought to Metalcore is refreshing with its raw vocals and grit with almost hardcore beatdowns. Keep an eye out, as the band have been trickle-feeding us the odd single and EPs the past year that an album is probably on the horizon. Invent Animate recently released their definitive version of their 2023 album “Heavener”, but no plans to tour the album in the UK…yet. Acres will finish touring with The Plot In You in Europe and then have more tour dates coming up.

Review & Photography – Jayne Slater