As the new year's resolutions fall by the wayside, lucky Australian heavy punters have been spoilt with what could well be one of the most stacked line-ups to hit our shores – a bold call so early on.
However, when an act of the calibre of The Plot In You graces our golden shores with the exceptional talent of not only Fit For A King, but Boundaries and Banks Arcade; hyperbolic statements like the aforementioned hold some significant weight.
With Brisbane (30 January) being the final outing on this leg of the national run, I feel almost cheated that I'm the last of this lucky cohort to witness the poetic carnage this evening will surely ensue.
As a rapidly aging emo, line-ups where all acts are non-negotiable begin to dwindle as the sands of time seemingly collect in these old bones after a week of slaving away at the email factory. However, you better damn-well believe there's not a second of this exceptional line-up I am willing to miss.
One of my undisputed, favourite up-and-coming acts, Banks Arcade kick off the evening. This unique and exciting young band from Melbourne (by way of Auckland) who charismatically – and accurately – describe themselves as a 'heavy metal boyband' have carved a beloved hole into the hearts of many fans locally and abroad over the last several years.
Banks Arcade - image © Clea-marie Thorne
These young gents ooze swagger and deliver a performance jam-packed with bravado and talent to a swelling sea of fans. The only real 'lowlights' of their performance come down to two things: their (understandably) short performance time; and their decision to focus primarily on new tracks from their forthcoming album.
I of course jest; they're just that damn good I cannot wait to see them play more headline shows, more regularly, to more fans.
Our first international act of the evening, Boundaries is another near-staple to the Australian heavy scene at this point in time To put it bluntly, Boundaries have blown up in recent years due to their unavoidable and inexplicable balls-to-the-wall aggression and vibrance.
The Connecticut metalcore monsters are exactly what fans have come to love and expect of modern heavy showstoppers: guitar-forward, abrasive, chaotic, energetic, and a healthy smattering of melodic poise.
Boundaries - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The tempo picks up significantly from the more (dare I say) radio-friendly opening act. While still present through the impressive vocal work put down by drummer Tim Sullivan, melody takes a different form from these hyper-aggressive core-kids.
Still riding high on their 2024 release, 'Death Is Little More', the adoration this tight and syncopated act has garnered is evident through moshpit carnage where bodies flail and fists fly. Never to discredit other high-flyers in the field, it's exciting to see a modern-core band emphasise the heavier proponent of the genre.
As the evening continues to build to crescendo, the packed-to-capacity venue is humming with a buzz of anticipation for the upcoming onslaught of Fit For A King. Arguably one of the heaviest hitters in this beautiful scene we call home, the Texan quintet always stand up and deliver, and tonight is no exception.
We are treated to the incredible vocal prowess of lead vocalist Ryan Kirby and exciting, explosive energy of the human Beyblade, bassist, Ryan 'Tuck' O'Leary. This collective is, and has consistently remained note-perfect (ith the exception of incredibly intentional breaks in Tuck's playing to allow for hang-time and centrifugal rotations), led by exceptional musicianship from guitarist Daniel Gailey.
When envisioning metalcore as a concept, you will ultimately describe this outfit; shredding riffs, even techier lead lines and solos, crushing breakdowns with tight and flourished rhythms, and a delightful blend of both dirty and clean vocals.
Fit For A King - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Into the final endeavour of the evening, a moment I have personally been anticipating since its announcement some ten months ago; the stage is set and the lights are dimmed in preparation for the one and only, genre-defining, emo-core superstars, The Plot In You (TPIY).
This is no record release tour, with TPIY releasing a series of EPs – Vol. 1 through 4 – over the last couple of years. Instead, it's a celebration of their 15-year career with an appropriately diverse set list.
Known for their dynamism as much as their melodic and juxtaposed brutality, vocalist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Landon Tewers delivers heart-wrenching note after pained scream.
The Plot In You - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Launching immediately into 'Don't Look Away', fans are met with crushing guitar chugs and aforementioned pained, raspy vocals backed by thick and driving rhythms. Even in these heavy endeavours, the Midas-touch of Tewers cannot be overstated as the calculated and tasteful peppering of electronic elements acts as the proverbial cherry upon a carefully crafted cake.
The twang of down-tuned guitars continues to emanate throughout the evening as second cab off the ranks 'Divide' maintains a similar intensity, if not tighter and more climactic.
If 'Divide' is any indicator of the enthusiasm from the adoring fans to lend their voices to Tewers' cause, this evening's massive display of adoration is set to only further climb. After what was an incredibly intense introduction to their set, it seems TPIY have opted to shift gear down slightly for flow and continuity, executing flawlessly.
The Plot In You - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Five songs in and a personal favourite of mine – and apparently a huge number of attendees – explodes in melancholic heartbreak as 'The One You Love' slowly and solemnly fills the airwaves. While undoubtedly each of this band's releases has some exceptional tracks, 'Dispose' hits a little bit differently for so many of us in the room.
With this transition, we have smoothly entered the sad-boy mid-section of the set and punters are here for it. Flashlights, the odd lighter, and hundreds of arms are raised in the air in unified swaying as the emotional beats tug at the heartstrings of this symbiotic mass.
'Not Just Breathing' quickly becomes 'Been Here Before' – a certified pop-punk banger – before severely slamming on the breaks for 'Silence'. It's during 'Silence' where Tewers truly shows off his versatility as he playfully asks the crowd to "shut the f... up for a couple minutes," as he takes to a warmly-lit armchair atop the two-tiered stage with nothing more than a microphone and acoustic guitar.
The Plot In You - image © Clea-marie Thorne
He intimately opens the track with as much emotion as expected for such a piece of music as the track builds with stabbing synths, before being met with pounding, driving drums.
Moving into the back third of the set, the intensity begins to (and subsequently remain) high as the band showcases some of their newer tracks before throwing it back some years with 'Time Changes Everything', acknowledging the older fans in crowd with this sonic treat.
Hearing a throwback like this in the mix with a set list comprised mostly of tracks after this particular era is not as much jarring as it is inspiring to see the natural and profoundly appropriate growth.
The evening is rapidly drawing to closure as the throbbing synths of 'Left Behind' fill the concert hall, before being met by the downstrokes of guitar and bass launching into the infectious chorus once again displaying the control and proficiency of Tewers sliding between rasp and sheer beauty effortlessly. It's a demonstration of the control and confidence of a truly seasoned performer.
The Plot In You - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Energy is electric both on and off stage as the evening unsurprisingly climaxes in the epitomisation of this band; 'Feel Nothing'. If this track does not stir something deep within your core, then I truly envy what must be a life filled without heartbreak and desperation.
Evidently, this antithesis of a love song resonates deeply and profoundly in the thousand-plus punters present tonight, as the room echoes in a unified choir of the untrained but enthusiastic.
This emotional and exciting conclusion has satiated that piece of the soul that occasionally asks for a quiet cry in the shower, or to sit quietly below the branches of a tree in the soft breeze to reminisce on the good, bad and otherwise.
After such a cathartic climax; it is only fitting this evening too, comes to an end.
