Album Review: The Plot In You - First Born

Rise Records like their bands heavy, as evidenced by their latest signing, The Plot in You, but the label has made things interesting, as the band’s debut, the heavy-hitting, hard charging ‘First Born,’ while fairly generic, is intriguing due to the fact that it is a concept album, based on the story of a child abuse victim and the struggles he goes through in life.

The music that comprises the bulk of ‘First Born’ is as you would expect – chugga-chugga riffs that go round and round, that, at times, sound a bit jilted (‘The Fathers Seed,’ ‘Miscarriage’), punishing drumming that attempts to show flashes of technical prowess here and there (‘Bully’ and ‘Rat Poison’), and abrasive, in-your-face vocal work that comes across slightly more dynamic during its clean sessions, as seen on ‘Filth’ and ‘Unwelcome’.

The breakdowns on ‘First Born’ are key, top notch really, proving that The Plot in You might just have the bite to back up their bark, but they can’t make up for the pitfalls of the albums other elements. And the songwriting, while tremendous in keeping up the album’s concept story arch, isn’t anything special for the most part. There are some exceptions to the rule here on ‘First Born’ however, songs like ‘Neighbours’ and ‘Nothing Leaves This Room’ that instill a bit of heart into the record, and in this genre that a lot easier than it sounds.

‘First Born’ is decent for what it is, but in the grand scheme of things, it is an album that eventually will get lost in the shuffle, one that will just fade away into the sea of the copycat acts this scene produces on a daily basis. The good thing for The Plot in You however is, ‘First Born’ shows they have the goods, and shows a promise that there could be room to grow here.

3/5

‘First Born’ by The Plot In You is out now on Rise Records.

The Plot In You on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

Brian Campbell