LIVE FROM THE PIT: The Plot In You, Currents, Saosin and Cane Hill

Emotional metal has never felt better. THE PLOT IN YOU brought the very best sad metal bands America has over with them on this European tour. With numerous sold out dates and all others getting close to selling out, the fans across the continent have been showing their love for all bands on the lineup. Heavy feelings and heavier breakdowns was the theme of the tour and it delivered on all fronts to massive success.

CANE HILL are regulars on the UK scene despite hailing from the swamps of Louisiana. The metalcore mob loves it across the pond, saying it every time they are over here. As their set started, an alarm sounding as their set began was all the more motivation for them to play even louder. Ripping into the colossal opening riff of 2020’s Power Of The High got the crowd moving instantly. The set focused primarily on the songs of their most recent album a piece of me i never let you find., and playing through half of the tracks on the album went down great with the crowd, bringing with them the energy and belting the lyrics back at vocalist ELIJAH WITT. If you are familiar with CANE HILL sets, you know about them getting “slutty” and dedicating a slower song “to the fellas”. Closing out their set with The Midnight Sun, they left the crowd in great spirits for the rest of the night. If CANE HILL are a band you are not keeping a close eye on, you are missing out. The self proclaimed “sad metal band” are doing big things and keep growing stronger with everything they do.

SAOSIN are juggernauts of the post-hardcore scene. Having been around since 2003, they are veterans of the game, but have not lost any of their passion over the years. Nineteen years after the release of their self-titled album - sorry if that makes you feel old, the songs are still getting a huge reaction. Opening with the iconic Sleepers brought out big cheers from the crowd and hoards of people singing along to every word. That energy from the crowd was matched by the band. Rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist BEAU BURCHELL was beaming from ear to ear throughout the set, whilst both him and lead vocalist COVE REBER were having a lot of fun with fan interactions between songs, as well as making sure everyone knew the correct pronunciation for the band name. Playing You’re Not Alone, REBER was emotional because of the overwhelming love the crowd showed for a song that is so meaningful to him. Closing out with the iconic Seven Years from their 2003 debut EP Translating The Name left the crowd wanting more great music and ready for the rest of the night. Even now, SAOSIN are still as strong as ever and ready for more years of greatness.

CURRENTS are a band that have gone through many lineup changes, but that monumental feeling that makes them who they are has prevailed - even without any founding members remaining in the band. The band embarked on this tour off the back of releasing their latest EP All That Follows on Halloween, which gave a lot of the tracks a live debut. The crowd were loving hearing new music with a huge pit erupting throughout the whole set. Bodies flying everywhere pumped up the band to use the whole stage and encourage more movement from the crowd. The audience responded by having a sea of surfers coming over the top at all times. Vocalist BRIAN WILLE had command of the crowd, using hand gestures to separate the pit, ready for it to fly into action for the breakdowns. This latest EP and run of shows is proof that they are stronger than ever and still constantly growing as a band. They left the crowd full of energy and very ready for the headline of the night.

THE PLOT IN YOU are a band that should need no introduction, having been going strong and growing since their formation in 2010. In the fifteen years of their existence, founder and vocalist LANDON TEWERS has been putting his heart into the band, which has paid off by the band being a huge success. Setting off on this European tour with many sold out shows is a proof that the Ohio band has a loyal following across the world. A lot of attention to detail has gone into every aspect of their live shows with elaborate staging that added a great atmosphere to the set. Opening the set with Don’t Look Away from Vol. 2 brought the crowd to life from the visceral opening scream of TEWERS, with the crushing riff from guitarist JOSH CHILDRESS hitting straight after, sending the moshers into a frenzy. Following it up with Divide from Vol. 1 gave a chance for singing along as well as chaotic pits.

In 2024, the band released 9 tracks through 3 EP releases as part of their Vol. series. These songs were a key focus of the set, which the fans were loving. Going back to their beloved 2018 album Dispose for THE ONE YOU LOVED slowed down the moshers but got everyone in the room singing along. The set slowed down most when TEWERS sat down on a wooden chair, illuminated only by a lamp above his head, to play acoustically and get everyone in their feelings for the bands latest single Silence.

The rest of the band joined him on stage one by one for the big finish of the song which had the crowd loud and emotional. The band closed out the night on the viral sensation FEEL NOTHING, which made the crowd give every last bit of energy they had left. The room was bouncing from front to back and by the end of the song there was a feeling of euphoria in the air. Complete strangers who will never see each other again were embracing because they knew that together they had just witnessed something spectacular. You are doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t seen THE PLOT IN YOU live. It’s more than just a show, it’s a narrative and emotional journey you will never forget.

Words: Alex Long

Photos: Tyler Whiting