Live Review: The Plot In You, Invent Animate and Acres | Electric Ballroom, London | 06/09/2024
Acres
Acres took the stage at a sold-out Electric Ballroom in Camden, setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable night. With headliners The Plot in You on the bill, the anticipation was electric, and by 6:30 pm, the queue had already wrapped around the block. When Acres kicked off at 7:30 sharp, they wasted no time launching into their first heavy track, and the crowd—many already donning Acres merch—was fully engaged from the start.
For someone experiencing the band for the first time, it was a revelation. Acres’ ability to shift between melodic clarity and crushing aggression was impressive. Their frontman’s seamless transition between clean, emotive vocals and powerful screams highlighted their versatility. The energy in the room escalated with each song, with pits forming early on, and even some walls of death erupting during the breakdowns of mid-set tracks.
As the set progressed, the band dialled up the intensity. The final two songs were particularly heavy, pushing the crowd into full headbang mode, and the atmosphere became electric. Their closer, easily the most intense track of the night, was the perfect way to wrap things up, leaving a lasting impact.
Invent Animate
As the atmospheric intro music filled the room, it was clear that Invent Animate’s set was going to be something special. Their entrance was dramatic, with the entire band dressed in coordinated white outfits and bathed in beams of light, creating an ethereal and almost otherworldly vibe, almost like angels descending from the skies, that visual quickly got contrasted by the heaviness of their first track. They wasted no time launching into their opener, ‘Sleepless / Deathbed’, a crushingly heavy track that immediately got the crowd moving. The energy in the room shifted instantly—mosh pits broke out, and the audience was already yelling every word to the song.
From there, the intensity only grew as the band ripped into ‘Shade Astray’ and ‘False Meridian’. The fans, decked out in band merch, were making human waves in the pit as it became increasingly chaotic, the view from the balcony was quite something. What stood out was how seamlessly Invent Animate transitioned between heavy, breakdown-laden tracks and more melodic, emotionally charged songs.
Tracks like ‘How We Used to Say Goodbye’, ‘Purity Weeps’, and ‘Heavener’ showcased their ability to weave clean, spectral vocals into their heavier sound, creating a layered and immersive experience. The band’s use of lighting played a big part in this. The spectral vibe of the lights reflecting off the white-clad band members and their interaction with the music created a carefully crafted atmosphere that drew everyone deeper into the performance, truly a feast for the eyes.
As the set came to a close, Invent Animate delivered a one-two punch with ‘Without a Whisper’ and ‘Immolation of Night’, sending the crowd into a frenzy with a final, bone-crushing wall of death. With a perfect balance of heavy and melodic, Invent Animate proved to be a brilliant pick to open for The Plot in You, leaving the crowd exhilarated and hungry for more.
The Plot In You
No one could’ve predicted that The Plot in You would kick off the night with a sing-along to ‘Take Me Home,Country Roads’, but it certainly got the crowd hyped. Not that they needed any extra help. Originally booked for O2 Islington, the demand was so high that they were upgraded to the larger Electric Ballroom—and they sold it out with ease.
Opening their set (and first UK date for this tour) with a bang, they dropped ‘Don’t Look Away’, complete with a confetti blast that set the tone for what was to come. The energy was electric as they seamlessly rolled into ‘Divide’, ‘All That I Can Give’, and ‘Face Me’, delivering a masterclass in balancing old and new material. The crowd was completely hooked, feeding off the unmatched energy pouring from the stage.
While The Plot in You’s new music doesn’t always lend itself to the usual chaos of moshpits, that didn’t stop the packed crowd from erupting in some as well as crowdsurfing. There was no shortage of raised hands, headbanging, and people singing every lyric. The band’s stunning light show and carefully crafted color schemes only amplified the atmosphere, perfectly complementing Landon’s commanding, raw vocals. It was a high-energy party, but also deeply emotional at times, particularly during tracks like ‘The One You Loved’.
As the night continued, they hit us with ‘Crows’, a track from 2016 (which isn’t their most popular one but definitely a fan favourite), the lyrics of this song are extremely intense, which is why at the end of this song Landon laughed and said “there’s a lot of sick motherfuckers in here tonight” or something along those words, which definitely got a giggle out of me. Up next came Paradigm, and their newest track Been Here Before—which the crowd was already singing word for word, you could tell everyone did their homework prior to that night. Their long-awaited comeback was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, especially as they brought out fan-favorites like Forgotten, Enemy, and Closure.
The highlight was a special guest appearance from Invent Animate’s frontman on Left Behind, before the band left the stage for a very much expected encore. Returning with a soft send-off via Disposable Fix, they saved the best for last, ending the night with the highly anticipated Feel Nothing, capped off with another confetti explosion.
From start to finish, this set was nothing short of incredible—a perfect mix of energy, emotion, and pure artistry.
The night was perfectly balanced with each band bringing their own unique style. Acres kicked things off with their dynamic mix of soaring vocals and crushing heaviness, getting the crowd warmed up. Invent Animate followed, captivating the audience with their ethereal melodies and intense breakdowns, setting the stage for the headliners. Finally, The Plot in You delivered a powerful, emotionally charged set, seamlessly blending old favorites and new hits. Together, the bands created an unforgettable experience, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement. One of the best gigs I have attended this year.