The Plot in You brings catharsis and collapse to Oakdale Theatre
On September 6, Connecticut’s skies were restless in the hours leading up to The Plot in You’s show at the Oakdale Theatre. Thunder, lightning, and storms across the state forced plenty of late-summer outdoor concerts into cancellation. Inside the Dome at Oakdale, the atmosphere still carried an electric charge as New England’s metal fans refused to let the weather hamper their drive for a line up as heavy as this.
WINDWAKER
Windwaker, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, wasted no time making their mark. Their blend of metalcore heaviness and layered textures hit hard, driven by a frontman in constant motion. For an opener, the response was impressive, as fans still trickling into the venue were met with immediate energy that set the tone for the rest othe night.
INVENT ANIMATE
Following their Australian tourmates, Texas metalcore heavyweights Invent Animate took the stage. I had selfishly been looking forward to this set, as my friends had been hyping their performances all summer. They they weren’t exaggerating. Where Windwaker came in raw and restless, Invent Animate leaned into a more polished aesthetic. Frontman Marcus Vik stepped out in white, a calm figure before unleashing a hellstorm on fans.
Their progressive metalcore thrives on patience. Slowing songs to near stillness before dropping into intricate riffs. And live it translated very well. Vik’s stark look carried a kind of cult-leader aura, fitting for a performance that had the crowd completely under its spell.
NORTHLANE
By the time Northlane hit the stage, the Dome was packed and the crowd already warmed up, surfers making their third or fourth trips overhead. Among the people I’d been chatting with: some familiar faces from the Architects’ NYC date last month and a trio of friends who came in from everywhere but Connecticut!
Northlane are veterans now, another Australian export who have carved out a sound all their own. Their frontman came out in a striking red outfit, almost a nod to Freddie Mercury (and yes, it worked). Security stayed busy with a constant wave of surfers, yet the vibe never dipped. It really was chaos with camaraderie. Between songs I noticed four guys in the pit, most likely strangers at the start of the night, now sweating and smiling, shoulder-to-shoulder. It was a tangible reminder of how heavy music forges connection.
THE PLOT IN YOU
By the time The Plot in You stepped on stage, the night already felt full enough to call the concert complete. Yet they elevated it further, structuring their set with a pacing that only comes from a band fully in tune with their audience. Casual fans may not have noticed, but the show unfolded in four distinct acts. The entire set was intentional in the way it carried the crowd the various stages of emotional release and restraint.
The most striking moment came when Landon sat beneath a single standing lamp, acoustic guitar in hand, and delivered “Silence,” a new track set to release this Friday, September 12. The shift in tempo was abrupt change in tempo, stripped down and intimate. It reminded metalcore fans of just how layered and emotionally grounded their music is. As the lamp dimmed, the band returned with “Forgotten,” and the pit exploded.
The most striking moment of the entire show?
Landon sitting beneath a single standing lamp, acoustic guitar in hand, delivering “Silence,” a new track set to release September 11.
PLOT IN YOU SET LIST
ACT ONE
Spare Me
Divide
Pretend
Paradigm
BOUNDARIES
The One You Loved
Face Me
Not Just Breathing
Been Here Before
ACT THREE
Silence
Forgotten
Don’t Look Away
Closure
ACT FOUR
Time Changes Everything
Left Behind
Feel Nothing
