If you're looking for the UK's version of The Starting Line, look no further. While Midlands-based Plot Against Paris aren't quite at the level of Kenny Vasoli's crew, PAP certainly wear their TSL influences on their sleeve. This four track EP is well produced, slick and sounds a lot like those melodic rock/pop-punk bands like Sherwood and Cartel that seem to be well supported by many PT readers. And the fact of the matter is that if you like those bands, then you will probably like Plot Against Paris too.
I'll get the negatives out of the way first. If you like your music to be emotive and passionate, PAP aren't really the band for you. The vocals, for me, aren't powerful enough and so there's a real lack of belief here. You listen to Will from Cartel and there's a power and soul in his vocals that make you want to sing along. But here, while the vocals are definitely solid and hit the right notes, there's not the same impact. They don't pull the listener in in the same way. It's not a major fault, just something I feel the band could work at and improve on. The second complaint is that PAP do sound very samey; not quite in a heard-it-all-before way, but certainly in a sense that this genre doesn't have much diversity and Plot Against Paris don't break the mould.
Reading this back, it does sound like I'm being overly negative, so bear with me. The two major criticisms I've made aim to be constructive, because if the band work on them there's no reason why they cannot forge a career in the music industry. They do have all the right elements for this kind of music - the songs are there, the structures solid and the production is decent too. It doesn't take too long for the band to make an impact - if the vocals were a bit more intense the chorus of 'Capo Del-Monte' sould be a keeper. Not afraid to try and hit home with big, all-singing, all-dancing choruses, the band aim for singalongs throughout, and while they don't always hit the mark, at least they're aiming in the right direction. Closer 'Pure Bravado' is possibly the best track here, showing Plot Against Paris have plenty of promise - some spit and polish honing their mistakes could make them a decent prospect indeed.
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