Band: THE PLAN
For fans of: North Of America, Faraquet, The Holy Shroud, Blue Youth, The Mark Inside, Girl Arm, Left Hand Cuts The Right, At The Drive In, For The Mathematics, Hey Predator!, Christiansen, Q And Not U, and Life In Vacuum.
Genres: Punk / Rock / Indie / Math Rock / Angular Rock / Post-Hardcore
For fans of: North Of America, Faraquet, The Holy Shroud, Blue Youth, The Mark Inside, Girl Arm, Left Hand Cuts The Right, At The Drive In, For The Mathematics, Hey Predator!, Christiansen, Q And Not U, and Life In Vacuum.
Genres: Punk / Rock / Indie / Math Rock / Angular Rock / Post-Hardcore
Related artists: North Of America, The Holy Shroud, A History Of, Cold Warps, Prisoners, Equation Of State, FYM, Thrush Hermit, Essen, Kestrels, Savant Garde, State Champs, The Art Ensemble Of Halifax, The Got To Get Got, Led By Regret, Thundrah, The Breakup, Ronny Howl, The Motes, Recyclone, and Buck65.
Country: Halifax, Nova Scotia CANADA
Years Active: 1999-2002
Years Active: 1999-2002
Label(s): Self Released / Matlock Records / Rewika Records / The Jesus Sanchez Endeavour
For a very, very long time I've been obsessed with both North Of America and The Holy Shroud due to being a Level Plane fanatic in the 2000s. Quick backstory: Level Plane released all the best screamo back in the 2000s so I followed their catalogue religiously and picked up on these sick, jangly, angular math-rock/post-punk bands. So how, how in the actual fuck, did I miss THE PLAN? Featuring members of both bands and straight up sounding like them too, this 2023 discovery sent me down a rabbit hole I thought was long swallowed up by the earth.
In 1999 the band released their debut demo cassette which I tracked down yesterday but won't discuss as all of the songs ended up on the 2000 full length. So 'This Time Is Not The Place' is arguably better than the band's final effort, as it boasts tracks like the very North Of America-esque opener "3x3 Lines" (which mixes angular guitars with a most excellent groove), "The Arabesque" (super chill bass-led jam with a killer progression), "Beyond Action and Reaction" (great call and response whilst still being on the darker side), and "I Am All Kinds of Illegal" (quirky and pretty screamy and all-around banger). Seriously this entire album rocks and if you like angular math/indie rock with sometimes sung/yelled/screamed dual vocals you're about to ascend into heaven.
For a very, very long time I've been obsessed with both North Of America and The Holy Shroud due to being a Level Plane fanatic in the 2000s. Quick backstory: Level Plane released all the best screamo back in the 2000s so I followed their catalogue religiously and picked up on these sick, jangly, angular math-rock/post-punk bands. So how, how in the actual fuck, did I miss THE PLAN? Featuring members of both bands and straight up sounding like them too, this 2023 discovery sent me down a rabbit hole I thought was long swallowed up by the earth.
At some point in 2000 the band released the awesome two-song 7" that houses "Ante The Essay" and "Give Me The Theory", with the former being one of the bands best songs incorporating excellent dual vocals and a coupla screams amongst the danciness. Also that bass riff is unmistakably amazing. Two of the songs from the 2000 five-song 'Demo' didn't end up being rerecorded for the 2001 full length. "The Temporary City" and "How We Make History" are actually really good, especially the former which is a driving, dancey number that sounds like essential THE PLAN to me.
The band's final recordings showed up on the 9-track cd/12"LP 'Only These Movements Remain'. Leading off with the sensational "Lit Like A Monument", it weaves discordant yet groovy path to my heart. It should be noted that the band definitely got a bit mathier on this release as songs such as "Man vs. MIDI" is a whirlwind of frenetic energy, jazzy beats, and layered vocals. "Let's Hear It For Our School Orchestra" and "Missive" are also very good, but I do find the second half of the album much more meandering and less brain-tingling than the first.
It's crazy to say, but track-for-track this band is even better than North Of America. I can't believe I just wrote that...but it's true. Oh by the way North Of America reformed and is playing Orchid's Toronto date!!!
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1999 - Demo cassette LP
2000 - Ante The Essay / Give Me The Theory 7"EP
2000 - This Time Is Not The Place cd LP
2000 - Demo cassette cassette EP
2001 - Only These Movements Remain cd/12" LP
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(2000) THE PLAN - "3x3 Lines" (from 'This Time Is Not The Place')
(2000) THE PLAN - "I am All Kinds of Illegal" (from 'This Time Is Not The Place')
(2000) THE PLAN - "Beyond Action and Reaction" (from 'This Time Is Not The Place')
(2000) THE PLAN - "Ante The Essay" (from 'Ante The Essay / Give Me The Theory' 7")
(2000) THE PLAN - "The Temporary City" (from 'Demo')
(2001) THE PLAN - "Lit Like A Monument" (from 'Only These Movements Remain')
(2001) THE PLAN - "Man Vs. MIDI" (from 'Only These Movements Remain')
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THE PLAN out of print mp3 discography download
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