Plini is that rare kind of guitar virtuoso: the kind with utterly stunning technical chops that are rivaled only by their compositional sense. For some guitarists that means writing catchy songs with traditional forms but in Plini’s case it means every track evolves and grows like an orchestral piece or soundtrack.
On his admittedly short debut full-length album, Plini further develops the compositional brilliance of his EPs. The soundscapes are lush and the rhythms are addictively physical ‘drum along in the car’ stuff but what stands out most is the lyrical confidence and melodic strength of Plini’s guitar playing. It’s also a very diverse record: if you’re into metal and djent you’ll be instantly at home with the power of the guitar rhythms but if you’re approaching from more of a modern alternative direction you’ll appreciate the textures and melodies. You don’t need to be a guitar nerd to get something out of this record.
Plini is still incredibly early into his career and if he’s making music of such world-class quality on his first full-length record, we’re in for a hell of a journey.
BY PETER HODGSON
