Tokyo’s underworld is stirring, and it has a new soundtrack. Enter PLOTOLEMS, a three-piece force of nature fusing the disquieting spirit of horror cinema with the jagged edges of industrial rock. With the release of their debut mini-album “para?anomaly”, the band delivers an unflinching and highly conceptual piece of sonic horror: seven tracks that crawl beneath the skin and stay there.
Dedicated to fans of the macabre and the surreal, PLOTOLEMS is not just another alternative rock band; they’re architects of their genre, Japanese Industrial Horror. And with "para?anomaly", they’re no longer just experimenting, they’re establishing. Compared to their earlier work, the madness, unrest, and dread have only sharpened. The result? A more focused and fearlessly dark expression of their vision.
From the first track, listeners are plunged into a disorienting soundscape that blurs the line between post-punk and psychological suspense. There’s a real sense of narrative here, with every riff and rhythmic glitch pulling you deeper into the twisted world they’ve built. The band cites influences like THE NOVEMBERS and OGRE YOU ASSHOLE, and you can hear those ghosts swirling through the music, yet PLOTOLEMS remain entirely distinct in their approach. They don't mimic; they mutate.
“Chain” (track four) is perhaps the album’s most spine-chilling moment. Composed by the band’s own Sakuremu and inspired by the iconic soundtrack of Ju-on, the song is a masterclass in restraint and dread. Echoing whispers, metallic clangs, and distant industrial pulses give way to distorted vocals that seem to echo from within a haunted building. It’s no surprise a music video is forthcoming, this track practically breathes visual horror.
The production choices elevate the themes. Recorded and mixed by Junya Iwata of Triple Time Studio, each layer feels meticulously placed for maximum tension. The mastering by Soichiro Nakamura at PEACE MUSIC polishes the chaos just enough to let it shine, without dulling the serrated edge of PLOTOLEMS’ sound.
Other tracks explore variations on the band’s grim aesthetic, some leaning heavier into cold wave textures, others driven by grinding guitars and unsettling rhythmic loops. But despite the diversity in arrangement, the tone remains consistently dark, like navigating a dream that’s slowly turning into a nightmare.
There’s something deliberately cinematic about "para?anomaly". It plays like a horror anthology, each song its chilling tale, yet tied together through an overarching sense of dread and beauty in decay. This is an album that doesn't just invite you to listen, it dares you to confront the shadows.
PLOTOLEMS have not only carved a niche for themselves in Japan’s alternative scene, they've opened a portal. And once you step into "para?anomaly", don’t expect to return the same.
For fans of horror, darkwave, and the thrilling unknown, PLOTOLEMS have just given you your next obsession.
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