By Amie Wood

Tucked above a Brighton pub, The Hope & Ruin has long been a home for the city’s underground music scene. Friday, March 7th, experimental progressive rock band Plantoid transform the intimate venue into something far more immersive. As shimmering guitar lines ripple through the room and rhythms twist unexpectedly, the crowd quickly fall under the band’s spell. Heads sway, eyes close, and for a moment the outside world seems to disappear - the room slipping into the kind of collective escapism Plantoid seem built to create.

At the centre of the band is the trio of Chloe Spence (vocals/guitar), Tom Coyne (guitar) and Louis Bradshaw (drums), whose dynamic chemistry anchors the performance. With touring support from Matthew Todd on bass and Callum McMurchie on keys, synth and guitar, the expanded line up creates a rich, immersive soundscape that allows Spence’s remarkable vocal range to truly shine.

Before the show, the band laughed when asked how they would describe their sound. The blend of influences is clear both in conversation and in the music itself. They describe it as “cosmic rock” - a mix of rock, jazz, pop, and experimental textures that reflects everything they love.

“That was a new one. In the past, we just said it was experimental. We like to take different bits and different genres and just mix it all up,” they explain. “It’s like an amalgamation of all our favourite music… it’s rock, at its essence really. We started off a bit more psychedelic, and there’s been a little more jazz influence and even pop creeping in.”

Despite often being labelled a progressive rock band, Plantoid insist that tag wasn’t something they deliberately chased. “It gets labelled prog a lot because it’s progressive,” they say. “But we never set out to be a classic prog band. It’s just the result of blending all our influences together.”

Their second album, Flare, continues that genre-blending approach while leaning further into atmosphere and mood. Unlike their debut Terrapath, which developed gradually over many years, the new record came together far more quickly, capturing the band in a much more immediate creative moment.

“Terrapath was almost ten years in the making,” they explain. “Flare was written in about a year, so it’s more like a snapshot of who we were in that moment.” The faster process also helped shape the album into something more unified. Rather than feeling like a series of separate tracks, Flare unfolds with a sense of continuity, drawing listeners into a fully formed sonic landscape. “We wanted to create more of a cohesive world this time,” they say. “More atmosphere, more space to sit in the mood.”

That intention translates perfectly to the live show. Throughout the set, Plantoid move fluidly between delicate passages and sudden bursts of sound, creating waves of tension and release that hold the audience completely captive. Intricate guitar patterns spiral into hypnotic grooves before expanding into vast walls of sound, filling the room with a layered intensity that feels both chaotic and carefully controlled.

The atmosphere inside The Hope & Ruin becomes almost trance-like. The crowd seem fully absorbed in the band’s shifting soundscapes - swaying, nodding along, letting the music wash over them. At the centre of it all is vocalist Chloe Spence. The sheer range of her vocals created a magnetic pull, and suddenly everyone was somewhere else entirely. Every high note felt like a portal, carrying the crowd straight into the world of Plantoid. 

“We want to create a mood,” they say. “Take people somewhere else for a bit.”

Judging by the room, they succeeded.

For a small venue, the experience feels strangely expansive, as if the band are stretching the room itself into something larger. It’s the exact kind of escapism the band promised. Behind the complex arrangements, Plantoid’s songwriting process begins surprisingly simply. Rather than meticulously planning each song from the start, the band allow ideas to grow organically.

“Usually it starts with a really simple idea,” they explain. “A melody, a chord progression, maybe a rhythm. Then we jam it together until something starts to feel right.” For Flare, the lyrics often came later in the process. While recording together in Wales, the band focused on building the musical framework first, leaving space for vocals to sit naturally within the tracks. “We were writing and recording at the same time,” they say. “The lyrics came last.”

Like many touring bands, Plantoid also have their own pre-show rituals - though some are more superstitious than others. “Tom always restrings his guitar before a show,” they laugh. “If he doesn’t, he thinks he’s going to snap a string.” Food also plays an unexpectedly important role in life on the road. “We love going out for a meal before gigs,” they add. “Vietnamese pho is a favourite - it’s comforting, nutritious… perfect before a show.” For the Brighton crowd, the band promise a set full of atmosphere and movement. “Some jams, some dancing,” they say. “Hopefully people respond to the mood.”

Looking ahead, the band are already thinking about what comes next. After finishing their current tour, they hope to start writing new material and continue developing the sound that has defined Flare. Festival appearances are also on the horizon, including slots at Deer Shed Festival and Louder Than War Festival this summer.

By the end of the set, it feels less like the audience has watched a gig and more like they’ve briefly stepped into Plantoid’s world - one built from swirling guitars, shifting rhythms and the kind of cosmic escapism that lingers long after the final note fades.

Instagram - @plantoidworld