Plead The Widow’s Cause: “Silver Glass Stare” Album Review

My first exposure to Plead the Widow’s Cause was through the Kingdom Core podcast. This five-piece from South Jersey offers a post-hardcore sound that is reminiscent of Beloved, As Cities Burn and Subseven. During that Kingdom Core interview, the band said that they bring in different forms of influences from Flyleaf to Misery Signals to anything. They want to have fun, but also share about the incredible redemption that is found in Jesus Christ.

They released their first full-length, Silver Glass Stare, in March 2025 after a successful release of their debut EP, Pain Split. Ever since we started Solid Rock Unplugged, this album has been high on my list to review. I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it!

Silver Glass Stare Album Review

Tracks: 11

Length: 32:00

Release Date: March 7, 2025

Label: Resuscitation Records

The opening track of Silver Glass Stare definitely gives that 2000s post-hardcore feel, similar to what you would hear at Warped Tour. In fact, the riffs reminded me of Anberlin. There are plenty of breakdowns that are sure to get people dancing and moving around in the pit. Listening to “Mariah,” this song has a punk, post-hardcore influence with an infectious energy.

“Constantly wandering, I feel discontent with temporary things soon to forget. Fix my eyes on what will last. I give You my future, my present and my past.”

These lines through this song offer a message on complete surrender. To realize that this world only offers temporary joy, where He can offer you eternal salvation.

“Jet Black Heart” kicks off with a unique, early 90s grunge sound, almost like Nirvana. Yet, they still maintain that post-hardcore edge. The melodic clean vocals provide a perfect hook against the screams. I love the lines,

“How can I share this with You? A jet black heart that would leave stains on robes of white.”

While the last song focused on surrender, this song looks at redemption. We can ask ourselves how could someone so righteous and so holy want to be involved with somebody so unclean and unworthy. But Jesus is willing to take on the stains of our jet black heart.

I appreciate the songs that open with a fast, fun tempo that you know will get the crowd moving and that’s what we find in “Grey.” This song also features a real punk-esque bass line. “Clip the Wings” starts cleanly with the guitars before powering into Ian’s screams. The guitar work is fun to listen to as it gets your fingers tapping and your feet keeping rhythm between the notes. While the beat is energetic and catchy, the message of the song comes from a place of neglect and hurt.

“Getting wasted. Chasing pleasure. Getting wasted. And leaving your children behind in the wake of your mess…You are all alone with no one to blame…I will forgive you but you will be alone.”

The song explores the fallout of parental abandonment. Anger and resentment could be justified, but the viewpoint of this song is offering a place of forgiveness and growth. The person needs to realize the impact and significance of the mistakes they made, but they can also know that they’ve been forgiven and can use that opportunity to improve themselves.

However, we do slow down a little bit with the next two songs, “Emerald Eyes” and “Sunset.” In both songs, we hear this glassy effect on the guitar riffs which brings a distinctive flair to the tracks. In “Emerald Eyes,” it is written from a place of loss.

“But tomorrow’s come, her time has passed. Justice met mercy nailed to a cross. The death you deserve is swallowed up in love. Come to the brook of Living Water.”

In reading these lyrics, Ian’s vocals really shine with the passion behind those lyrics in the cleans. As “Emerald Eyes” and “Sunset” offer this softer one-two punch, it shouldn’t be viewed as a negative. I like it because it breaks up the formula and sets them apart from the rest of the album. Mixing it up in the middle of an album helps to avoid songs blending together and distinguishes the song styles.

After settling down for a few songs, we dive right back into the punk setting in “Life Moves in a Circle.” This song shows the guitars and drums giving us that one-two beat. On this song Ian mixes it up with the vocals and we hear a different style of scream. It almost sounds like a higher pitch scream that we hear from bands like The Agony Scene. They blend the punk and post-hardcore really well as we hear it on “Burn Bright, Burn Out.” The bass line is established in the beginning and puts forward this punk vibe that you would hear on old skateboarding demos. They really highlighted the bass lines and double bass drums to jam it home, the message that they mean business.

I appreciate throughout this album and in “Paper Cranes” the different influences that the band brings in for their material. Ian continues to thrive with the consistent tempo of his screams. They are fast and technical, not shrill or out of control. As much as Ian thrives, Matt and Brett on the guitar show their technical prowess on this song. Driven by themes of greed, the song follows a man who dies in a nuclear meltdown.

“Now the debt for greed demands its due. Now a man lies dead because of you.”

Perhaps this message comes from how we can be corrupted by greed and individual success so much so that we can’t see the negative ripple effects of that selfishness.

They finished strong on the last two songs. “Trapped Within” brings about this switch back between cleans and screams so that you get the best of both worlds. To me, this is the sound that I grew up listening to and loving in the 2000s. As for the message, it hits and it hits hard. The line “suppress emotion, be a man” hits close to a lot of men. We are told to suppress our feelings and be strong. Instead of knowing how to process it, we internalize the chaos, constantly convicting ourselves of falling short. But we can see that through redemption found only in Jesus Christ, we are loved and that we can experience that wonderful emotion from our Heavenly Father. 

“Spitting Venom” has to be one of my favorites on the album. This song presents a passionate urgency. From the beat of the drums to the technical guitar riffs to the intense vocals, it matches the lyrics and message of the song. Just as the song title suggests, this song is centered around calling out the hypocrites within Christianity.

“Hunting down the sick and weak to make themselves feel so tall. Throwing stones and boasting merits as if works could save at all.”

Though they call out the hypocrisy, they also see how they’re not perfect but they put the trust and hope in the one who is. I felt that this was a great song to end the album on, but it also abruptly ends, which is surprising because it could’ve ended with some reverb on the last line to really push the message home.

Overall, it’s a great album. The energy is through the roof, and because they pack 11 songs into a tight 32-minute window, you’re left wanting more in the best way possible.The future is bright. These guys have an incredible passion for the Gospel and to live out the scriptures that inspire their name. Isaiah 1:16-17 says “wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Through this mission statement, they aim to encourage their fans to live according to God’s will as well as looking out for those who cannot defend themselves. 

I’m really excited for what else this band has to bring and after Pain Split and Silver Glass State, they’re just getting warmed up. So if you’re hanging around South Jersey or somewhere in Philadelphia, I’m sure you’ll be able to find these guys throwing down and bringing it home.