This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
I would reckon Layaway Plan are probably the heaviest punk band ever to come out of Moose Jaw. With this third album, though, it seems they aim to add the title of hardest-rocking to their resume as well.
Although they’ve always displayed a metal influence, on Solutions to Substance, this quartet takes it all the way, leaping past the barricades of their SoCal-style punk and landing squarely in Iron Maiden territory, complete with reams of intricate twin-guitar interplay, arena-rock power-chord fourishes, epic songwriting and galloping double-bass drum tracks. Reportedly, Layaway Plan once lost a chance to open up for Mötley Crüe because they were “too heavy.” Solutions to Substance isn’t going to change that situation any — though it does suggest they’d be perfect tourmates for like-minded metal-punks Death by Stereo.
