About State of Illusion

Pluto’s Ghost is a record born from isolation, persistence, and an unwillingness to let go. Pluto’s Ghost is a progressive rock and metal album written and produced by Jacob Porter, the founder, vocalist, and primary songwriter behind STATE OF ILLUSION. The record unfolds as a deeply personal journey through isolation, grief, and endurance, shaped by expansive atmosphere, intricate instrumentation, and emotionally driven songwriting.

The album took form during a period of creative solitude, when collaboration was scarce and the future of STATE OF ILLUSION felt uncertain. Rather than stepping away, Porter committed fully to writing and producing the record himself, allowing doubt, exhaustion, and perseverance to guide the emotional direction of the music. What emerged is an album that treats vulnerability as a structural element, using space, tension, and restraint as deliberately as distortion and volume.

That sense of distance and detachment is reinforced through sound design. Recordings captured by NASA from across the galaxy are woven throughout the album, especially in the intros and transitions, creating a continuous, otherworldly atmosphere. These elements give the record a narrative arc that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a journey, beginning with departure and ending in quiet drift.

The album opens with "Intro", constructed from fractured space-launch audio that immediately places the listener in motion. The sense of ascent is unstable, and as the control tower feed cuts, it becomes clear that there is no safe return. This unease carries directly into "Déjà Vu", a slow-burning track built on tension and restraint. Clean guitars shimmer against jagged interruptions, while the lyrics question whether the pursuit of a lifelong dream is worth the personal cost. The song reflects a familiar emotional cycle, the feeling of standing in the same place after years of effort, wondering if progress is real or imagined.

"Yet So Far" shifts the tone with an unexpected brightness, opening on pop-leaning synths before surging into sharp, rhythmic guitars and a driving chorus. The song captures the frustration of being closer than ever to a goal that still feels unreachable, balancing momentum with lyrical disillusionment. Its urgency mirrors the anxiety of forward motion without certainty.

"Starlight" sits at the emotional core of Pluto’s Ghost. Built from atmosphere, layered instrumentation, and a soaring chorus, the song was written in response to recurring, vivid dreams centered on the loss of a loved one. The imagery felt real enough to blur the line between fear and memory, and the act of writing became a way to confront and release those visions. "Starlight" was also a turning point creatively, marking the first time vocals were written before the instrumental foundation. That reversal gave the song an immediacy that resonated strongly with listeners and critics alike.

"Wasted Life" follows with a sharp contrast in tone. Driven by angular rhythms and heavy, percussive guitars, the song confronts the fear of wasted potential head-on. Lyrically, it is a reckoning with the idea that years of effort might amount to nothing, and musically it channels that frustration into relentless momentum. The struggle to complete the song, particularly its chorus, mirrors the emotional weight it carries.

"Heal the Heartache" is the most direct expression of grief on the album. Written in the immediate aftermath of the loss of Jaxson Braylee Dabbs, the song speaks from the perspective of parents addressing a child they never had the chance to know outside of a hospital room. The lyrics hold sorrow and meaning in the same space, acknowledging that purpose does not erase pain. The guitar solo, recorded by CODY DABBS, stands as a raw, wordless expression of mourning. The song later took on an additional life during live performances, where its story resonated deeply with audiences night after night.

"Along the Way" picks the pace back up while continuing the album’s central themes. The song reflects on identity lost to obsession, relationships strained by ambition, and the quiet realization that the person you set out to become can disappear along the path to becoming them.

"Enough" explores loss from a different angle, focusing on legacy, comparison, and the fear of falling short. Written while thinking about family and generational influence, the song wrestles with the weight of expectation and the permanence of absence. It became especially significant following the passing of PORTER’s father just days after the album’s original release, transforming its lyrics into a reflection of real-time grief.

"Crashing Down" turns outward, examining the damage caused by selfishness and neglect. Rhythmically driven and confrontational, the song addresses the consequences of actions that harm the innocent, particularly children caught in destructive environments. Though its musical foundation dates back many years, the song found its final voice within the larger narrative of Pluto’s Ghost.

"Artificial Paradise" is the album’s most aggressive moment. Chaotic and unrelenting, it targets the exploitation of faith for personal gain, calling out the hollow promises and moral corruption hidden behind public displays of righteousness. The intensity of the track peaks during its bridge, where unplanned harsh vocals emerged naturally from anger and frustration during recording.

"Rain" offers a moment of introspection and release. Built on tender passages and a sweeping chorus, the song reflects on the need for change and the courage required to start over. As it dissolves into extended ambience, it creates space for reflection before the album’s final movements.

"Home" arrives quietly, led by piano and vocals. It is a deeply personal expression of gratitude and devotion, written for PORTER’s wife and shaped by imagery of peace found in companionship even as the world collapses. The song feels like a pause, a breath taken before the final ascent.

The album closes with "Death Is Not the End", a culmination of everything that came before it. Musically, it is the most expansive and intricate track on the record, moving between hushed, ethereal passages and explosive climaxes. Lyrically, it confronts the fear of failure, the possibility of endings, and the belief that impact outlives the moment of creation. The song holds multiple meanings at once, spiritual, personal, and creative, before dissolving into a final, echoing guitar line that leaves the listener suspended in space.

Pluto’s Ghost was originally released on September 3, 2021, and is dedicated to the memory of Jaxson Braylee Dabbs and Joe Porter. Its 2026 rerelease preserves the album as it was intended to be experienced, a complete and cohesive journey that transformed a period of darkness into the foundation for renewal.

About STATE OF ILLUSION:

STATE OF ILLUSION is a progressive rock and metal project rooted in atmosphere, emotion, and complexity, formed in Greenville, South Carolina in 2005. Blending heavy, intricate instrumentation with expansive soundscapes and soaring, melodic choruses, the band focuses on creating music that feels immersive and deeply human without sacrificing power or precision.

At the core of STATE OF ILLUSION is songwriter, vocalist, and producer Jacob Porter, whose approach emphasizes mood, texture, and emotional honesty. The band’s music often explores themes of grief, identity, faith, ambition, and perseverance, balancing aggression with vulnerability and technicality with accessibility. Progressive structures and layered arrangements coexist with hooks designed to resonate long after the song ends.

Across releases like Aphelion and Pluto’s Ghost, STATE OF ILLUSION has refined a sound that feels both cinematic and personal, drawing influence from progressive and alternative heavy music while maintaining a distinct voice. The project has shared stages with artists such as COLD, STAIND, CHEVELLE, THORNHILL, 10 YEARS, POP EVIL, FLAW, SMILE EMPTY SOUL, and more, including touring as direct support on COLD’s Year of the Spider 20th anniversary tour, as well as festival dates with BREAKING BENJAMIN, SEETHER, SHINEDOWN, SPIRITBOX, and many others.

STATE OF ILLUSION continues to evolve as a collaborative band, driven by the belief that heavy music can be emotional, introspective, and expansive without losing its intensity.