Frameworks

Loom

Written by: PP on 23/06/2014 21:46:33

Topshelf Records has done it again. I don't know where they keep finding one quality screamo revivalist band after another, but Frameworks is yet another budding example that the genre is alive and well, thriving on the resurgence brought by the 'wave' style post-hardcore bands with Touché Amoré at the forefront. Like many others in the genre recently, they source inspiration deeply from the lo-fi realms of the 90s origins of screamo/skramz, but experiment with the basic formula of the genre by throwing in post-rock curveballs, mathcore passages, and much more to keep things interesting on debut album "Loom".

Let's start with album highlight "True Wealth", a simply amazing song that defines the modern reincarnation of screamo to the letter while simultaneously pushing it new directions as well. The lead melody is back-chilling, and the tormented screams layered on top create a brooding soundscape that's drenched in passion, instrumental chaos, and basement style intensity where people hang upside down from the rafters while screaming along in vicious mosh pits. Post-rock style melodies swirl and crash in the background in unpredictable waves of pure chaos-driven godhood; the soundscape in general is rich in texture and emotion, resulting in an expression that bands like Pianos Become The Teeth, Suis La Lune, Xerxes, and many other contemporaries can only fawn over. This is simply material they've been trying to write but have been unable to do so thus far. Then you have "Bright And New" bringing together a similar sense of urgency and immediacy, while keeping things highly melodic, perhaps more so than any other band playing this style at the moment. The title track is nothing short of awe-inspiring as well, constantly offering passages of interest that draw you closer and closer to the intricate chaos that surrounds the song.

The whole shindig is written and played in a loosely coupled, unpredictable soundscape where the vocalist sounds like this record's going to be his last based on the way his scratchy delivery grates against his throat. In a deliberate production decision the instruments have not been tightened and sound partially sloppy, but that is also the point, because it allows the emotion to burst out of the soundscape like on no other album this year. To convey this as album-of-the-year candidate might be overstating its importance, but "Loom" is one hell of a debut and sure to land high on many an end of year list come December this year. In terms of its own genre, I am almost one hundred percent convinced this is the best album in it this year. Pure screamo godhood.

Download: Loom, True Wealth, Bright And New
For the fans of: Touché Amoré, Pianos Become The Teeth, Suis La Lune, Xerxes, Sed Non Satiata, Saetia
Listen: Facebook

Release date 29.04.2014
Topshelf Records

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