Written by McKenna Lessenger
21 minutes of pure amusement, no matter what genre you want to categorize Frail Body as, there’s no doubt they’ve got an unbeatable sound. I haven’t even been listening to them for that long, but boy was I mad when I realized what I had been missing out on. With the most immaculate tone and gut wrenching lyrics, Frails Body’s album A Brief Memoriam is the ultimate sound for the sad and angry. The three piece band from Rockford Illinois combines striking riffs with sharp drums and an overall rough ambiance. Enthralling tempos and melodic breaks balance the aggressive vocals, teaming with passion.
Tracks like Traditions in Verses build an undeniable emo atmosphere off of simple strums and rare intelligible lyrics. Despite the slow tempo the music never loses purpose, a love song fueled by regret and the fear of being forgotten. Lyrics like “all my good intentions and all my selfishness, sometimes they seem like one in the same” making you revert to obsessive questioning of how to love correctly. Nothing but raw emotion drives the album, punctured by the screaming of one who knows how to draw others into the deepest sorrow. That is not to say that this album won’t make you happy, as Lowell Schaffer’s tender expression of his sentiments comfort those who feel alone in their agony.
You’re Death Makes Me Wish Heaven Was Real, as the title may imply, combines soul crushing verses filled with memories of the loved ones lost to time with a lighter more post-hardcore tone than the rest of the album. An interesting peek into the versatility of the band while staying true to their style. The song expresses the feeling of searching what still exists for the remains of people you’ve lost, “It never occurred to me I’d have to search for your comfort between the branches and the leaves”. While the song implicitly speaks about missing people who have died, with lyrics about spreading ashes and wishing to meet in the after life, it pertains to people who are separated from loved ones as well.
While the album is fully stocked with agonizing lyrics, the cutting truth is sometimes lost in the indistinct screaming. That is not to say that the pure emotion isn’t conveyed properly. The mood of the music transcends language and understanding, it moves even those who are stuck in apathy. With the intros of Old Friends and Cold New Home, the album is instantly enthralling and satisfies the need for shocking and vulnerable songs. Every element of screamo, emo, post-hardcore, and emo violence can be found in this album, making it a must listen for enjoyers of alternative music.
Rating: 9/10