Album Review: The Framecell - Metaphors and Abstract Imagery EP

Truth be told, I did not know where to start with reviewing this record. After listening to the entire EP a multiple amount of times, I couldn’t even place my thumb on a specific genre or sound that The Framecell fit into. As fickle as Lady Gaga is with her fashion sense, the band seem to dart backwards and forwards across the spectrum of the post-rock genre on their EP ‘Metaphors and Abstract Imagery’. This is, of course, a positive approach to their recording and song writing process, of which showcases their abilities to not be stuck on the same track as current released at the moment seem to be plagued by.

Opening track ‘Buffalo’ has all the characteristics of a much tamer, slower and less frenzied Fall of Troy song. Searing and enchanting guitar sections? Check. Entertaining and squawking lead vocalist? Not check. Vocalist Mike Harrison swoons and melodies his way through the song with the guitars taking the more focused and deserving lead position of the song. This guitar-lead style leaks into the second song ‘Tryst Tryst’ where vocalist plucks up a fair bit and sounds like the child spawn of Brandon Boyd of Incubus and Dave McPherson of InMe decided to mix their vocal abilities into a cauldron and add a dash of subtle charisma. The guitar sections are present again and chug along at a comfortable pace, further showcasing The Framecell’s ability to write pretty damn good riffs.

When the listener reaches ‘Third Shift’, everything else is put on hold. The introduction to this song forces you to sit up and take note of the band. With all the instruments working in fantastic unison, the build up leads into the most active song of the EP, and, most likely, the band’s catalogue of material.

Like an American version of In Case Of Fire, the band continue to demonstrate to the listener how talented they really are at writing guitar sections in fourth track ‘Drop The Pen’. However, this song doesn’t match up to their most intelligent track of the EP, ‘Arms Like A Viking’ with is pretty much bliss and hypnotising euphoria in ‘rock’ form manageably fit into 4 minutes 20 seconds. This is the part of the record where the vocalist really takes main stage and beckons you to listen to his harmonic mutter-singing. The static-added production only adds to the mystery that this track creates in which I found myself begging for the final track to continue this style. However, it did not and the band is back to their usual plowing of smart-guitar sections on closer of the EP ‘The Psychology Involved’. An intelligent and interesting album that stands on the heads of the less-able guitarists that slot into the tier of ‘stage moves over instrument practice’. However, something is lacking from the album to really make it identifiable and noticeable from the other bands trying to do very similar things in this ‘genre’ of music.

3/5

'Metaphors and Abstract Imagery EP' by The Framecell is available now.

The Framecell on MySpace

Andy Touch