After six years since their full–length debut album, Frame and Mantle are officially back with their sophomore album, Well of Light. The quartet from Pittsburgh have been releasing music since 2016 and are known for their melodic guitar riffs, trumpet solos, and heart–wrenching lyrics while simultaneously harnessing post–hardcore and grunge rock elements in their past releases. Frame and Mantle further build upon their sound on Well of Light by utilizing additional post–hardcore elements, gritty guitar sounds, and consistent screaming vocals while lyrically exploring themes of yearning, despair, anxiety, anger, confusion, and heartache.
Timing out at 38 minutes with 10 tracks, Well of Light is an album that flaunts Frame and Mantle’s ability to capture the 90’s post hard–core reminiscent sound that feels familiar yet fresh at the same time. The album begins with the title track and single “Well of Light” —- a song that starts with a plucky guitar riff that morphs into a continuous crescendo as the song progresses, before its seamless transition into the next song. “Green Grove Zone,” the latest single released for Well of Light, showcases Connor Freer’s (vocals, guitars, horns) and Brian Thompson’s (guitars) ability to beautifully layer guitar parts that act as a single vessel that synonymously work with a driving drum progression that Mark Thompson (drums) executes at the end of every chorus.
“Down a Thousand,” the most attention grabbing single, displays Connor’s ability to wield anthemic vocals throughout the entirety of the song that reminds you what it feels like to yearn for someone (or something) that you cannot have. The way that Connor can convey yearning, despair, and anger with his vocals reminded me of how I have felt in different seasons of loss and heartbreak in my life. With the gut–wrenching lyrics, “And I wish I could only sing the saddest notes / The kind that carry exactly what you did / A melancholy melody that makes you sick with grief / A poison lullaby that wakes you up from sleep” coupled with Connor’s emotionally charged vocals, it easily makes it a standout song on the album.
As the album continues, Frame and Mantle continue to showcase what they are sonically capable of. “Chokehold” is a punk anthem that takes you by surprise as Connor’s screaming vocals hit you like a gut punch. It is by far one of the most vocally and sonically aggressive songs that Frame and Mantle have ever released. Connor’s screaming vocals are clean and intense as the rest of the band members match Connor’s intensity throughout the remainder of the song. “Chokehold” is a song that acts as a palette that perfectly showcases what Frame and Mantle is capable of.
Well of Light is one of my favorite albums that have been released so far this year. Each track seamlessly melts into each other, making it a cohesive journey that you feel like Frame and Mantle is personally taking you on. Additionally, each track feels like they are trying something new either sonically or vocally, and the lyrics are some of the most vulnerable and deepest lyrics they have ever written. Frame and Mantle’s Well of Light encompasses’ all of the bands’ strengths while also showing how they have grown as musicians since their debut album released six years ago.
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