Arcane Framework - Colorblind

Arcane Framework

Colorblind
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

It’s not everyday you find a female-fronted metal band. The double bass drum, distorted guitars and bass usually revolve around the all too common blood-curdling demon-like male voice. At the helm of the band Arcane Framework is Katy Pryzbytek (lead vocals/bass guitar) who is backed by Mike Bero (drums), Brian McDermott (rhythm guitar) and Scott Tomaselli (lead guitar). The dichotomy between the brutal onslaught of music and natural femininity of a woman’s voice is a welcome deviation. 

Luckily for Pryzbytek she is backed by three technically proficient musicians who can bring intense metal mayhem that tends to work at the fastest BPM humanly possible. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit but props to that drummer who pulls off some jaw dropping fills and double bass drum. McDermott and Tomaselli are no slouches either as they provide a distorted canvas guitar for Pryzbytek to sing over. 

The seven songs are undeniably metal but also adhere to a pop format. There are plenty of hooks, choruses and breakdowns that make the music palatable to a rather wide demographic similar in the same way Evanescence did. The band doesn’t waste time revving up an engine as they go straight into sixth gear with “Some Kind Of Grace.” You are immediately greeted with a palm muted guitar and double bass drums before exploding into the verse. Pryzbytek displays her dynamic, powerful voice within the first minute of the song. As the song comes to a close you are greeted with an ‘80s inspired guitar solo that shreds.

“Colorblind” is an intense hard hitting song. The tom work during the verse is fantastic that sounds like an impending army. As it progresses the song is in a constant state of change. The band is never satisfied as it doesn’t dwell in one place for long. The band has a moment of calm before the storm with “The Bitter End,” a track that is under two minutes in length but quite good. They close the album with “Keep on Runnin'” and “Greater Than I'll Ever Be” both of which play into the band’s strengths.

Colorblind is an impressive album. I would have liked to hear a bit more experimentation at times but that hardly held me back from enjoying the songs. Recommended. 

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