Illinois-based Frail Body embodies the spirit and soul of what many define as “screamo;” their songs are lamentations about nihilism, death, anxiety, existentialism and hopelessness of existence in modern American society, and both lyrically and sonically they unfurl with ground-shaking emotion.  Their forthcoming sophomore LP, Artificial Bouquet (Deathwish Inc.) out March 29, 2024, is a shining example that the once dormant sub-genre continues to evolve and thrive for all the world to see.

The band’s newest single, “Devotion” plays as a stunning ebb and flow epic that shows method to its musical chaos.  The song is about, “…my mother’s undying Christian faith and what it was like witnessing someone dying coming to terms that their religious beliefs weren’t going to save them from their fate,” Lowell Shaffer (vocals, guitar) laments.  “I was raised Christian and a lot of those beliefs have influenced and informed my decision-making and worldview to this day. I feel like I’ve followed along on those paths but eventually, I began to have some questions about what that kind of faith looks like. Questions like, what if g-d’s plan includes a lot of suffering? Does g-d or whatever entity created matter and energy even understand suffering? People who meet and overcome obstacles often hone their character into humans fit to help and support other humans, therefore is suffering good? What if it is insurmountable, then is it cruel? And what if those stories inspire future generations to do better in the eventual goal of self sustaining human life? Does that equal some sort of universal karmic payoff? And why did my mother who was such a devoted and steadfast servant, get shouldered with decades of physical and emotional pain?”

See Frail Body on tour this March and April (including appearances at SXSW, Roadburn Festival and more) and pre-order Artificial Bouquet ahead of its March 29th release date here.

Frail Body, on tour:

March 3 Peoria, IL @ Slicehub ^
March 4 Kansas City, MO @ Farewell ^
March 5 Tulsa, OK @ Whittier Bar ^
March 6 Oklahoma City, OK @ Sactuary ^
March 7 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves ^
March 8 San Antonio, TX @ B-Side ^
March 9 Houston, TX @ The End ^
March 10 Austin, TX @ Chess Club ^
March 11 Austin, TX @ Austin High Tunnels ^
March 12  Austin, TX @ The Ballroom ^
March 13 Little Rock, AR @ White Water Tavern ^
March 14 Memphis, TN @ Haven Haus ^
March 15 Nashville, TN @ drkmttr ^
March 16 Louisville, KY @ Kaiju ^

April 10  Glasgow, UK @ Garage Attic #
April 11  Leeds, UK @ Boom #
April 12  Bristol, UK @ Crofters Rights #
April 13  London, UK @ Downstairs at the Dome #
April 14  Brighton, UK @ The Hope and Ruin #
April 16  Lille, FR @ Brat Cave &
April 17  Antwerp, BE @ Antwerp Music City &
April 18  Paris, FR @ L’International &
April 20  Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival
April 21  Liege, BE @ La Zone &
April 23  Frankfurt, DE @ Juha West &
April 24  La Chaux-de-Fonds, CH @ Bikini Test &
April 25  Milan, IT @ COX18 &
April 26  Modena, IT @ La Tienda &
April 27  Rome, IT @ RCCB INIT &

^ w/ Heavenly Blue
# w/ Chalk Hands
& w/ Knoll