Song Review: In Limbo by FRANK
On the first of May, Indianapolis musician FRANK released their newest single In Limbo - an introspective, gothic track that combines the heavy guitar tones of 90’s grunge and powerhouse vocals.
In Limbo envelops the listener in moody guitar from the very beginning of the track, drawing in the audience with the promise of an electrified sound. This tone switches quickly as FRANK starts to sing, however, with a softer lingering guitar riff and a deep, smooth bass tone. FRANK’s instrumentals regularly toes the line between fragile and furious, creating a delicate mix that embraces softness alongside intensity. In Limbo uses the buildup between these sounds to create a push and pull with the audience, drawing them in for an emotional release before pulling back to a quieter sound, only to build back up. The song feels magnetic, exploring an unstable relationship through an unstable sound.
The lyricism of the track both serves the instrumentals and stands alone as a thoughtful look at the collapse of a relationship. Written collaboratively by FRANK and Owen Thomas, the creative director of Melbourne music and media label Absorb, In Limbo embodies the thoughtful lyrics that FRANK often focuses on. Some highlights of the track’s lyrics include the lines, “Is the story changing, masquerading signals of the end?/Are you staying or going, disappear.” It shows just how alone the narrator feels in their own relationship - how long have things been unsteady for? How many signs have been missed or dismissed? The track’s title, In Limbo, is a perfect description of the track - it really does feel like a vague, unsure state in between a happy partnership and a complete implosion.
