Despite being located in Ohio—or perhaps because of it—Cleveland has produced a significant number of notable metal bands, including Mushroomhead, Chimaira, Ringworm, Integrity and now Frayle. A two-piece duo formed in 2017, Frayle have been around for a while, dropping three albums and a handful of other releases.
Their latest, Heretics & Lullabies, is out now on Napalm Records and sees the band expand on their ethereal doom sound. Decibel spoke with the band about the new release, how current events affect their songs and why Frayle chose to cover Lana del Ray on Heretics & Lullabies.
Frayle is a duo. Does that make it easier or harder to write and come up with new ideas?
The fact that we’ve been doing this together for a minute makes it easier. We know what we’re looking for and we also trust and respect each other, so we mostly get out of each other’s way. There’s a certain freedom that comes with working as a duo. Ideas can evolve quickly, and there’s less noise in the creative process. At the same time, it keeps us accountable; every decision has to feel authentic to both of us.
What do you mean when you describe the sound as “lullabies over chaos?”
Gwyn’s vocal delivery always seems like a slightly askew lullaby. The chaos comes from the sludgy guitars, the weight of the distortion and the tension between the lullaby and the heaviness. It’s that contrast of something soft and haunting layered over something raw and turbulent that really defines the sound for us. “Lullabies over chaos” captures that duality. It’s soothing, but there’s an undercurrent of unease.
You covered Lana Del Rey on this album. What drew you to this specific artist who does not play doom and does not have any real ties to the metal scene?
Lana Del Rey is the queen of melancholy, so it seemed like a perfect fit to me. There’s a cinematic kind of sadness in her music, a kind of haunting beauty that lingers. Even though she doesn’t come from the metal world her ability to capture emotion, fragility, and darkness aligns perfectly with what we try to express in our own way.
Clearly the aesthetic behind Frayle plays a significant role alongside the music. Do you imagine the visual aspect of things before, after or alongside the music?
The visuals always follow. It’s easiest for us to express ourselves through music. That’s where everything begins. The sound sets the tone, and once that feeling is fully realized, the imagery starts to take shape around it. The visuals are there to amplify and expound on our message.
It’s less about crafting an aesthetic for its own sake and more about translating the emotions of the music into something you can see as well as hear.
This album deals with topics of power imbalance, deception and inequality. Was the inspiration derived from current political/world events or are they more personal subjects?
Everything is written from personal experience but all of our personal experiences are colored by political and world events. It’s my job as an artist to try to interpret what’s happening and explain it in a way that others can empathize with. The emotions that come from imbalance, deception, or inequality are universal. They may begin in a personal space, but they resonate on a much larger scale
Frayle’s first west coast dates kick off in a few days. After that, what’s on your radar?
We’re excited to get in the road and play again. There’s nothing quite like connecting with people in real time and feeling the energy of the songs take on a life of their own.
After the West Coast run, we’re looking forward to continuing to tour, sharing the new album with as many people as possible and diving back into writing.
Frayle are currently on tour with Dogma.
11/04/25: Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
11/05/25: Orlando, FL @ Conduit
11/06/25: Pompano Beach, FL @ Piper’s Pub
11/08/25: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
The post Interview: Doom Duo Frayle Discuss New Album, <i>Heretics & Lullabies</i> appeared first on Decibel Magazine.