Gwyn Strang and Sean Bilovecky are the formidable duo behind doom metal band Frayle, whose DIY approach is infiltrating the big leagues. These two began making music together in their home studio in 2018. After a few months of experimentation, they dropped an EP on Bandcamp. Little did they know that their preliminary release born out of their home studio in Ohio would be heard and picked up all the way in Norway…the rest, they say, is history. In what is now their third full-length album, Frayle is releasing Heretics & Lullabies on October 10 via Napalm Records. Despite their climbing success, this power couple continue to wield the reins on nearly every aspect of what has become their life’s passion project.
“We still use that same Logic software that Gwyn bought me for Christmas [in 2018] to record everything, even on the upcoming record. We went to a real studio for drums because we can’t do that in our house, and then we had to work with a producer, but the core of the album is recorded on that same software,” explains Bilovecky. As zealous as they are, they continually pursue new ways to exercise creative control and ambition. “We invested in a cinema camera. We make our own videos too and shoot most of the photos that you see that aren’t live.”
With Heretics & Lullabies Frayle are ever expanding their repertoire, solidifying their sound, and evolving the band’s identity. The two work in tandem while maintaining their distinct roles in the project. Bilovecky is the brains behind their formidable guitar riffs and Strang’s lyrical prowess is ever prominent. Quite unbelievably, Strang had never sung before forming Frayle, but by a stroke of fate she fell into the role naturally. One of her strengths as a vocalist is to pour pieces of her soul into each song, often in an attempt to work through old wounds. However, there are some songs that continue to weigh heavy even after-the-fact and for this record, “Souvenirs Of Your Betrayal” is one of them.
Strang gets vulnerable, saying, “It split my heart, you know, it’s a very, very personal song. I don’t know if I would be able to sing it live because it is so personal. I have a hard time because I do get into my head when I sing songs like that. It’s a little too much. So you probably won’t be hearing that one live anytime soon,” she laughs. “But it’s always good for me to get those emotions out whenever I can and for me to write them down and explore them on paper.”
The thing I find most special about Frayle, is Bilovecky and Strang’s ability to trust one another and play to each other’s strengths. It seems that they are at the point in their romantic relationship, as well as within the band dynamic, that they are able to work intuitively with one another. Bilovecky’s take on that same song really says it all, “I don’t know if it’s my favorite song, but those are my favorite lyrics, and it hits me in the chest. It’s the most emotional song on the record for me. And, you know, musically, I just wanted to make that chorus as thick and nasty and hard and heavy as I could. I just thought everything comes together in that chorus.”
Every facet of Frayle is a new adventure for them, and they are living proof that the old saying rings true…it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. Bilovecky and Strang are reveling in the journey they’re on and learning new tricks along the way. It’s a rare but beautiful thing to be so successful at working as a unit with your significant other. However, these two are able to have fun and put nearly every piece of the production together through their shared vision.
Heretics & Lullabies is out Friday, and you can preorder it from Napalm Records. Follow Frayle on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
