Frayle - Heretics & Lullabies
Napalm Records – 2025
Metal, Doom, Gothic, Pop
Rated: ***
The sighing girl of the doom metal scene is back with a new album called Heretics & Lullabies. And on it Frayle seems able to make an even grander connection between their gothic touched doom metal and all sort of pop influences. This will bring their dark and hypnotic sound to an even wider audience. Released through Napalm Records, this is the third full-length album by vocalist Gwyn Strang and guitarist Sean Bilovecky. And on it, they sound even tighter and more confident then before, comfortably embracing those pop sensibilities and atmospheric melody.
They have always thrived on contrast, massive, sludgy riffs rubbing shoulders with Strang’s ethereal sighing voice. And on Heretics & Lullabies it is the very definition of the album. Compact songs, with melodic arcs and surprisingly accessible compositions that still seem to be able to hold on to the band’s dark essence. Walking Wounded opens the ball and is definitely heavy but seems to linger more on hauntingly beautiful. The cover version of Lana Del Ray’s Summertime Sadness seems entirely logical for this album and illustrates perfectly how Frayle blends all that pop melancholy with the weight of doom.
The minor moments of interplay between Strang’s delicate vocals and the male growls, delivered by Jason Popson (ex-Mushroomhead and many more) adds a welcome touch of variety and power. And when gothic romanticism comes into play, songs like Glass Blown Heart and Souvenirs of Your Betrayal come closer to a haunted dream sequence than a traditional metal record. Frayle definitely proves that doom metal does not have to be oppressive, it can also move with grace and melodicism. And somewhere on the tightrope of heavy and beauty, Frayle is destined to craft a sound that is both inviting and unsettling. Frayle proves that doom metal doesn’t have to be oppressive. For Frayle’s Heretics & Lullabies is graceful, melodic, and even pop infused. And even though we keep repeating ourselves, the band does not, they strike a rare balance between heaviness and beauty, crafting a sound that is both inviting and unsettling. Let’s hope they can keep crossing those wires for a long time to come…
(Written by JK)
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