Perfect in time for the Halloween season, Cleveland-based heavy witch doom act FRAYLE, who just recently announced a series of European tour dates kicking off by the end of this month, has premiered a haunting new video clip for their stunning version of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" by iconic dark wave titans BAUHAUS! FRAYLE will also be one of the first US bands touring Europe since the beginning of the pandemic.
The doom duo makes music for the night sky. The group was formed in 2017 by guitarist Sean Bilovecky (formerly of now-defunct Man's Ruin recording artists Disengage) and vocalist Gwyn Strang, a singer with an alluring voice and an equally compelling flair for imagery. Ever since their 2018- debut EP The White Witch, FRAYLE’s “lullabies over chaos” approach to songwriting allows the group the freedom to explore what is possible with heavy music; its gorgeously ominous sound a result of complex layering and tone stacking while simultaneously overseeing the perfectly delicate balance between heaving, heavy riffs and haunting vocal melodies. With its first full-length, 1692 (released in 2020 via Aqualamb Records and Lay Bare Recordings) – which has been lauded by the international music press such as Revolver Magazine, Kerrang!, Metal Injection, Pop Matters and Consequence Of Sound to name just a few – FRAYLE pushes the immense intensity and gorgeous ache of its unique sound and style through to uncompromising new plateaus. While there is much darkness on the record, it’s also contrasted superbly with beauty, both fragile and fierce, in a way that feels weightless rather than plummeting, as if release truly is a possibility.
Just exclusively premiered with Revolver Magazine, you can now watch FRAYLE's haunting new video clip for their unique cover version of the BAUHAUS classic, "Bela Lugosi's Dead", right here:
Frayle Bela Lugosi's Dead Official - YouTube
"I was nervous to cover “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”. Vocalist Gwyn Strang comments.
"It’s what I consider a perfect song; ambient and creepy and it crawls along, keeping your attention the entire time. I wanted to make sure we did it justice so we took some extra time with it to make it something we’re happy to share. The first half of our version pays homage to the original while the second half is definitively “Frayle”.
Complex layering and tone stacking is a hallmark of their music. Each musical element is thoughtfully composed resulting in a unique combination of midrange-heavy guitars, syncopated rhythms, and unexpected vocal progressions. Extraordinary vocalist Gwyn tells stories of heart break, anger, hypocrisy and resolution, asking the audience for empathy, and in turn inspiring vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from bands like Sleep, Portishead, Beastwars, Blonde Redhead, Kyuss, Massive Attack, Down, Chelsea Wolfe, and many more, FRAYLE exists at the intersection of doom and dream pop.
As one of the first US bands who will be back in Europe since the pandemic, FRAYLE are currently gearing up to hit the road by the end of this month. Make sure to catch their stunning performances live at the following dates:
- 27.10.2021 Cologne DE @ Sonic Ballroom
- 28.10.2021 Nijmegen NL @ Merleyn*
- 29.10.2021 Utrecht NL @ DB’s*
- 30.10.2021 Ghent BE @ Desertfest
- 31.10.2021 Breda BE @ Mezz*
- 1.11.2021 Bilzen BE @ South of Heaven*
- 4.11.2021 Stuttgart DE @ Club Cann
- 5.11.2021 Leipzig DE @ Bandhaus
- 6.11.2021 Terneuzen NL @ The Pit*
- 7.11.2021 Dutch Doom Days NL @ Baroeg
* with THE FIFTH ALLIANCE + MOULD