CASTLE RAT
THE BESTIARY
Emerging from New York's vile, creature-infested underground, fantasy heavy metal purveyors CASTLE RAT have released their sophomore album through their own label.
Artist:Castle Rat
Release date: Sept 19th, 2025
Genre: Doom Metal/Progressive Rock
Length: 49 Minutes, 13 Tracks
My Overall thoughts: Well, my very initial thought has been where has this been all my life, at least on the latter half of my adult journey. Having searched and searched, sifting through various artists I have heard over the years that wanted to either be Blac Sabbath or someone I know tried to convince me they are here to replace the band that has set the standard in this genre for decades, at least for this listener. Then here is Castle Rat, which on first listen struck me as the first to come very close to representing as Sabbath once did, as female fronted version of that sound.
Yet there remain key differences, and I should say while I mean this in the highest regard, I also want to be fair to a very, very good band here and say while they certainly remind me of Sabbath in no way does it mimic or plagiarize that sound in any detail. In fact, the first key difference is here is a band that has embraced a fantasy theme versus a horror theme. However, beyond that distinct genre shift also sits a very interesting arrangement as well. The way in which this album flows, embracing the almost overthrown term of concept is not to be understated. This has a wonderful mix of magical séance and pulsing guitar riffs, held in beat and check by the majestic percussion. There are incredible lyrics that lead you into a world of fantasy that are found in Joe Abercrombie or David Green quests and equally some sinisterness that is often associated in those books as well.
Yet there remain key differences, and I should say while I mean this in the highest regard, I also want to be fair to a very, very good band here and say while they certainly remind me of Sabbath in no way does it mimic or plagiarize that sound in any detail. In fact, the first key difference is here is a band that has embraced a fantasy theme versus a horror theme. However, beyond that distinct genre shift also sits a very interesting arrangement as well. The way in which this album flows, embracing the almost overthrown term of concept is not to be understated. This has a wonderful mix of magical séance and pulsing guitar riffs, held in beat and check by the majestic percussion. There are incredible lyrics that lead you into a world of fantasy that are found in Joe Abercrombie or David Green quests and equally some sinisterness that is often associated in those books as well.
So here is a track by track look into The Bestiary...
1. PHOENIX I - Okay, first, sequel titles rule! Not enough bands utilize this fun, quirky aspect even though it is beyond clear that a song is influenced by another song. This is just a nice beautifully composed and subtle meditation of the musical prowess to come. I love the soft echoing darkness that forbodes here. It has this kind of King Diamond-esque interlude without the creepy vocals or satanic prose that typically accompanies these strings. I love that they don't go there. It's rich and palatable as a close your eyes and get ready to be swept away.
2. WOLF I - The anthem-ish way in which this song stomps right in is amazing, the riff that controls it is equally as stout, but it all begins and ends with The Rat Queen Riley Pinkerton who literally sets this War Pigs like cadence and drops into a beautiful chorus overture. There is something majestic about how this all feels like a sweeping wind into a void only to pulse until its pounds into the snowbanks with fists of guitar fury. This is an amazing start.
3. WIZARD - The prog like cadence that blisters here is not subtle but its not aggressive either. It's a perfect blend of fists and horns in the air, with headbangs into deep meditations that make you dance and sway in place. This song also may be the best lyrically of the bunch, "O, Wizard, your sorcery′s admired...I can feel its shape...I can feel you as you tire...Within you a crystal heart is beating." The other neat thing about this song is there a nice 70's style up-tempo but within rhythm chorus, it speeds up just a little. Great drum work there by The Druid Josh Strmic.
5. UNICORN - Again the pattern holds true as there is a tad of what makes Siren so beautiful vocally left behind to lead us into an inverted new song and with it comes this awesome percussion lead that beats like a native land's harmonic ritualistic conjuring. Then Riley just projects through it with King Diamond like precision, not as soprano but not full alto either, its a nice mix. This might be the one song that is of kind one note though, it never really experiences a tempo change and thus toward the end kind of flickers.
6. PATH OF MOSS - In a much needed change of pace and a more modern production, both with the guitar work but in feel. A nice interlude to take a breath on.
7. CRYSTAL CAVE - What's kind of interesting here is it bleeds into this song and lets Riley kind of just sing with this fantastical reverence like that of Bruce Dickinson interlude. This has a very Iron Maiden feel at first as it balances a beat that starts to creep in from the back but it doesn't stay there, this is more of an Elf or Doro escapism. Again, because the shift is earlier in the song this becomes one note kind of faster than Unicorn.
8. SERPENT - This has a much more mainstream beat, and it feels stronger than it is because of its previous tracks before it. On its own, this feels very here's the single and commercial song. While there is nothing wrong with that, it doesn't have the same sting as the rest of its compadres. Yet it has this neat bridge with an awesome Alter Bridge like guitar duel which leads into maybe the best solo on the album. I like we get like a Dio-ish fade away here too.
9. WOLF II - The hunt is on and why not make it folky? I love it. I also love how lyrically this picks right up from where WOLF I ends. Very clear stuff. There is anticipation it builds with the opportunity to just rip right into a monstrous riff or headbanging blistering but instead it stays true to the folkiness and withers like it should it a township shanti.
10. DRAGON - Here's where Castle Rat doesn't want us to forget it can really rip. There is this steeple chasing build that comes in layers here. I love the musical stop that allows the echo chamber vocal that just beautifully resonates here. Again, though as you realize no tempo change is coming you feel let down at the end a little by its constancy. Not a lot of bands stay this committed and true though and there is something to be said for that as well, phonically its hard to stay with sometimes, you are hoping for more anthems or choruses instead of long overtures.
11. SUMMONING SPELL - Theatrical interludes are not void here, a little longer than maybe it should be but there is a nice beautiful again synchronicity with the ethereal long high notes that sustain in the background. Love the clattering percussion notes here too.
12. SUN SONG - For the first time we are privileged to hear Riley belt the chorus's keynotes with acapella. Cool that it's toward the end we get something a little unique to this album experience. If you were to just listen to this song alone, you probably mistakenly guess this is more of the norm for this band. It gives off that vibe for sure, but I like that they keep us guessing, at least in the album experience. What is really cool is you get this almost Alice In Chains, more modern riffing that this leads into and it has this very strong accompaniment to The Rat Queen's vocal stylings, which makes me wish for the middling songs to have more of it.
13. PHOENIX II - let us finish how we began in admiration and gratitude for the incredible and solid work done here. This is old school album making and it is an experience more than it is a stand out singularity. A very nice orchestral piece to put the cherry on the sundae here.
This album brings you back to a time when Prog had vision and storytelling had merit underneath the veils of rock n roll. It is a blend of the new highlights of progress in sound engineering and yet homage to those who have belted the fantastical before Castle Rat. While I will hope for more what we got in the stronger riffs and the more modern senses in future, I am far from disappointed or upset at what this album does. Quite the opposite actually.
YOU CAN INDULGE IN THE SAME EXPEREINCE OR GO
YOU CAN INDULGE IN THE SAME EXPEREINCE OR GO
ON YOUR OWN JOURNEY WITH CASTLE RAT AND THE BESTIARY HERE
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