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CASTLE RAT “The Bestiary”
CASTLE RAT “The Bestiary”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Never underestimate the power of hotness. No band has blown up faster in the last couple of years than fantasy doom outfit CASTLE RAT, who seem poised on the edge of a breakout. I’m thinking much of their success can be chalked up to their striking frontwoman The Rat Queen, who’s Red Sonja likeness is the dream of every sword and sorcery cosplayer in the land. You can include the Dr. In that bunch, as I’m hardly immune to statuesque redheads swinging swords and riding unicorns.
I thought CASTLE RAT’s last album “Into the Realm” was good...even great in spots...but not really a full fledged classic. “The Bestiary” boasts a much richer sound as well as the maturity an extra couple of years brings but is it the next level breakout?
I’m a bit frustrated with CASTLE RAT because there are still moments of greatness here, but as a whole, the record seems to be on the saccharine side, with plenty of acoustic moments and sweetness from the Rat Queen. I feel they should give in to the epic melodic doom found on “Wizard” and “Sun Song” instead of piddling around with restrained, folky stuff like “Summoning Spell” and “Phoenix II”. Rat Queen Riley’s voice is enchanting on the softer moments, of which there are many, but she is truly inspiring when she goes all out on “Wizard”, which is such an amazing song vocally...dreamy yet very powerful and metallic.
Some would argue the subdued dreaminess is what makes CASTLE RAT unique. That’s true to an extent, but it’s the more powerful and metallic moments I remember, not the slow, restrained ones. Cuts like “Dragon” and “Serpent” bring the thunder with a quicker (but not too quick) pace. Although Riley understandably gets more of the limelight, I do have to say that the rest of the band comes across very well, with thunderous drumming from “The All-Seeing Druid” and excellent lead work from “The Count”.
“The Bestiary” is bigger, louder and clearer than “Into the Realm” but is the songwriting better? I couldn’t really say so. CASTLE RAT may very well be huge, but I don’t think they’ve really tapped into just how powerful they can sound yet.
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