Castle Rat has built a reputation as one of the
most theatrical and lore-driven new bands in heavy metal. Emerging from New
York City in 2019, they’ve carried their mythology to stages across the US and
Europe, battling their invented nemesis, the Rat
Reaperess, with as much flair as they deliver riffs. Fronted by The Rat Queen (Riley
Pinkerton), the band combines sword-and-sorcery pageantry with a
foundation of classic doom and NWOBHM, supported by The
Count on lead guitar, The Plague Doctor
on bass, and The All-Seeing Druid behind the
drums. Their live shows are spectacles, merging metal performance with fantasy
storytelling. Following the success of their debut “Into The Realm” and a
record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, Castle Rat returns
with their second full-length, “The Bestiary.” Produced by Randall Dunn and mixed by Jonathan
Nuñez, the album aims to capture the band’s fantastical energy while
expanding their universe.
“The Bestiary” presents itself as a tome of mythical creatures brought to life in sound. Across its thirteen tracks, the band summons beasts like the wolf, dragon, serpent, and phoenix, each conjured with riffs steeped in heavy tradition. The album moves through interludes and songs balancing narrative transitions with immersive storytelling. There is something ritualistic in the way the songs are sequenced, moving from fire and battle into darker landscapes before reaching ascension again in its closing.
Musically, Castle Rat operates in a world heavy, theatrical,
and firmly anchored in classic traditions. The guitars swing between galloping
rhythms and slower, doom-laden passages, while the vocals of The Rat Queen bring authority and mysticism to the
stories being told. “The production by Randall Dunn
gives the album a thick and analog sound, powerful and rough around the
edges in a way that keeps the band’s energy intact.
For fans drawn to bands like Pagan Altar, Cirith Ungol, or early Pentagram, this album offers a similar devotion to riff-based heavy metal, yet wrapped in the band’s singular vision of fantasy and stagecraft. The experience is not only musical but also imaginative, pulling the listener deeper into the lore of The Realm.
With “The Bestiary,” Castle Rat delivers an album that is as much an adventure as it is a collection of songs. It’s heavy metal in its most mythic form, performed with total commitment to its own world-building and given weight by strong performances throughout. This is an album that will resonate with anyone who craves heavy riffs tied to sword-and-sorcery storytelling, and it cements Castle Rat as one of the most imaginative young bands currently operating in the underground.
Score: 7.7
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