Album Review: Castle Rat – The Bestiary

Castle Rat have once again emerged from New York’s grimy underground like medieval warriors, wielding battle-axes forged from pure, unadulterated riff worship. Their new 13-track odyssey reads like a dungeon master’s fever dream: The Bestiary.

Following their critically acclaimed debut, Into The Realm, the new album is led by the enigmatic “Rat Queen” Riley Pinkerton. It opens with the scene-setting instrumental “Phoenix I,” which then leads into “Wolf I,” a slow-burning epic that immediately establishes the band’s sonic parameters. Pinkerton’s vocals soar with both power and vulnerability, while the guitar work provides a powerful foundation that recalls the best of traditional doom metal, maintaining the dense, atmospheric quality essential to the band’s mystical aesthetic.

“Wizard” stands as perhaps the album’s strongest individual track, a crystal-clear heavy metal anthem wrapped in mystical trappings. The song’s central riff is absolutely massive; the kind of hook that burrows into your skull and refuses to leave. Pinkerton’s vocal performance here is commanding without being overwrought, delivering lines about crystal hearts and magical incantations with genuine conviction.

“Path of Moss” and “Crystal Cave” form the album’s atmospheric centrepiece. The former builds slowly through layers of clean guitar and ambient textures before erupting into the immense heaviness that defines the latter. These transitions feel organic rather than forced, suggesting a band that has learned how to pace an album for maximum impact.

The album’s final act, consisting of “Dragon,” “Summoning Spell,” and “Sun Song” before the closing “Phoenix II,” represents some of Castle Rat’s most ambitious material. “Dragon” is an appropriately epic track that builds from quiet beginnings to an absolutely crushing finale. The guitar harmonies throughout are particularly impressive, creating layers of melody that support rather than compete with each other. “Summoning Spell” serves as an effective palate cleanser, an instrumental piece that showcases the band’s ability to create atmosphere without relying solely on heaviness. It’s followed by “Sun Song,” which feels like a moment of hope and clarity after the album’s darker moments; the contrast is striking and effective.

On the new album, The Rat Queen says:

The Bestiary is a conceptual book of beasts containing a collection of mystical creatures from a world forgotten. The last remaining souls of each have been gathered and preserved by ‘The Wizard.’ Cautionary tales of each beast and The Wizard himself are woven through the power of traditional heavy metal song and spell.

The album concludes with “Phoenix II,” bringing the conceptual narrative full circle and serving as both a satisfying conclusion and a promise of future adventures.