Castle Rat is a Fantasy Doom quartet
from Brooklyn, New York. Led by the charismatic Rat Queen singer/guitarist/songwriter
Riley Pinkerton, this band is the complete package. Each band member has his
own nickname and stage persona. They put on theatrical shows reminiscent of ‘70s
rock band Sorcery and the heydays of Alice Cooper and KISS. Their music is
unique and addictive, and Pinkerton on top of looking like a goddess, can
really sing. Castle Rat’s debut, Into the
Realm, is an album many, including myself, have been eagerly anticipating
for a while now. Does it deliver? You bet!
It’s a short and sweet affair of
33 minutes, but this 9-track collection starts off with a bang with “Dagger Dragger”,
one of the early singles, with its catchy, relentless riffs. “Feed the Dream”
is equally great, only slightly faster. “Resurrector” is a brief, ultra cool
bass instrumental. “Red Sands” is a hypnotic, slow and heavy number. “The
Mirror” is another terrific short, mystical instrumental. “Cry for Me” features
gorgeous vocals from Rat Queen Riley and may very well be my favourite song on
the album. “Realm” is the third and final melancholic instrumental interlude. “Fresh
Fur”, another single, has a foreboding riff and semi-nonsensical lyrics; I love
it! “Nightblood” is a highlight of the album, a doomier than doom offering that’s
a perfect closer.
Castle Rat’s Into the Realm is a phenomenal album. Songs that stay with you long
after the record stops spinning, filled with fantasy/horror imagery that reminds
me at times of Jean Rollin’s stylish ‘70s horror movies. There’s way more to
this band than groovy costumes and flashy stage theatrics. They make awesome
music that’s catchy and melodic. Anyone who’s into old school doom, ‘70s classic
rock, or just damn good tunes is bound to enjoy this LP. A definite Album of
the Year contender, pick this one up at your earliest convenience.
Castle Rat on Bandcamp: https://castleratband.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-realm-2
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