I recently talked about Castle Rat, and so I ended up grabbing their newest album, The Bestiary. It seems they may be getting some haters or whatever based on what sounds like their shtick or the scantily clad female fronting the band. Whatever. I’m here for the music, and that’s what I’ll talk about.
Phoenix I is the noisy, windy sounding opener that rolls in that epic sounding riff and melds it right into the similarly sounding Wolf I. A guitar and vocal beginning that adds more as it goes and maintains that epicness that started the album.
Wizard slows the pace a hair but maintains the tone of the album. I dig the variation in vocals on this one as far as delivery. It becomes more a metal song by the time the song ends. Siren carries over the heavier riffage with more of a march or stomp in the rhythm. Vocals stretching out over the riffs, like that siren call. The guitar solos on the album are on the metal side and blend well with the riffs.
Unicorn is another guitar and vocal beginning track. Sounding a little more doomish in tone. The pace is slower, and that helps maintain the doomy-ness as the full band brings in the thunder. Path of Moss serves as an instrumental interlude over to Crystal Cave. It carries over that somber feeling started by Path of Moss. Slowly building up and bringing in the heavy sounds to that somber feeling.
Serpent has a bit more of a rock feeling as it kicks off but still matches the mood and tone of the album. Wolf II rolls with acoustic guitar and vocals, giving that medieval vibe and carries it through. Dragon brings in some bouncy riffage that has a familiar sound. Head bobber for sure.
Summoning Spell says what it is. Sounding like a chant, but maybe more like a siren call. Sun Song starts off similarly and quickly brings in the heavy. Phoenix II closes the album in a way reminiscent of Wolf II. Just some acoustic guitar and ambient sound to soften the landing of the end of the album.
Go give it a listen.
slow draw is... 