Brooklyn’s Doom Metal provocateurs Castle Rat return with their anticipated second album, The Bestiary. A concept album that is equal parts sonic spellbook and theatrical escapade, it is another chapter in the saga of a unique band. Following their viral live performance, which feels like a medieval dark fantasy realm, they invite nerds and fantasy freaks to come and jam out with the heaviest of metalheads, all in the same room. A stunning display of how the culture of music is vast and intimidatingly creative.
Set for release on September 19, 2025, through King Volume Records (US) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe), The Bestiary, along with 2024’s Into the Realm and the 2022 EP Feed the Dream, are stunning conjurations of a realm where beasts roam, rituals unfold, and riffs reign supreme.
Led by Riley “The Rat Queen” Pinkerton, Castle Rat does not just play music; they perform myth. Their stage personas (The Count, The Plague Doctor, The All-Seeing Druid) are more than costumes; they are avatars in a sprawling fantasy narrative that unfolds track by track. One cannot forget Death herself, the Rat Reaperess, who appears in musical videos and live performances, waging war against the party of bardic adventurers. With The Bestiary, the band leans fully into its lore, offering listeners a guided tour through a haunted menagerie of snakes, dragons, and spectral wizards. Each musician harnesses their persona in a standout way that feels authentic and alluring. Even if he cannot really suck your blood, you will want The Count to steal your soul as he plays the guitar beside the Rat Queen.
Produced by Randall Dunn, the album’s sound is cavernous and cinematic, opting for echoes and shadows to prove its power. Opener “Phoenix I” sets the tone with thunderous drums and expansive and cavernous guitar work, while “The Wizard” lumbers forward like a cursed procession, drenched in reverb and menace. Pinkerton’s vocals oscillate between ethereal and feral, channeling the ghost of Grace Slick with the bite of Diamanda Galás. What makes bands like this great is the vocals, which have to stand out from the slew of whining screams and guttural groans of heavy metal. Think about the phantom sound of Sabbath’s Osbourne or the steely attack of Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford.
Standout track “Crystal Cave” offers a moment of eerie respite, weaving Acoustic Folk into the Doom tapestry. It is a haunting ballad that recalls Lucifer’s softer moments, proving Castle Rat’s range extends beyond distortion and dread. Meanwhile, “Dragon” breathes fire with a ’70s stoner groove that would make Green Lung proud.
Still, the album’s theatricality may be polarizing. For some, the Fantasy tropes and campy visuals might feel over-the-top. But for fans of Faetooth, Blackwater, or anyone who has ever wanted their Doom Metal served with a side of sword-and-sorcery, The Bestiary is pure enchantment.
Putting it simply, Castle Rat has crafted more than an album—they have built a realm. With The Bestiary, they invite listeners to step inside, pledge fealty, and lose themselves in the fog. It is a bold, immersive sophomore album that proves Doom Metal can be both heavy and imaginative, brutal and beautiful. That is why Cryptic Rock gives The Bestiary 4.5 out of 5 stars
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