Castle Rat The Bestiary
Released Sep 19, 2025 King Volume Records
Established consensus 5 professional reviews Updated Sep 4, 2026
Mostly positive consensus
Castle Rat's The Bestiary arrives as a vividly theatrical, retro-tinged heavy record that leans into power and doom metal while flirting with folk interludes and 60s psychedelia.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
WOLF I
4 critic mentions
“After the suitably spooky and extravagant opening track Phoenix I, The Bestiary makes its bold introduction with Wolf I, a powerful statement of intent” — Distorted Sound Magazine
SIREN
3 critic mentions
“a compendium on the beasts of the realm as well as the wizard who controls them with tracks like Unicorn and Serpent weaving the land’s mystery” — Distorted Sound Magazine
CRYSTAL CAVE
4 critic mentions
“More adventurous material like the darkly mystical Crystal Cave: Enshrined and languorous epic Sun Song: Behold The Flame indicate that Castle Rat have plenty of imagination” — Classic Rock Magazine
Full critic consensus
Castle Rat's The Bestiary arrives as a vividly theatrical, retro-tinged heavy record that leans into power and doom metal while flirting with folk interludes and 60s psychedelia. Across five professional reviews the collection earned a 73.4/100 consensus score, and critics consistently point to anthemic moments and strong songwriting even as they flag uneven mixing and pacing. For listeners wondering "is The Bestiary good," the critical consensus suggests a mostly rewarding listen that occasionally staggers under production and runtime choices.
Reviewers agree the best songs on The Bestiary are the ones that marry big riffs to memorable hooks: “WOLF I” emerges repeatedly as the record's centerpiece, while “SIREN”, “CRYSTAL CAVE”, “SUN SONG” and “PATH OF MOSS” are cited across reviews as standout tracks. Critics praised the album's world-building, theatricality and nostalgic, retro heavy metal energy, noting cinematic acoustic touches and ambient passages that broaden the band’s palette. At the same time several professional reviews call out muddied mastering, submerged vocals and moments of bloat that keep a truly classic statement just out of reach.
Taken together the reviews frame The Bestiary as a confident, frequently thrilling sophomore statement from Castle Rat - essential for fans of epic metal and doom revival but mixed enough in execution that those hunting for pristine production should temper expectations. The detailed reviews below unpack where the record soars, which tracks land hardest, and why critics remain excited about the band's theatrical promise.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
PHOENIX I
WOLF I
WIZARD
SIREN
UNICORN
PATH OF MOSS
CRYSTAL CAVE
SERPENT
WOLF II
DRAGON
SUMMONING SPELL
SUN SONG
PHOENIX II
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 5 critics who reviewed this album
Cl
Critic's Take
Castle Rat sound like they have stepped out of a Windsor-Smith poster, and on The Bestiary the best songs - specifically “WOLF I” and “WIZARD” - wear that heroic, old-school doom on their sleeves. Dom Lawson revels in the record's joyful authenticity, noting how tracks such as “CRYSTAL CAVE” and “SUN SONG” broaden the band's imagination while acoustic pieces like “PATH OF MOSS” and “SUMMONING SPELL” bind the album cinematically. The review names these as the standout moments that proclaim Castle Rat as one of the most exciting new bands, a sentiment that answers searches for best tracks on The Bestiary with clear, reviewer-styled praise.
Key Points
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The best song is “WOLF I” for its embodiment of the band’s authentic, old-school doom and single-worthy potency.
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The album’s core strengths are its vivid fantasy atmosphere, classic doom heritage, and the cinematic contrast of acoustic interludes.
Themes
Di
Critic's Take
In a joyful, slightly over-the-top tone Rowan Bruce celebrates Castle Rat and their second album The Bestiary for reviving melodramatic fantasy metal. He singles out tracks such as “Wolf I” and “Crystal Cave” as highlights, praising the band’s blend of stony riffs and cinematic swells. The reviewer emphasizes how songs like “Dragon” pull in RED FANG and BARONESS-style stoner progressions while “Unicorn” and “Serpent” deepen the album’s lore. Overall the piece frames the best songs on The Bestiary as triumphant, nostalgic yet modern, and irresistibly theatrical.
Key Points
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The best song is centered on 'Wolf I' for its powerful statement of intent and successful blend of stoner and classic metal.
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The album’s core strengths are vivid fantasy world-building, theatrical power metal riffs, and modern production that refreshes retro influences.
Themes
St
Critic's Take
Castle Rat's The Bestiary finds its best tracks in the evocative, ambient moments and the glam-leaning surprises, especially “SIREN” and “Sun Song”. The reviewer praises “SIREN” for its exceptionally strong opening riff and improved mixing, and highlights “Sun Song” as the most sonically interesting song with a phenomenal breakdown. At the same time, mixing inconsistencies and submerged vocals keep songs like “WIZARD” from fully delivering, so the best tracks are those that either embrace atmosphere or crisp production. Overall, fans searching for the best songs on The Bestiary will find them in these standouts that balance melody, ambience and theatrical bravado.
Key Points
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The best song is judged by strong mixing, memorable riffs and dramatic breakdowns, exemplified by "SIREN" and "Sun Song".
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The album's core strengths are atmosphere, theatrical fantasy motifs, and moments of excellent production, tempered by inconsistent mixing.
Themes
An
Critic's Take
New York’s Castle Rat return with an ambitious sophomore set, The Bestiary, where the best songs - notably “Wolf I” and “Wizard” - ride big, rollicking riffs and earworm hooks. The reviewer leans into the band’s theatrical, retro doom charms, praising the bluesy swagger and poppier sensibilities that make tracks like “Siren” and “Unicorn” memorable while noting the record’s padded runtime and bricked mastering dull some moments. Overall the review positions the album as a solid, fun follow-up with killer tunes but uneven pacing and production that keep it from fully delivering.
Key Points
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“Wolf I” is the best song due to its rollicking, bluesy doom swagger and earworm hooks.
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The album’s strengths are infectious, retro songwriting and theatrical, fantasy-clad doom, tempered by production and pacing issues.