CASTROFATE
Track One: Awakening Of The Beast
Track Two: Serpentine Form
Track Three: Punishment
Track Five: Silent Agony
Track Six: Time Horror
Track Seven: Crossing Infinity
Track Eight: Moment of Cataclysm
Finally, Mr. Castro and co. have unleashed their long awaited brand of Thrash Metal. Just think: what I’ve just heard here is the columniation of the efforts of two musicians. Dan Castro performed all guitars, bass, and vocals and Rob Menak performed all drums. A live band is being assembled as I write this review, and I cannot wait to see this shit live (check out my reviews on Magus Beast live….you’ll see). After really checking out the lyrical content, I realized that this album is a concept album. Despite the fact, each song can stand strongly by itself. With all that said, I feel Dan needs to tweek his vocals a bit and come into his own....then he'll really devestate!! Complete with eight tracks, a pro job on the packaging, and a great mix on the sound, Awakening Of The Beast is a bone-crushing tempest of Thrash Metal fury!!!
RATING: 9 of 10
WEBSITE
MYSPACE PAGE
RAVENSTHORN
Tack One: The Ouija
Track Three: Up From The Crypt
Three songs are offered here to give a glimpse of what “Horrors Of The Black Mass” will have in store. I cannot wait for this album to be released, as I’m sure it will appeal to fans of Thrash, Speed, Power, and Old-School Metal. It is no wonder that Ravensthorn gains new fans wherever they perform……..get ready to bang your head!
RATING: 10 of 10
WEBSITE
MYSPACE PAGE
Awakening Of The Beast
(c) 2007 Independent
Wasting NO time with atmospheric intros, Castrofate BLAST into the title track “Awakening Of The Beast” with a SHREDDING guitar riff. In case you haven’t heard, the former axe man of Twilight Odyssey / current bassist of Magus Beast and rhythm guitarist of Gothic Knights has unleashed a long overdue dose of Thrash Metal madness. Always a big fan of Thrash, main songwriter and composer Dan “Kuzin Dan” Castro seems to have NO problem shining on each track presented here. Imagine if Death and Venom fused together…..the outcome is what we have presented here. Add in a little touch of Cowboys From Hell era Pantera and you’ve got all the ingredients of heavy, melodic, old school, and evil Thrash Metal!! Fast riffs, chugging guitar, and screaming solos are delivered on top of Dan’s raspy, angry vocals. The addiction has begun……..
Sticking to his roots, Castro continues his relentless assault of good old Thrash Metal. In “Serpentine Form”, we have al little dose of Death Metal vocals that compliment this song very well. The guitar riff is a very groovy kind of melody that reminds me of something I’d hear from Pantera’s “Walk”. Drummer Rob “Kuzin Rob” Menak pounds that shit out of his drums. I am curious to see if he will incorporate any double bass drum work going further, as I feel this will really give the music a certain crunch.
This song has got to be the BEST on the album……..one listen and you’ll find yourself reaching for the REPEAT button on your CD player. Fast, melodic guitar dominates the listener into thrashing fury……this song is packed with a strong punch along the fast aggression I have now come to expect from Castrofate. The lyrics are brutal, as seen especially in the chorus: I’ll have my revenge / It’s burning deep inside me / I have the power / Retribution, pumping through my veins. The solos here are amazing, compliments of Dan and his guest musician: the one and only John Rup of Magus Beast. “Punishment” is pure Metal Madness!
Track Four: Death Throes
The melodies here seem to “jump” at you…..this is really the best way to describe it. The fast guitar and angry vocals one again rule, and the added evil Death Metal vocals are placed in the right places. The bass finally sees a little of the spotlight after the three-minute mark. Flange effect lead into a GREAT solo, which brings this song full circle with its chorus and “jumpy” melody. Watch out for the pit on this song!
Semi-acoustic, echoed guitar opens this Death/Testament influenced musical, showcasing Dan’s abilities on guitar. Packed with riffs and heavy guitar, “Silent Agony” is on no way a silent statement. Make room for the next Chuck Shundler (….well, almost. NO ONE can replace good old Chuck!!)
The chugging guitar and riffs in “Time Horror” hammer the constant reminder that Castrofate is pure NYC Thrash Metal!!! This song deals with time travel, and it’s too bad Castrofate couldn’t indeed do just that, as I’m sure their brand of metal would shine “back in the day”. Dan’s guitar playing reminds me of something I’d hear from a Death album…..this is classic shit!!!
Stretching out to over nine minutes in playing time, “Crossing Infinity” is the longest song on this album. Despite its length, I really enjoyed this song. I am glad that this song was placed this far into the album; such a long song looses attention if it’s placed in the beginning of an album. Having been warmed up to Castrofate, “Crossing Infinity” was a nice treat with all the expected metal riffs I now yearned to hear, rather than being some boring, drawn out song from an unfamiliar band. Kudos guys! Check out the excellent guitar work after the last verse…..it kicks ass over and over again. The song is rounded and ended by the chorus.
The final track on Awakening the Beast offers another fast paced Thrash Metal riff greeting us in the beginning of the song. This riff remains dominate throughout the song alongside Kuzin Rob’s fast drum work (still no double bass….this would have sounded great here). “Moment of Cataclysm” is a riff oriented, fast paced Thrash Metal ride through hell. The soaring guitar solo toward the end of the song RIPS!!! Influences of Maiden, Kreator, and Death all show their faces here. Hold on…..for “The moment of cataclysm has come”!!!!
3-Track Promo CD for
Horrors Of The Black Mass
(c) 2006/2007 Independent
Anyone who owns a Running Wild CD will immediately be reminded of their excellent spoken word intros that tell a story prior to the first song. Ravensthorn offers their story telling skills in “The Ojia”, where a man attempts to find out how and when he dies. After discovering the answer, he questions the reader of the ouija, who reveals himself to be Satan himself. The song begins with that familiar Ravensthorn guitar. All the high vocals and aggressive overtones are here, with that added edge of power that this band is known for. The chorus is great to sing along to. I really have to comment on the beat this song has; it will keep your head banging in thrashing madness. This only rectifies my opinion of Raventhorn’s strong backbone of Mario on bass and Tony on Drums. Bill and *** play amazing guitar, adding in their spice to the mix yet never straying from that distinct Ravensthorn sound. Bills’ vocals remain the same: in top notch, traditional metal style!!! This is a strong and excellent indication of what’s to come!!
Track Two: Wolf Witchery
Continued speed and aggression dominate in the music of “Wolf Witchery”. Although this band has had some changes in the line up, particularly the guitarists, one cannot deny that Ravensthorn remains on top of their game and have only grown stronger. The duel guitar harmonies at the end of the song are something off an unreleased Maiden album…….this HAS to be heard!!! Tony can be heard pounding the shit out of his drums along side the excellent heavy guitar comparable to speed metal. Bill’s vocals, at some points, reminded me of Flotsam and Jetsom’s “Dooms Day for the Deceiver” era, yet he is still recognized for his own style.
The opening guitar riffs are VERY reminiscent of early German Thrash Metal, a-la Kreator or Destruction. The chugging melodies and aggressive vocals make this song strong enough to get even crippled people standing up at attention and banging their heads. Once again, the guitar solos SHRED, and are amazing. The chorus is simple – “Up From The Crypt!!!”, followed by some evil, demonic vocals repeating the same. That Old-School feel with revitalized energy (did someone say Attacker??) give this song a power-packed punch!
