Castrator - Coronation of the Grotesque

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Castrator is a death metal band based in New York City but of international origins; their members come from Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Colombia and USA.  Their latest release, “Coronation of the Grotesque,” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo and an EP.

This is my first experience with the band but it has made a big impression on me–easily one of the best death metal albums in the second half of 2025.  They don’t reinvent the genre but they sure as hell refine it to a very, very sharp point.  

The songwriting is on point–across the album’s 10 song, 37 minute runtime there isn’t one moment that is boring nor any added fluff.  The band gets in, destroys the senses, and gets out, leaving a bludgeon, bloodied corpse that were eardrums behind. 

There are two aspects of the album that make it stand out to me.  First, it’s catchy.  It shouldn’t be: this is visceral, biting music.  But despite that, each song is memorable with a lot of powerful rhythms.  Speaking of powerful:  the rhythm section of bassist Robin, and drummer Carolina is in-fucking-sane.  The two form quite the powerhouse, to say the least.  

Of course, vocalist Clarissa and guitarist Sara bring as much to the table.  Sara’s riffs are chonky as fuck and her solos are out of this world.  Clarissa is an ANIMAL—straight up killer death growls and screams that are absolutely perfect for the style.

Ahem.  I’m getting off topic a bit.  What was the other aspect I was drooling over?  Oh yeah:  the tension, the energy, and the pure non-stop rising action.  This album routinely reaches a climax, surpasses, climbs even higher and just. Won’t. Stop.  

If the opening song, “Fragment of Defiance,” doesn’t convince you either don’t like death metal or you’re dead.  So either way, why are you reading this?  For everyone else, if the urgent rhythm guitar doesn’t get you, or the slower doomy-like passages, then the brutal vocals or unrelenting drums will.  If you somehow survive that?  The bass will finish you off.  I like how this song goes from 0 to 60 on a dime but isn’t afraid to slow it down or have moments of shred.  

“Covenant of Deceit,” is one of my favorites on the album.  I like the opening, what with the eerie bass and disturbing sound bites.  The tone of the instruments speaks volumes, and the charging speed is like a rabid pissed off bull on PCP.  Honestly, I don’t know anything about drugs, but I assume a bull on PCP is the animal equivalent of death metal.  *shrugs.  Anyway, the solo in the later half is amazing and it slides back into riffs a lot smoother than the maddening music might suggest.

“Deviant Miscreant,” is methodical and surgical with its precision beatings.  The riffs are so tight the song constantly feels like it is on the edge of snapping in half.  The sudden melodic passage near the end is fantastic and adds an extra flavorful dimension.  

“Blood Bind’s Curse,” is another banger, the early solo acting as a springboard of sorts for the rest of the band to jump off from.  And it’s a full dive from there, down the deadliest slide in the world filled with huge riffs, monstrous vocals, and a rhythm section that could break the world in half.  The riffs that back up the second solo are insane, and the song ends with a bang borne from that insanity.

“Metal Command,” ends the album…and it actually surpasses the original, mostly because it is ten times heavier and the vocals don’t suck my ass.  Sorry, I like Exodus but all their vocalists suck.  Ahem, getting off topic again.

Castrator’s “Coronation of the Grotesque,” is a wonderful, well-written death metal album that is among the top tier to come out lately.  Don’t miss this one.  

Rating: Excellent



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