Album Type:
EP
Date Released:
7/10/2014
Label:
Tridroid Records
‘Still
Rotting’ CS/DD track listing:
1. Beneath These Streets
2. Sickening Corpses
3. Sherm
4. Caught in a Casket
5. Rotting
Bio:
On
October 7th 2014, Tridroid Records will unleash ‘Still Rotting’ by Philadelphia's "CASTLE FREAK".
Self-described as "grinding death punks" the band play sick music
inspired by bands such as Repulsion, Autopsy, Carnivore and old-school
Megadeth.
Staying
true to its old-school roots, ‘Still
Rotting’ will be released on limited edition cassette format by
Tridroid Records. A digital version will also be available.
The
Band:
Andrew Gigan | Vocals/Guitar
Blaze Reichert | Guitar
Dylan Zdanavage | Bass
Pierson Roe | Drums
Review:
At
only 11:37, Castle Freak’s ‘Still Rotting’ EP isn’t going to take up much of
your time, but it’s absolutely time well spent. It’s a reanimation of the
moldered remains of the oldest of all death metals: Repulsion, Autopsy and
Necrophagia circa ‘Season of the Dead’. They even have the good sense to
remember the punk and hardcore roots those bands pulled from in the first
place. It’s primitive, filthy and it’s fucking fun.
Opening
track “Beneath the Streets” is really the only mixed bag of the EP, faltering
only during a brief, but out-of-place mid-paced riff that doesn’t hold together
very well from a rhythmic standpoint. The rest of the song largely focuses on a
lumbering dirge fit for ‘Severed Survival’, which is something they should
feature prominently on future albums/EPs. It’s also a good place to highlight
one of Castle Freak’s greatest strengths: vocals. My inclusion of Necrophagia
in their influences mostly stems from Andrew Gigan’s vocal delivery, which
resembles a somewhat punkier Killjoy circa ‘87. It’s something that sets them
apart from other OSDM bands, and it’s an element of early death metal that
often gets neglected by some of the more cavernous, Incantation-worshipping
bands of the recent old school death metal resurgence.
“Sickening
Corpses” is where the Repulsion spectre looms largest. That beautiful,
slow-grinding blast beat in the context of the lo-fi production and rabid
spitting vocals make for a truly potent combination. The song closes on an
excellent, borderline hardcore riff that pays homage to Carnivore in a style
similar to later era Darkthrone. “Rotting” throws a bit of barbaric
black metal into the mix as well, all of which points to Castle Freak being
keen on avoiding the cliches of current day old school worship bands.
There’s a ton of personality and charisma that pours out of the speakers from moment one of ‘Still Rotting’, and that’s a welcome tact in a scene often populated with dour faces and stern personas. For some, this might reach a little too far back into death metal history. In my case; this is so up my alley it’s got its own permanent cardboard box with a view of the bar’s back door.
Words by: Daniel Jackson
You
can pick up a copy here
For
more information:
