Castle Freak - "Human Hive" EP (Review)

By: Daniel Jackson

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 18/03/2016

Label: Independent

Castle Freak blows every other death metal band in the world away in the fun department right now.  As the band blast their way through thirteen minutes of grimy, horror-loving filth, Andrew Gigan continues to be one of the more unique death metal vocalists going today and with Sebastian Phillips now on drums, his breakneck pace makes Castle Freak an even more manic band than before, which is quite the feat.

‘Human Hive’ CS//DD track listing:

1. Sickening Corpses

2. Matul

3. Human Hive

4. Boneyard (Impetigo cover)

5. Toxic Winds

Castle Freak is:

Andrew Gigan | Guitar/Vocals

Zak Carter | Guitar

Ben Anft | Bass

Sebastian Phillips | Drums

The  Review:

I absolutely raved about Castle Freak’s ‘Still Rotting’ EP from 2014, and with good reason. It was down n’ dirty death metal straight out of 1986, with excessive personality and riffs to spare. It was in such sharp contrast to the glut of caverncore and morose OSDM (which is still very much in vogue), that it was impossible to temper my excitement for something so outside the current day norm. Part of that is because the music itself carries such enthusiasm with it, and that enthusiasm is easily transferred to the listener.

After ‘Still Rotting’ was released the band called it quits for a brief period, only to come back quickly with a revamped line-up, including Sebastian Phillips of Noisem on drums. His presence is felt immediately with a re-worked version of “Sickening Corpses” which also appeared on ‘Still Rotting’. Phillips’ breakneck pace makes Castle Freak an even more manic band than before, which is quite the feat. While there is plenty of variety to the EPs tempo and pacing, Phillips brings a bit more imagination and feel to the older songs, along with doing the same for the new tracks as well.

As Castle Freak blast their way through about thirteen minutes of grimy, horror-loving filth, Andrew Gigan continues to be one of the more unique death metal vocalists going today. In certain ways he’s like a powerviolence vocalist thrown onto an old Repulsion album, though a better description of his performance here might be as a better version of Maniac circa Mayhem’s classic ‘Deathcrush’ EP. It’s his voice that pushes the band’s personality over the top, not unlike the dynamic that Killjoy has in Necrophagia, even if the two sound very different from each other, sonically.

The EP closes with “Toxic Winds” which features the best damned sludge groove I’ve heard on a death metal recording since Murder Squad released their horrendously under-appreciated debut ‘Unsane, Insane and Mentally Deranged’ fifteen years ago. It’s the variety in ideas that sets Castle Freak apart from a death metal scene that is probably taking itself a bit too seriously these days. I’m not always in the mood to research ancient burial practices or listen to another take on fucking Lovecraft. Sometimes I want shitty horror movies and ECW match commentary samples, and Castle Freak blows every other death metal band in the world away in the fun department right now. Now, if you need me I’ll be split-screening “Heatwave ‘98” and ‘Dead Alive’ in my underwear.

You can pick up a digital copy here. Check their Facebook page at the link below for cassette copies closer to release date.

Band info: Facebook

Castle Freak - Still Rotting EP (Review)

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:

https://www.facebook.com/CastleFreakPhilly

http://castlefreak.bandcamp.com/releases