Band : Castrofate

Album title : Awakening Of The Beast

Label : Private/ Hangnail Productions

Distributor : Private

Release date : April 2007

Release : CD

New York (City) based Castrofate was borne in 2004 from Dan " Riffmeister " Castro 's need to finally form his own band, influenced by the old shool Metal from such bands as Metallica , Pantera , Slayer , Death , Black Sabbath , and Iron Maiden . The band itself took some time a-coming, but the man himself, with the aid of drummer Rob Menak already started recording the bass, drums, and guitar tracks for the 8 songs on this debut cd-R in 2004 and 2005. In 2006 followed recordings for vocals and additional guitars (for the details interested: including a guest harmony guitar solo to the solo during the track "Punishment" by John Rup , whose studio was being used). The logo was developed by noted artist Matthias Noren from an idea by Dan , and the demo-CD got released in April 2007. One Lewis Rosado joined the band shortly after on the bass.

The band made its live debut on the first day of the two-day Brooklyn Metalfest (where they opened up for mùch bigger bands like Ross The Boss , Cities (featuring AJ Pero of Twisted Sister ), Zandelle , and 4 other bands. Through sheer luck or decent promotion (...whatever!) Castrofate (with a different rhythm section borrowed from Combat ) the band then also played at the Metal Meltdown 3 event (also in NYC) in August, and got their demo "distributed" through internet stores CDBaby and Old School Records starting late September. Meanwhile, Dan was already planning to start recordings on his sophomore album, and news came through that Castrofate would be part of the line-up of the 3-day festival TMT Metal Fest in July 2008 (where the band will be opening for such luminaries as Flotsam & Jetsam and Attacker to name but a few. And on April 5 th of last, the band travelled to Sayreville in New Jersey to open for Testament . (of course the band did other gigs in between, but these mentioned ones were their highlights, and they also have a support slot for Raven lined up for April 26)

So now the band has an upcoming 10-track somphomore album recorded (with drummer Dmitriy Shnaydman ) and all ready for release in the very near future, but in the meantime we still have to deal with Castrofate 's first...and I'm afraid I have to say I am only mildly enthousiastic about what I hear on the disc. You see, while the music certainly could benefit from a better production (hey, but wouldn't a lót of demo recordings?), the old school Thrash Metal on offer is interesting enough...for people stuck in the whole 1983 scene! Still rough at the edges with some really typical riffs 'n' solos, it's the vocal department which strikes a wrong chord in my book. I mean, Dan should either take singing lessons, or let the singing be done by a proper singer altogether! Even giving the album multiple spins in the cd-player will not make me get somewhat used to Dan 's vocal signature, and I have heard a real wide variety of "singers". Check out the 3 songs (and multiple live videos with a sound quality which does not work in Castrofate 's advantage; also of brandnew tracks, and even of Metallica 's "No Remorse" ) off this album posted at myspace.com/castrofate, and see what you think of it yourself! Let's hope the second album recorded with producer Vin Cin (whom apparently also happens to be the occasional live lead guitarist) sees Dan 's voice directed in a better delivery mode, because a band usually stands or falls with its frontman. In this case, I'm afraid Dan wouldn't even get into the preliminaries on talent shows! As things stand, the best tracks on this album are the instrumental "Silent Agony" and the 9:24 "Crossing Infinity" which, because of its length, also contains a considerable instrumental part!

When push comes to shove, I also have to give this my (personal) rating, and I ain't sure which way to turn at the moment. Musically, the band is so-so alright (is a great opener for bigger bands, for sure...because the latter mustn't be afraid to be out-played by their support, see what I mean?) but will probably never get out of their local circuit (unless some really weird things happen, or the band gets themselves a proper frontman, of course). Aaarch...I'm a nice guy and I can't be nasty, and after all Dan puts his whole heart into his music, so...

69/100

Tony.