Castrator are an international/US death metal band and this is their second album.
Containing a member of Gruesome, Castrator play ferocious death metal, and they mean business. Coronation of the Grotesque is a 33-minute whirlwind of devastation, (37 minutes with the bonus track – an Exodus cover).
Coronation of the Grotesque is an album without filler. There’s no extraneous fat, no pointless intros or interludes, just relentless death metal quality. The style is heavily influenced by the 90s, while still sounding completely at home in 2025.
The songs are well-written, showcasing a band that know how to pen a good death metal tune. The music benefits from dynamics and effective structuring, allowing Castrator to produce songs that boast a mix of brutality, hooks, and atmosphere. The band’s death metal is not a one-dimensional riff fest, but rather uses well-crafted riffs, mood-focused worldbuilding, melodic accents, and dynamic energies to engage the listener thoroughly and shred their unworthy face.
Castrator are brutal, but not without finesse. The songs are coloured by emotive melody; the compelling leads and fiery solos are an asset to the album, as are the lethal riffs that underpin them. The singer’s vocals are harsh and deep. She has a very satisfying growl, one that’s occasionally backed up by absolutely scathing screams.
Coronation of the Grotesque is a strong album. It’s easily enjoyable, and effortless to get to grips with if you’re a death metal lover. The riffs, the melodic enrichments, and the vocals all conspire with the foundational drums and bass to really hit the spot. This is a collection of songs that you can just listen to on repeat over and over again. Castrator have impressed.
If you like bands like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Hate Eternal, Malevolent Creation, and Vader, then you’ll be right at home with the classic death metal stylings of Castrator.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 