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Doom Reigns at Cornerstone: CASTLE RAT Summons The Bestiary in Berkeley

By capitalchaostv on September 15, 2025 • ( 0 )

Castle Rat at Cornerstone, Berkeley – Saturday, September 20th, 2025
With Early Moods and Theya

Doom descends upon Berkeley this Saturday night as Castle Rat rides into Cornerstone on the wings of prophecy and distortion. Armed with swords, spells, and their brand-new album The Bestiary (out just the day before via King Volume Records / Blues Funeral Recordings), the NYC-based medieval fantasy doom warriors bring their immersive stage ritual to the Bay. This isn’t just a gig — it’s a portal to The Realm.

At the helm is The Rat Queen herself, Riley Pinkerton, whose howling vocals and crunching rhythm guitar lead the charge, backed by her loyal defenders: The Count (lead guitar), The Plague Doctor (bass), and The All-Seeing Druid (drums). Their live shows are legendary — expect fog, swordplay, lore-heavy interludes, and more than a few summoned beasts.

Their sophomore album, The Bestiary, expands Castle Rat’s mythic world with 13 monstrous new tracks, each one a bestial chapter steeped in doom, psych, and heavy metal bombast. From the mystic chants of “Summoning Spell” to the twin-wolf bookends of “Wolf I” and “Wolf II,” the record feels like a fever dream scored by Sabbath, Faetooth, and Frazetta. There’s a cinematic scope here — tracks like “Unicorn” and “Sun Song” stretch into epic territory without losing the grit. Produced by doom metal architect Randall Dunn, The Bestiary is a massive sonic leap for the band, weaving melody and myth into one of the most spellbinding releases of the year.

Opening the night are LA’s Early Moods, who channel classic doom à la Pentagram and Trouble through a SoCal haze — riff worshippers, don’t be late. Also on the bill is Theya, whose haunting blend of post-metal and ethereal sludge makes them a perfect fit for this occult celebration.

This is more than a show — it’s a ritual of doom, magic, and myth. Come for the riffs, stay for the summoning. Costumes encouraged. Swords optional.

The Bestiary Tracklist:

1. PHOENIX I
2. WOLF I
3. WIZARD
4. SIREN
5. UNICORN
6. PATH OF MOSS
7. CRYSTAL CAVE
8. SERPENT
9. WOLF II
10. DRAGON
11. SUMMONING SPELL
12. SUN SONG
13. PHOENIX II

Pre-Order The Bestiary:
North America – Here
Europe – Here