Castle Carrie Chains Review
Castle
Carrie Chains
Hammerheart Records
2026
I first crossed paths with the U.S./Canadian Doom outfit Castle when they released their sophomore album, “Blacklands”, through Prosthetic Records. It wasn't some life-changing discovery, but there was enough there to hook me. I picked up the follow-up, “Under Siege”, and somewhere along the way I lost track of the band until “Deal Thy Fate” landed on Ripple Music. That's when everything clicked again.
From there I grabbed “Evil Remains”, the band's first release for Hammerheart Records, and to my ears it was easily their strongest work up to that point. It leaned heavily into a Horror aesthetic, and if you've followed me for any length of time, you already know that's my kryptonite. Horror and Heavy Metal belong together, and “Evil Remains” scratched that itch perfectly.
Which brings us to the band's latest album, “Carrie Chains”. The Horror vibe has largely been left behind this time around, and yeah, I'll admit that's a little disappointing, but only because I'm a sucker for that sort of thing. Instead of doubling down on the spooky atmosphere, Castle leans harder into what they've always done well: classic Hard Rock with a thick layer of Doom, with obvious nods to the likes of Black Sabbath and Cathedral.
The result is a record that feels more immediate and, in some ways, more accessible than its predecessor.
Recorded at RainCity Recorders in Vancouver with producer Jesse Gander (3 Inches Of Blood), “Carrie Chains” boasts the strongest production the band has ever had. Everything is clearer, fuller, and more defined without sacrificing the grit that's always been part of Castle's identity.
The biggest winner here is vocalist and bassist Liz Blackwell. Her voice has always been one of the band's greatest assets, but previous records never seemed to put it front and center. This time it finally gets the spotlight it deserves. She commands these songs with confidence, and the cleaner production lets every nuance of her performance come through.
Musically, Castle lands somewhere between Motörhead, Pagan Altar, and Sanhedrin. There's a healthy dose of biker Rock 'n' Roll swagger running through these songs, balanced by occult-tinged riffs and enough Doom to keep longtime fans happy. The trio squeezes an impressive amount of sound out of three musicians, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.
Better yet, the band knows when to get in, make its point, and get out. There are no endless instrumental detours or self-indulgent stretches of guitar noodling. “Carrie Chains” kicks the front door open, punches you square in the mouth, and makes itself comfortable before you even know what happened.
If you've ever wished Castle leaned a little harder into the Rock side of its sound, this is the album you've been waiting for. Now two records into its partnership with Hammerheart Records, the band finally feels like it's firing on every cylinder. They've always seemed to hover just outside that next level, but “Carrie Chains” has the confidence, songwriting, and production to finally push them to the next level.
Standouts – “3 Knocks”, “Carrie Chains”, “Goat Vision” and “Burn The Messenger”