The world of metal, especially extreme metal has always been nauseatingly male dominated. I say this as a big fan of bands classed under the category of thrash, death, and black metal. Even when women have shattered the glass ceiling of metal and have even mastered the death growl and other types of harsh vocals that are usually employed in metal, the discrepancies still exist and it’s still hard to come by individual women, let alone entire female bands that are dishing out death metal and other extreme metal.
Enter the band Castrator, an all female death metal outfit that manages to please me in many different kinds of ways. I’m a pretty out and proud feminist who supports women in many endeavours, but this does not mean that I like a band just cause they’re all female. I believe that women can be very good at creating death metal. This band has only one EP out which is what I’m going to judge them on.
No Victim is basically a missile tearing into the male tradition of death metal, both lyrically and musically. The tracks are heavy and crushing with not a soft moment interrupting the barrage of distortion, giving it a relentless quality which I like very much. There is melody but it’s desolate sounding and it really gives you an idea of the grim reality of life for millions of women around the world.
The lyrics are also another anomaly and not the usual thing expected by death metal or extreme metal acts. Usually the lyrics in death metal are misogynist and they include many graphic depictions of violence towards women(how revolutionary, it truly has never been done before fellas!). In this case the lyrics are angry and livid jabs at the social phenomenon that is patriarchy. And rightfully so in my opinion.
I think Castrator should keep on playing and they should continue on with their bad selves. I wish them all the success in the future.
To check our their work click on the link below castrator.bandcamp.com
by MM.
