Doom metal comes in all shapes and sizes, and from locales far and wide. Case in point,
Rabies Caste. Hailing from a country not exactly known primarily as a heavy metal hotbed -- Israel -- the trio issued a handful of releases that earned them a cult following in the metal underground before splitting in the early 21st century. As with most rock bands after their breakup, a vault cleaning was in order, and the results of what was found comprises the group's final release -- a self-titled odds and ends collection from 2006. All the doom metal prerequisites are here -- sludge riffs, agonizing screams, and plodding drums -- as evidenced by the studio outtake "Mind Eruption," as well as a live track, "Too Much Is Never Enough." Certainly not the most crucial doom metal release ever issued, but fans of the band will surely relish this last gasp. ~ Greg Prato