Doom Metallers CASTLE are performing at this year's The Electric Highway Festival on Friday April 05th 2025 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They released their new excellent new album EVIL REMAINS in 2024 to critical acclaim and it's not hard to see why as the record is a cold hard classic Doom Metal album of the highest order.
I caught up with Mat Davis (Guitar/Vocals) from the band to discuss what folks will have in store from CASTLE ahead of their festival performance.
How are things with you today?
Hi, things are going great. Thanks for reaching out with the interview.
How are the preparations currently going?
We have 28 shows coming up split into a couple of tours in the US/CAN and also Europe so right now there's a lot of planning. The first show is Electric Highway Fest in Calgary and really we're looking forward to it.
What can people in attendance expect from CASTLE for this festival performance?
We're stoked to be closing night one of the fest so we'll probably do our full set, usually it's a mix of high energy and heavy vibes.
What type of set will you be performing though I presume it will be focusing upon your excellent new album EVIL REMAINS.
Yeah we're currently playing 6 of the songs from the new album. We're also playing at least a song or two from every release including one we haven't played in a while from In Witch Order for these upcoming shows, so between the new ones and a few older deep cuts I think people will dig it.
What bands are you looking forward to see performing live at The Electric Highway Festival?
I'm looking forward to seeing as many bands as possible. A couple I've seen here in Vancouver so will be cool to see them again, hopefully, I can catch Chunk and Blacksmith & Brewer. There's a bunch of local Calgary bands which will be cool to see too.
Your new album EVIL REMAINS was released last year and what a brilliant record that was. Have you been pleased with the responses it's received so far. What can people expect from this record compared to your previous albums.
Awesome thanks. You never know what to expect but we were happy with the finished record. We spent a long time on it for us, about 5 years; which was enough to let the songs evolve so that there was a natural flow to them and our producer Jesse Gander here in Vancouver also did an awesome job on the sound. Having said all that it's extra cool when people are into it.
What has been the high points and low points performing with the band?
I think the high point is getting to traveling and also meeting/seeing people. Not many lows but they usually involve long travel days or feeling like crap on the road!
Do you have any exciting releases coming in the future?
We'll be working on new Castle music over the summer and fall so hopefully we'll have something next year.
How did you get involved with music? Was it a particular album, group or artist that made you want to write and play your own music?
I don't think there was one band in particular but I started playing guitar at a pretty young age. At the time I listening to Priest, Dio, Ozzy, Sabbath, Maiden, Metallica... this would have been like '83/84. I would say I was and still am inspired by the riffs.
Will you be performing any gigs later in the year?
We're looking into some more North American shows in late 2025, we'll keep you posted.
Before you go, do you have any words of wisdom for your fans currently out there?
Thanks for the support and hope we see you on the road!
Words by Steve Howe and Mat Davis
04/04 Calgary, AB - Electric Highway Fest
16/04 Sacramento, CA - Cafe Colonial
17/04 Los Angeles, CA - Knucklehead
18/04 San Francisco, CA - Kilowatt
19/04 Mt Shasta, CA - Vet's Club
20/04 Portland, OR - High Water Mark
21/04 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
30/04 Toronto, ON - The Garrison
01/05 Detroit, MI - Smalls
02/05 Chicago, IL - Legions Of Metal Fest
03/05 Madison, WI - Gamma Ray Bar
04/05 Pittsburgh, PA - Poetry Lounge
05/05 Brooklyn, NY - The Woodshop
06/05 Boston, MA - Middle East Club
07/05 Montreal, PQ - Piranha Bar
08/05 London, ON - Palasad
09/05 Hamilton, ON - Doors Pub
10/05 Ottawa, ON - Dominion Tavern
CASTLE "Evil Remains" Europe 2025
16/04 Sacramento, CA - Cafe Colonial
17/04 Los Angeles, CA - Knucklehead
18/04 San Francisco, CA - Kilowatt
19/04 Mt Shasta, CA - Vet's Club
20/04 Portland, OR - High Water Mark
21/04 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
30/04 Toronto, ON - The Garrison
01/05 Detroit, MI - Smalls
02/05 Chicago, IL - Legions Of Metal Fest
03/05 Madison, WI - Gamma Ray Bar
04/05 Pittsburgh, PA - Poetry Lounge
05/05 Brooklyn, NY - The Woodshop
06/05 Boston, MA - Middle East Club
07/05 Montreal, PQ - Piranha Bar
08/05 London, ON - Palasad
09/05 Hamilton, ON - Doors Pub
10/05 Ottawa, ON - Dominion Tavern
CASTLE "Evil Remains" Europe 2025
29/05 Muskelrock Fest @ Tyrolen, SE
30/05 Hamburg, DE - Bambi Galore
31/05 Desertland - Berlin DE
01/06 Prague, CZ - Modra Vopice
02/06 Goppingen, DE - Zille
03/06 Düsseldorf, DE - Pitcher
04/06 Rotterdam, NL - V11
05/06 Landgraaf, NL Nieuwe Nor
06/06 GockelScream Fest - near Dresden DE
07/06 Battle Cry Fest @ Turock, Essen DE
30/05 Hamburg, DE - Bambi Galore
31/05 Desertland - Berlin DE
01/06 Prague, CZ - Modra Vopice
02/06 Goppingen, DE - Zille
03/06 Düsseldorf, DE - Pitcher
04/06 Rotterdam, NL - V11
05/06 Landgraaf, NL Nieuwe Nor
06/06 GockelScream Fest - near Dresden DE
07/06 Battle Cry Fest @ Turock, Essen DE
Links
Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
Electric Highway Festival Info:
Website: TheElectricHighway.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/ElectricHighwayFestival
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1149647296782460/
Instagram: Instagram.com/TheElectricHighway
X: X.com/TheElectricHwy
Hashtag #BuckleUp #EHF2025
Thanks to Mat for doing the interview and for Asher Media PR for arranging the interview
