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Although many rockers have drawn from high fantasy, only a handful have truly lived the fantasy existence. Admittedly, they could embellish their album sleeves with monsters, goblins, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but has any musician ever needed to recover a lost mythical horn from a snowy field in the heart of winter? Has a performer devoted hours peering in the back of a tour bus, mending their own chainmail?

Embracing the Mythos

Created in 2019, Brooklyn’s Castle Rat have had to face both these scenarios and others as they embody their heroic dreams. From heraldic, catchy tunes to breathtaking concerts, costume design, visuals and album art, they’re not just a heavy metal group as a full immersive experience.

“Castle Rat wasn’t meant to be a costumed concept band,” says vocalist, guitarist, sword-wielder and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the group’s vehicle drives from a full-capacity concert in Cologne to another in another town – they’re also doing several shows in the UK this week. “Initially, we performed twice and were scheduled on a October show, where I decided spontaneously to put on an outfit. Everything was super-DIY, but we had an amazing time and the feeling in the room was incredible. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have such enjoyment at every show?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the group – which features Pinkerton as the “Rodent Monarch” joined by a plague doctor (bassist), aristocratic undead (six-string player) and mysterious druid (rhythm keeper) – never turned back. Their latest album, the band’s second album, brings to mind of classic metal icons joining forces to fight their path through a heroic art landscape – a heroic opus that sets them on the verge of bigger achievements.

This album was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her collaborators. “That contributed to a lot stronger record,” she says of the team effort. “It was challenging at first – I’d always felt a certain amount of pride as a woman in music working independently. There have been so many times where after a show and some guy will say, ‘The band write great riffs!’ and I think, ‘Hey – I composed all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As the band’s stature has grown, so has the breadth of their stage presentation. “My motto is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. She was originally on track for a art school education before balking at the prospect of heavy loans. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to express artistic expression,” she says. “From making masks, costume design, mastering post-production song visuals … everything is I don’t know how to do, but it’s fun to learn in the moment.”

As if building the band’s intricate lore (“Everyone’s urging me to write it down because everything is stored,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and sewing costumes were insufficient, the singer self-educated how to craft metal mesh – a challenging endeavor, though she confessedly left her brand-new reptilian-inspired outfit to a professional in the city. “It’s as if actual armour,” she beams.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

Regarding the fans? They took to the theatrical gore, toy blades and papier-mache rat skulls with similar excitement as the group. “We played a concert in the Motor City and it seemed like a Renaissance fair,” recalls Riley with affection. “Everyone was in robes, sheepskin, chainmail.”

This isn’t to say, however, that life on the road as fantasy adventurers has been plain sailing. “All our gear is constantly breaking and ends up fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Moreover I get endless ideas as to how I want things to look, but we’re traveling in a van with only so much space. It’s a fascinating test to create the impression like a grand epic, then store it into minimal luggage.”

There have been further organizational challenges that would never have plagued fictional warriors. “We experienced an ‘disastrous’ moment when we played SonicBlast festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my weapon in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “It was a worst-case scenario, because there’s not an alternative version of the show where I am without a blade.”

Goals Ahead

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is gung-ho about the what’s next. “I want to go to the top – I dream of large venues,” she says. “The main aspect that’s deeply meaningful to me is preserving the DIY aesthetic, ensuring everything is crafted by us. This is a feature I want to stay authentic to, whatever we grow into. Additionally, I want to make an entrance on a unicorn each show. Remember how some artists use vehicles in concerts? That, but using a unicorn.”