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While numerous rockers have drawn from fantasy lore, only a handful have genuinely embodied the mythical way of life. Certainly, they may adorn their record jackets with creatures, goblins, chained damsels and strong fighters, but did a member ever been forced to retrieve a misplaced mythical horn from a frost-covered ground in the heart of winter? Did a performer spent time straining their eyes in the interior of a tour bus, fixing their own chainmail?

Living the Fantasy

Formed in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have encountered both these scenarios and more as they act out their epic fantasies. Starting with heraldic, catchy anthems to eye-popping performances, outfit creation, videos and cover artwork, they’re not just a metal band as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a themed musical group,” states singer, guitarist, sword-carrier and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a sold-out gig in a German city to one more in another town – they have multiple performances in the UK now. “We played two shows and got booked on a spooky event, where I decided spontaneously to wear a costume. The entire setup was completely self-made, but we had an amazing time and the atmosphere was electric. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have so much excitement at every show?’”

Development of Castle Rat

Since then, the ensemble – which showcases Pinkerton as the “Rat Queen” joined by a medic from history (low-end instrumentalist), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and mysterious druid (percussionist) – continued forward. Their latest album, the follow-up record, evokes images of legendary heavy bands uniting to fight their path through a heroic art landscape – a epic masterpiece that positions them on the verge of greater success.

The release was a new experience for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her collaborators. “This helped a lot stronger record,” she says of the collaborative process. “It was challenging at first – I’d always felt a particular degree of pride as a female in music working independently. There’ve been numerous occasions where I’ve got off stage and an audience member will say, ‘Those guys write great riffs!’ and I respond, ‘Hey – I created all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

With their growing popularity has increased, so has the breadth of their stage presentation. “The saying I live by is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. Initially, she was on track for a fine art degree before balking at the possibility of heavy loans. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistic expression,” she says. “From crafting disguises, costume design, learning how to edit song visuals … it’s all stuff I have no experience with, but it’s enjoyable to discover in the moment.”

As if building the band’s intricate lore (“People are encouraging me to record it because it’s all in here,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and sewing costumes didn’t suffice, the singer taught herself how to create armor – a difficult task, though she confessedly entrusted her all-new reptilian-inspired outfit to a New York-based specialist. “It seems like actual armour,” she beams.

Fan Response and Obstacles

What about the crowd? They embraced the stage blood, foam swords and handmade props with equal enthusiasm as the musicians. “We performed a concert in the Motor City and it resembled a medieval event,” reminisces Riley happily. “The whole crowd was in capes, wool garments, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, though, that life on the road as sword’n’sorcery vagabonds has been plain sailing. “Each item is frequently damaged and ends up repaired with tape,” Riley says. “Additionally I’ll have endless ideas as to how I desire the presentation, but we tour in a bus with limited room. It’s a fascinating test to create the impression like a grand epic, then compress it into nothing.”

There have been further organizational challenges that would never have plagued mythic characters. “We did have an ‘disastrous’ moment when we appeared at SonicBlast festival in the European country and my suitcase – which had my blade in it – went missing,” says Riley. “This became a terrible situation, because we don’t have an alternative version of the show where I lack a weapon.”

Goals Ahead

As a genuine leader, Riley is gung-ho about the future. “I aim to reach all the way – let’s do huge arenas,” she says. “The only thing that’s really important to me is maintaining the DIY aesthetic, ensuring each detail is handmade. It’s a component I want to remain faithful to, regardless of we grow into. Additionally, I wish to appear on a unicorn every night. Think about how famous musicians use vehicles in concerts? That, but with a unicorn.”