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While numerous rockers have taken inspiration from fantasy lore, rarely any have genuinely embodied the mythical existence. Certainly, they could embellish their album sleeves with monsters, imps, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but has any musician ever been forced to find a misplaced horn from a unicorn from a snowy field in the heart of winter? Did a guitarist devoted hours squinting in the back of a road transport, repairing their own metal mesh?

Immersed in the Legend

Formed in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have had to face such situations and additional ones as they act out their heroic dreams. Starting with heraldic, earworm-heavy anthems to stunning live shows, outfit creation, videos and cover artwork, they’re not just a heavy metal group as a full immersive experience.

“Castle Rat wasn’t meant to be a outfit with characters,” explains vocalist, guitar player, sword-wielder and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van travels from a sold-out gig in Cologne to one more in Aschaffenburg – they have multiple performances in the UK currently. “We played two shows and received an offer on a October show, where I chose at the final moment to put on an outfit. Everything was super-DIY, but we had a blast and the energy was unforgettable. It occurred to me, ‘What if we could have such enjoyment always?’”

Growth of the Group

After that, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Rat Queen” joined by a medic from history (bass player), haughty vampire (guitarist) and secretive shaman (percussionist) – continued forward. Their latest album, the group’s sophomore release, brings to mind of classic metal icons joining forces to battle their way through a mythical painted realm – a epic masterpiece that sets them on the verge of far grander things.

This album was a first for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her fellow members. “That contributed to a lot stronger album,” she says of the team effort. “I had difficulty at first – There was a sense of a specific level of pride as a woman in music doing everything solo. I’ve had so many times where after a show and some guy will say, ‘Those guys create awesome guitar parts!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I composed all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the breadth of their visual elements. “My philosophy is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton smiles. At first, she had been on track for a fine art degree before pulling back at the idea of financial burden. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to express artistry,” she says. “Whether it’s creating face coverings, attire creation, learning how to edit clips … it’s all stuff I don’t know how to do, but it’s fun to learn in the moment.”

As if building the ensemble’s complex backstory (“People are encouraging me to record it because it’s all in here,” Riley says, tapping her head) and making clothing were insufficient, the singer taught herself how to create armor – a challenging endeavor, though she confessedly entrusted her all-new scale armor design to a New York-based specialist. “It’s as if actual armour,” she grins.

Audience Reaction and Challenges

Regarding the fans? They took to the theatrical gore, soft weapons and crafted rodent bones with similar excitement as the band. “We performed a show in the Motor City and it seemed like a Renaissance fair,” recalls Riley fondly. “All attendees was in capes, animal hides, chainmail.”

However, this doesn’t mean, nevertheless, that touring existence as mythical wanderers has been plain sailing. “All our gear is constantly breaking and becomes fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Plus I get numerous thoughts as to how I want things to look, but we are on the move in a van with only so much space. It’s a fascinating test to make it feel like a mythic tale, then compress it into nothing.”

We’ve encountered additional practical issues that wouldn’t have troubled legendary fantasy heroes. “There was an ‘uh-oh’ moment when we appeared at a Portuguese festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my weapon in it – went missing,” says Riley. “That was a worst-case scenario, because we don’t have an alternative version of the show where I am without a sword.”

Future Ambitions

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is enthusiastic about the days to come. “I want to go as far as possible – I dream of stadiums,” she says. “The main aspect that’s truly essential to me is preserving the handmade style, guaranteeing each detail is handmade. It’s a component I want to stay authentic to, regardless of we scale to. Oh, and I wish to make an entrance on a unicorn each show. Remember how famous musicians ride bikes on stage? Exactly that, but with a unicorn.”