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Although numerous rockers have borrowed from high fantasy, only a handful have fully embraced the mythical lifestyle. Sure, they may adorn their album covers with ghouls, beasts, manacled maidens and brawny barbarians, but has any musician ever have to recover a lost horn from a unicorn from a frost-covered ground in the midst of winter? Did a guitarist taken the time squinting in the rear of a tour bus, repairing their own armor?

Living the Fantasy

Formed in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have dealt with these exact challenges and more as they live out their grand tales. Starting with medieval-inspired, earworm-heavy songs to stunning live shows, attire styling, videos and record designs, they’re more than a metal band as a complete sensory journey.

“It wasn’t planned to be a themed musical group,” states singer, guitar player, blade-handler and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the musicians’ transport speeds from a sold-out gig in Cologne to another in Aschaffenburg – they’re also doing five gigs in the UK now. “Initially, we performed twice and received an offer on a October show, where I decided spontaneously to wear a costume. It was all completely self-made, but we had an amazing time and the energy was unforgettable. I thought, ‘What if we could have such enjoyment every time?’”

Development of Castle Rat

After that, the group – which showcases Pinkerton as the “Rat Queen” joined by a medic from history (bassist), aristocratic undead (lead guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (percussionist) – haven’t looked back. Their latest album, the follow-up record, brings to mind of classic metal icons uniting to fight their path through a mythical painted realm – a grand composition that places them on the brink of bigger achievements.

The Bestiary was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her collaborators. “It made it a lot stronger album,” she says of the collaborative process. “I struggled at first – I’d always felt a particular degree of satisfaction as a woman in music working independently. There’ve been so many times where I finished performing and an audience member will say, ‘The other members compose cool melodies!’ and I’m like, ‘Hey – I composed all that.’”

Artistry and Imagination

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the scope of their production design. “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 university studies in art before hesitating at the idea of so much debt. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s various avenues to demonstrate artistry,” she says. “From creating face coverings, attire creation, learning how to edit music videos … these are all things I am unfamiliar with, but it’s exciting to discover on the fly.”

As if creating the ensemble’s complex backstory (“The team is pushing me to document it because it’s all in here,” Riley says, indicating her head) and making clothing didn’t suffice, the singer taught herself how to craft metal mesh – a challenging endeavor, though she confessedly delegated her all-new scalemail look to a expert from NYC. “It’s as if actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

What about the crowd? They loved the theatrical gore, foam swords and handmade props with as much gusto as the band. “We played a concert in Detroit and it resembled a Renaissance fair,” recalls Riley happily. “The whole crowd was in capes, animal hides, chainmail.”

This isn’t to say, though, that traveling lifestyle as mythical wanderers has been plain sailing. “All our gear is always failing and becomes fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Additionally I’ll have countless concepts as to how I desire the presentation, but we’re traveling in a bus with limited room. It’s a fascinating test to create the impression like a grand epic, then compress it into a small space.”

We faced additional practical issues that wouldn’t have troubled fictional warriors. “We did have an ‘oh shit’ moment when we appeared at a music event in the European country and my baggage – which had my blade in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “It was a terrible situation, because we don’t have an different option of the performance where I am without a sword.”

Upcoming Plans

As a genuine leader, Riley is enthusiastic about the future. “I want to go as far as possible – let’s do huge arenas,” she says. “The main aspect that’s truly essential to me is preserving the DIY aesthetic, making sure all elements is crafted by us. This is a feature I want to remain faithful to, whatever we achieve. Additionally, I want to ride out on a mythical beast every night. Remember how legends do the motorcycle thing? That, but using a unicorn.”