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While numerous rockers have taken inspiration from high fantasy, few have fully embraced the enchanted way of life. Sure, they might adorn their album covers with monsters, imps, captive women and strong fighters, but has an artist ever have to find a lost unicorn horn from a wintry landscape in the heart of winter? Has a performer devoted hours straining their eyes in the back of a traveling vehicle, repairing their own armor?

Immersed in the Legend

Created in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have dealt with both these scenarios and additional ones as they act out their heroic dreams. Starting with heraldic, catchy songs to stunning performances, attire styling, videos and album art, they’re more than a heavy metal group as a complete sensory journey.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a themed musical group,” says vocalist, guitar player, sword-carrier and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van speeds from a sold-out gig in a German city to another in Aschaffenburg – they are playing multiple performances in the UK this week. “Initially, we performed twice and received an offer on a spooky event, where I chose at the final moment to put on an outfit. It was all completely self-made, but we had so much fun and the feeling in the room was electric. I thought, ‘How about if we could have such enjoyment every time?’”

The Band’s Evolution

After that, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Rodent Monarch” joined by a plague doctor (bass player), proud bloodsucker (six-string player) and secretive shaman (rhythm keeper) – haven’t looked back. The Bestiary, the group’s sophomore release, brings to mind of famous rock groups collaborating to battle their way through a heroic art landscape – a epic masterpiece that positions them on the brink of bigger achievements.

The release was a first for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her collaborators. “It made it a much better album,” she says of the group work. “I struggled at first – I often experienced a particular degree of pride as a woman in music working independently. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve got off stage and a person will say, ‘The band write great riffs!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I created all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the scope of their stage presentation. “My philosophy is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. Initially, she was on course for a art school education before balking at the possibility of so much debt. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s numerous methods to apply creativity,” she says. “From making masks, outfit planning, learning how to edit song visuals … it’s all stuff I don’t know how to do, but it’s enjoyable to figure it out as we go.”

Even though building the ensemble’s complex backstory (“People are encouraging me to document it because all the ideas are,” Riley says, tapping her head) and sewing costumes were insufficient, the singer self-educated how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she admittedly entrusted her brand-new scalemail look to a professional in the city. “It’s as if actual armour,” she beams.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

Regarding the fans? They loved the fake blood, foam swords and papier-mache rat skulls with similar excitement as the group. “We performed a gig in the Motor City and it seemed like a medieval event,” recalls Riley fondly. “The whole crowd was in cloaks, wool garments, armor.”

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 becomes duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Additionally I come up with numerous thoughts as to how I desire the presentation, but we tour in a bus with only so much space. It’s an interesting challenge to give the sense like a larger-than-life story, then compress it into nothing.”

There have been other logistical problems that didn’t affect mythic characters. “We did have an ‘disastrous’ moment when we performed at SonicBlast festival in Portugal and my suitcase – which had my weapon in it – went missing,” says Riley. “It was a worst-case scenario, because there’s not an different option of the show where I don’t have a sword.”

Future Ambitions

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is gung-ho about the future. “My goal is to the top – I dream of stadiums,” she says. “The main aspect that’s deeply meaningful to me is keeping the DIY aesthetic, ensuring each detail is custom-made. It’s a component I want to keep true to, whatever we grow into. Plus, I desire to make an entrance on a magical horse every night. You know how famous musicians do the motorcycle thing? That, but with a unicorn.”