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Although many musicians have borrowed from fantasy lore, only a handful have genuinely embodied the fantasy lifestyle. Sure, they may decorate their record jackets with creatures, beasts, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but did a member ever have to find a misplaced mythical horn from a snowy field in the depths of winter? Has a performer spent time squinting in the back of a tour bus, repairing their own armor?

Embracing the Mythos

Formed in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have had to face such situations and additional ones as they live out their heroic dreams. Starting with medieval-inspired, earworm-heavy songs to stunning performances, costume design, videos and cover artwork, they’re not so much a heavy metal group as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a outfit with characters,” explains vocalist, guitar player, blade-handler and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the musicians’ transport speeds from a full-capacity concert in a German city to a second one in Aschaffenburg – they’re also doing multiple performances in the UK currently. “Initially, we performed twice and got booked on a October show, where I chose at the final moment to wear a costume. Everything was super-DIY, but we had a blast and the energy was incredible. I realized, ‘What if we could have this much fun always?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the band – which includes Pinkerton as the “Rat Queen” joined by a pestilence physician (bass player), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and mysterious druid (rhythm keeper) – never turned back. Their latest album, the follow-up record, conjures visions of classic metal icons joining forces to battle their way through a mythical painted realm – a grand composition that sets them on the verge of greater success.

This album was a new experience for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her collaborators. “That contributed to a much better record,” she says of the group work. “I had difficulty at first – I often experienced a particular degree of satisfaction as a female in music doing everything solo. There’ve been multiple instances where I’ve got off stage and an audience member will say, ‘The other members create awesome guitar parts!’ and I think, ‘Hey – I composed all that.’”

Artistry and Imagination

With their growing popularity has expanded, so has the scale of their production design. “My motto is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. She was originally on course for a art school education before pulling back at the idea of so much debt. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to demonstrate artistic expression,” she says. “Whether it’s crafting disguises, outfit planning, learning how to edit music videos … it’s all stuff I have no experience with, but it’s exciting to learn on the fly.”

As if building the group’s detailed mythology (“People are encouraging me to write it down because all the ideas are,” Riley says, indicating her head) and sewing costumes were insufficient, the vocalist taught herself how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she confessedly entrusted her all-new reptilian-inspired outfit to a New York-based specialist. “It feels like actual armour,” she grins.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

As for audiences? They loved the theatrical gore, soft weapons and handmade props with equal enthusiasm as the musicians. “We had a gig in Detroit and it resembled a medieval event,” recalls Riley happily. “Everyone was in robes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

That’s not to imply, nevertheless, that touring existence as fantasy adventurers has been smooth. “All our gear is frequently damaged and ends up duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Plus I get countless concepts as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we tour in a vehicle with restricted capacity. It’s an interesting challenge to create the impression like a larger-than-life story, then pack it down into a small space.”

We’ve encountered further organizational challenges that wouldn’t have troubled legendary fantasy heroes. “We did have an ‘oh shit’ moment when we performed at a Portuguese festival in Portugal and my luggage – which had my sword in it – went missing,” says Riley. “It was a worst-case scenario, because there’s not an different option of the concert where I am without a blade.”

Future Ambitions

In the spirit of a hero, Riley is enthusiastic about the what’s next. “I aim to reach as far as possible – let’s do huge arenas,” she says. “The main aspect that’s truly essential to me is maintaining the handmade style, ensuring everything is crafted by us. This is a feature I want to keep true to, no matter what we achieve. Additionally, I wish to appear on a mythical beast every night. You know how some artists do the motorcycle thing? Exactly that, but on a mythical creature.”