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Although many rockers have taken inspiration from epic fantasy, few have genuinely embodied the mythical lifestyle. Sure, they might embellish their record jackets with ghouls, imps, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but did a member ever been forced to recover a lost mythical horn from a frost-covered ground in the heart of winter? Did a guitarist spent time straining their eyes in the back of a tour bus, repairing their own armor?

Immersed in the Legend

Created in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have dealt with these exact challenges and more as they act out their grand tales. From medieval-inspired, memorable songs to eye-popping performances, costume design, visuals and record designs, they’re not so much a metal band as a full immersive experience.

“Castle Rat wasn’t meant to be a themed musical group,” states vocalist, guitar player, sword-carrier and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a full-capacity concert in a German city to one more in Aschaffenburg – they have five gigs in the UK this week. “After a couple of performances and got booked on a October show, where I chose at the final moment to dress up. It was all super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the energy was electric. I realized, ‘What if we could have such enjoyment always?’”

Growth of the Group

After that, the group – which features Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” alongside a plague doctor (bassist), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and secretive shaman (rhythm keeper) – haven’t looked back. The new record, the group’s sophomore release, conjures visions of famous rock groups collaborating to battle their way through a heroic art landscape – a epic masterpiece that sets them on the brink of bigger achievements.

The release was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her bandmates. “This helped a more powerful album,” she says of the team effort. “I had difficulty at first – I’d always felt a particular degree of accomplishment as a female in music working independently. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve got off stage and an audience member will say, ‘The other members create awesome guitar parts!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I composed all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As their fame has grown, so has the scope of their visual elements. “My philosophy is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton smiles. Initially, she was on path for a art school education before pulling back at the prospect of heavy loans. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s various avenues to demonstrate creativity,” she says. “Be it creating face coverings, outfit planning, mastering post-production music videos … everything is I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to figure it out as we go.”

As if building the band’s intricate lore (“The team is pushing me to write it down because all the ideas are,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and making clothing didn’t suffice, the vocalist taught herself how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she admittedly delegated her brand-new scale armor design 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 stage blood, soft weapons and crafted rodent bones with as much gusto as the musicians. “We had a gig in Detroit and it seemed like a Renaissance fair,” recalls Riley fondly. “The whole crowd was in cloaks, animal hides, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, though, that traveling lifestyle as sword’n’sorcery vagabonds has been easy. “All our gear is frequently damaged and gets repaired with tape,” Riley says. “Moreover I get endless ideas as to how I desire the presentation, but we are on the move in a van with restricted capacity. It’s an interesting challenge to make it feel like a larger-than-life story, then compress it into minimal luggage.”

We faced other logistical problems that didn’t affect fictional warriors. “There was an ‘disastrous’ moment when we played a music event in Portugal and my baggage – which had my sword in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “This became a worst-case scenario, because there is no an alternative version of the performance where I am without a sword.”

Future Ambitions

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is enthusiastic about the what’s next. “My goal is as far as possible – we should play large venues,” she says. “The only thing that’s deeply meaningful to me is keeping the self-crafted look, ensuring everything is handmade. That’s an element I want to keep true to, no matter what we grow into. Plus, I desire to make an entrance on a magical horse every night. Remember how famous musicians ride bikes on stage? Exactly that, but with a unicorn.”