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While many musicians have drawn from high fantasy, only a handful have fully embraced the mythical lifestyle. Admittedly, they might decorate their record jackets with creatures, beasts, manacled maidens and brawny barbarians, but has an artist ever needed to recover a missing horn from a unicorn from a frost-covered ground in the depths of winter? Did anyone devoted hours peering in the interior of a road transport, fixing their own armor?

Living the Fantasy

Formed in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have encountered these exact challenges and more as they live out their heroic dreams. From heraldic, catchy songs to breathtaking concerts, costume design, videos and album art, they’re more than a metal band as a full immersive experience.

“Castle Rat wasn’t meant to be a costumed concept band,” states vocalist, guitarist, blade-handler and visionary Riley Pinkerton as the group’s vehicle drives from a full-capacity concert in Cologne to another in Aschaffenburg – they are playing several shows in the UK this week. “Initially, we performed twice and received an offer on a spooky event, where I made a last-minute decision to wear a costume. Everything was highly handmade, but we had so much fun and the energy was incredible. I realized, ‘What if we could have such enjoyment every time?’”

Development of Castle Rat

Since then, the band – which showcases Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” joined by a medic from history (bassist), proud bloodsucker (lead guitarist) and secretive shaman (rhythm keeper) – continued forward. Their latest album, the group’s sophomore release, brings to mind of famous rock groups uniting to battle their way through a mythical painted realm – a heroic opus that positions them on the brink of greater success.

The release was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her collaborators. “That contributed to a more powerful record,” she says of the collaborative process. “I had difficulty at first – I often experienced a specific level of satisfaction as a female 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, ‘Hey – I created all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the breadth of their visual elements. “The saying I live by is always that if something is valuable, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. At first, she had been on course for a fine art degree before hesitating at the prospect of heavy loans. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s numerous methods to express artistic expression,” she says. “Whether it’s creating face coverings, costume design, figuring out video editing music videos … everything is I don’t know how to do, but it’s enjoyable to discover on the fly.”

Even though building the band’s intricate lore (“People are encouraging me to write it down because all the ideas are,” Riley says, tapping her head) and making clothing wasn’t enough, the singer taught herself how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she confessedly entrusted her brand-new scalemail look to a professional in the city. “It’s as if actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Audience Reaction and Challenges

Regarding the fans? They loved the theatrical gore, foam swords and crafted rodent bones with equal enthusiasm as the band. “We played a concert in Detroit and it resembled a Renaissance fair,” reminisces Riley happily. “All attendees was in capes, wool garments, chainmail.”

That’s not to imply, however, that life on the road as sword’n’sorcery vagabonds has been plain sailing. “Each item is always failing and ends up fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Moreover I come up with numerous thoughts as to how I want things to look, but we tour in a van with limited room. It’s a unique problem to give the sense like a grand epic, then pack it down into minimal luggage.”

We’ve encountered additional practical issues that didn’t affect legendary fantasy heroes. “There was an ‘oh shit’ moment when we appeared at a music event in the European country and my baggage – which had my blade in it – got lost,” says Riley. “That was a worst-case scenario, because we don’t have an alternative version of the show where I lack a blade.”

Future Ambitions

As a genuine leader, Riley is gung-ho about the days to come. “My goal is as far as possible – let’s do large venues,” she says. “The main aspect that’s deeply meaningful to me is keeping the DIY aesthetic, making sure each detail is custom-made. It’s a component I want to remain faithful to, no matter what we achieve. Additionally, I desire to appear on a magical horse at all performances. Think about how some artists do the motorcycle thing? Exactly that, but using a unicorn.”