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Although numerous musicians have drawn from epic fantasy, rarely any have genuinely embodied the fantasy existence. Certainly, they might decorate their album sleeves with ghouls, imps, chained damsels and strong fighters, but did a member ever been forced to retrieve a lost mythical horn from a snowy field in the midst of winter? Did a performer taken the time peering in the back of a tour bus, repairing their own chainmail?

Immersed in the Legend

Formed in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have encountered these exact challenges and additional ones as they embody their heroic dreams. From knightly, catchy songs to breathtaking performances, outfit creation, music videos and record designs, they’re not so much a heavy metal group as a complete sensory journey.

“It wasn’t planned to be a outfit with characters,” states singer, guitarist, sword-wielder and visionary Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a full-capacity concert in Cologne to a second one in another town – they have several shows in the UK this week. “We played two shows and got booked on a Halloween gig, where I chose at the final moment to dress up. The entire setup was super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the atmosphere was incredible. It occurred to me, ‘How about if we could have this much fun at every show?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” alongside a medic from history (bassist), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and secretive shaman (rhythm keeper) – continued forward. The new record, the band’s second album, evokes images of legendary heavy bands joining forces to fight their path through a Frank Frazetta fantasy world – a epic masterpiece that sets them on the brink of greater success.

This album was a first for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her fellow members. “It made it a lot stronger record,” she says of the team effort. “I had difficulty at first – There was a sense of a specific level of satisfaction as a female in music working independently. I’ve had numerous occasions where I’ve got off stage and a person will say, ‘The band compose cool melodies!’ and I think, ‘Wait – I wrote all that.’”

Artistry and Imagination

With their growing popularity has increased, so has the breadth of their visual elements. “My motto 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 balking at the idea of financial burden. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistry,” she says. “Whether it’s crafting disguises, outfit planning, learning how to edit music videos … it’s all stuff I am unfamiliar with, but it’s fun to discover in the moment.”

As if developing the group’s detailed mythology (“Everyone’s urging me to record it because everything is stored,” Riley says, indicating her head) and sewing costumes didn’t suffice, the vocalist taught herself how to craft metal mesh – a challenging endeavor, though she confessedly entrusted her brand-new scale armor design to a New York-based specialist. “It’s as if actual armour,” she beams.

Fan Response and Obstacles

Regarding the fans? They took to the theatrical gore, toy blades and handmade props with equal enthusiasm as the band. “We performed a gig in Detroit and it resembled a historical festival,” remembers Riley with affection. “All attendees was in capes, animal hides, armor.”

However, this doesn’t mean, nevertheless, that traveling lifestyle as fantasy adventurers has been plain sailing. “Each item is frequently damaged and gets duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Moreover I come up with numerous thoughts as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we are on the move in a bus with limited room. It’s an interesting challenge to give the sense like a mythic tale, then pack it down into minimal luggage.”

We’ve encountered further organizational challenges that wouldn’t have troubled legendary fantasy heroes. “We experienced an ‘uh-oh’ moment when we performed at a music event in the European country and my baggage – which had my sword in it – got lost,” says Riley. “It was a nightmare, because there’s not an backup plan of the performance where I am without a blade.”

Goals Ahead

As a genuine leader, Riley is eager about the days to come. “I aim to reach all the way – we should play huge arenas,” she says. “The only thing that’s really important to me is maintaining the self-crafted look, making sure all elements is handmade. That’s an element I want to remain faithful to, regardless of we achieve. Oh, and I want to ride out on a mythical beast each show. Think about how some artists ride bikes on stage? The same idea, but using a unicorn.”