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While many musicians have drawn from fantasy lore, few have truly lived the mythical existence. Admittedly, they might embellish their album sleeves with ghouls, beasts, manacled maidens and muscular warriors, but did a member ever needed to retrieve a lost mythical horn from a wintry landscape in the depths of winter? Has a performer devoted hours squinting in the rear of a traveling vehicle, repairing their own chainmail?

Living the Fantasy

Established in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have dealt with such situations and others as they act out their grand tales. Starting with medieval-inspired, catchy tunes to breathtaking live shows, costume design, music videos and cover artwork, they’re not so much a metal band as a total artistic immersion.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a costumed concept band,” says vocalist, guitar player, sword-wielder and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a packed show in a German city to another in Aschaffenburg – they have multiple performances in the UK currently. “After a couple of performances and got booked on a October show, where I decided spontaneously to dress up. The entire setup was super-DIY, but we had an amazing time and the energy was electric. I realized, ‘Imagine if we could have such enjoyment at every show?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the group – which showcases Pinkerton as the “Rat Queen” alongside a plague doctor (bassist), aristocratic undead (lead guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (percussionist) – continued forward. The Bestiary, the group’s sophomore release, conjures visions of famous rock groups joining forces to fight their path through a mythical painted realm – a grand composition that positions them on the verge of far grander things.

The release was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her fellow members. “That contributed to a much better project,” she says of the team effort. “I struggled at first – I often experienced a certain amount of satisfaction as a female in music working independently. There have been so many times where I’ve got off stage and some guy will say, ‘The band compose cool melodies!’ and I respond, ‘Hey – I wrote all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

With their growing popularity has expanded, so has the scope of their stage presentation. “The saying I live by is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. She was originally on track for a fine art degree before balking at the possibility of heavy loans. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistry,” she says. “Whether it’s making masks, attire creation, learning how to edit music videos … these are all things I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to figure it out as we go.”

As if building the band’s intricate lore (“Everyone’s urging me to write it down because all the ideas are,” Riley says, tapping her head) and sewing costumes wasn’t enough, the singer self-educated how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she admittedly entrusted her brand-new scalemail look to a expert from NYC. “It seems like actual armour,” she beams.

Audience Reaction and Challenges

As for audiences? They loved the theatrical gore, toy blades and handmade props with as much gusto as the group. “We played a gig in the Motor City and it seemed like a medieval event,” reminisces Riley happily. “All attendees was in robes, wool garments, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, nevertheless, that traveling lifestyle as fantasy adventurers has been smooth. “All our gear is frequently damaged and ends up fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Plus I come up with countless concepts as to how I want things to look, but we’re traveling in a bus with only so much space. It’s an interesting challenge to give the sense like a mythic tale, then compress it into nothing.”

We’ve encountered other logistical problems that didn’t affect mythic characters. “There was an ‘uh-oh’ moment when we appeared at a music event in the European country and my baggage – which had my blade in it – went missing,” says Riley. “That was a nightmare, because there’s not an backup plan of the performance where I am without a sword.”

Future Ambitions

As a genuine leader, Riley is enthusiastic about the days to come. “I want to go as far as possible – we should play stadiums,” she says. “The main aspect that’s truly essential to me is keeping the handmade style, guaranteeing each detail is custom-made. It’s a component I want to keep true to, regardless of we grow into. Additionally, I desire to appear on a mythical beast every night. Think about how famous musicians do the motorcycle thing? Exactly that, but with a unicorn.”