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Although numerous rockers have taken inspiration from epic fantasy, only a handful have genuinely embodied the mythical existence. Admittedly, they could decorate their record jackets with creatures, beasts, captive women and muscular warriors, but has any musician ever have to find a missing unicorn horn from a frost-covered ground in the midst of winter? Did a performer spent time straining their eyes in the rear of a road transport, mending their own armor?

Immersed in the Legend

Formed in 2019, Brooklyn’s Castle Rat have had to face such situations and others as they embody their epic fantasies. Starting with medieval-inspired, catchy anthems to eye-popping live shows, outfit creation, music videos and record designs, they’re not just a rock act as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a costumed concept band,” explains singer, guitar player, blade-handler and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the musicians’ transport drives from a packed show in a German city to a second one in another town – they are playing several shows in the UK currently. “We played two shows and were scheduled on a Halloween gig, where I chose at the final moment to put on an outfit. It was all highly handmade, but we had an amazing time and the atmosphere was electric. It occurred to me, ‘How about if we could have so much excitement at every show?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the band – which includes Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” together with a medic from history (bassist), aristocratic undead (guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (percussionist) – never turned back. The Bestiary, the group’s sophomore release, conjures visions of legendary heavy bands joining forces to struggle onward through a mythical painted realm – a epic masterpiece that places them on the verge of far grander things.

The release was a first for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her bandmates. “That contributed to a more powerful project,” she says of the collaborative process. “I struggled at first – There was a sense of a specific level of satisfaction being a woman in music working independently. There have been so many times where I’ve got off stage and an audience member will say, ‘The other members create awesome guitar parts!’ and I respond, ‘Hey – I created all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

As their fame has increased, so has the scale of their visual elements. “My motto is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. She was originally on course for a fine art degree before hesitating at the idea of financial burden. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s various avenues to express creativity,” she says. “Be it creating face coverings, attire creation, figuring out video editing song visuals … everything is I don’t know how to do, but it’s exciting to learn as we go.”

Even though building the ensemble’s complex backstory (“Everyone’s urging me to document it because all the ideas are,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and making clothing were insufficient, the vocalist learned on her own how to make chainmail – no mean feat, though she admittedly entrusted her completely original scale armor design to a New York-based specialist. “It feels like actual armour,” she grins.

Fan Response and Obstacles

As for audiences? They embraced the theatrical gore, soft weapons and papier-mache rat skulls with equal enthusiasm as the musicians. “We had a concert in the Motor City and it looked like a medieval event,” reminisces Riley with affection. “Everyone was in capes, wool garments, armor.”

However, this doesn’t mean, nevertheless, that touring existence as sword’n’sorcery vagabonds has been easy. “Everything is constantly breaking and ends up fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Moreover I get countless concepts as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we’re traveling in a van with limited room. It’s an interesting challenge to make it feel like a grand epic, then compress it into nothing.”

There have been other logistical problems that didn’t affect fictional warriors. “We did have an ‘oh shit’ moment when we appeared at a music event in the European country and my luggage – which had my blade in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “This became a nightmare, because we don’t have an different option of the show where I don’t have a sword.”

Upcoming Plans

In the spirit of a hero, Riley is gung-ho about the future. “I want to go to the top – we should play large venues,” she says. “The only thing that’s deeply meaningful to me is maintaining the self-crafted look, making sure everything is crafted by us. That’s an element I want to remain faithful to, whatever we grow into. Additionally, I desire to make an entrance on a mythical beast at all performances. Think about how famous musicians ride bikes on stage? That, but on a mythical creature.”