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Although numerous artists have drawn from epic fantasy, few have truly lived the enchanted lifestyle. Certainly, they may decorate their record jackets with creatures, goblins, manacled maidens and brawny barbarians, but did a member ever been forced to find a missing unicorn horn from a wintry landscape in the depths of winter? Did anyone taken the time straining their eyes in the rear of a road transport, mending their own metal mesh?

Immersed in the Legend

Created in 2019, Brooklyn’s Castle Rat have encountered both these scenarios and additional ones as they act out their grand tales. Starting with medieval-inspired, catchy tunes to breathtaking performances, outfit creation, music videos and album art, they’re not just a rock act as a complete sensory journey.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a themed musical group,” says vocalist, guitar player, sword-carrier and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the group’s vehicle speeds from a packed show in Cologne to another in Aschaffenburg – they’re also doing multiple performances in the UK currently. “Initially, we performed twice and got booked on a Halloween gig, where I decided spontaneously to wear a costume. Everything was super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the atmosphere was unforgettable. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have this much fun always?’”

Development of Castle Rat

From that point on, the ensemble – which features Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” alongside a medic from history (low-end instrumentalist), haughty vampire (guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (drummer) – haven’t looked back. Their latest album, the band’s second album, brings to mind of classic metal icons collaborating to fight their path through a mythical painted realm – a heroic opus that sets them on the edge of greater success.

The Bestiary was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her collaborators. “That contributed to a lot stronger project,” she says of the group work. “I struggled at first – I often experienced a specific level of satisfaction as a female in music working independently. There have been so many times where after a show and a person will say, ‘Those guys write great riffs!’ and I think, ‘Wait – I created all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the scale of their visual elements. “The saying I live by is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. She was originally on path for a art school education before hesitating at the idea of so much debt. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to express artistic expression,” she says. “Be it crafting disguises, attire creation, mastering post-production song visuals … everything is I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to learn in the moment.”

As if creating the group’s detailed mythology (“Everyone’s urging me to write it down because everything is stored,” Riley says, tapping her head) and sewing costumes didn’t suffice, the singer taught herself how to create armor – no mean feat, though she admittedly entrusted her completely original scalemail look to a professional in the city. “It seems like actual armour,” she beams.

Fan Response and Obstacles

What about the crowd? They embraced the fake blood, toy blades and crafted rodent bones with equal enthusiasm as the band. “We had a show in Detroit and it looked like a medieval event,” remembers Riley fondly. “All attendees was in cloaks, wool garments, chainmail.”

This isn’t to say, nevertheless, that life on the road as mythical wanderers has been smooth. “Each item is frequently damaged and becomes repaired with tape,” Riley says. “Additionally I get numerous thoughts as to how I want things to look, but we are on the move in a vehicle with limited room. It’s an interesting challenge to make it feel like a grand epic, then compress it into minimal luggage.”

We’ve encountered further organizational challenges that would never have plagued legendary fantasy heroes. “There was an ‘oh shit’ moment when we performed at a music event in Portugal and my suitcase – which had my blade in it – got lost,” says Riley. “It was a worst-case scenario, because we don’t have an alternative version of the concert where I am without a blade.”

Future Ambitions

As a genuine leader, Riley is eager about the days to come. “I aim to reach as far as possible – I dream of huge arenas,” she says. “The main aspect that’s deeply meaningful to me is maintaining the DIY aesthetic, ensuring everything is handmade. That’s an element I want to stay authentic to, no matter what we achieve. Plus, I want to appear on a mythical beast each show. Remember how some artists use vehicles in concerts? That, but with a unicorn.”