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While many rockers have taken inspiration from fantasy lore, only a handful have fully embraced the mythical lifestyle. Admittedly, they may adorn their record jackets with monsters, imps, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but has an artist ever needed to find a missing horn from a unicorn from a frost-covered ground in the heart of winter? Has a guitarist devoted hours squinting in the interior of a road transport, mending their own chainmail?

Embracing the Mythos

Established in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have encountered both these scenarios and additional ones as they embody their epic fantasies. From heraldic, catchy tunes to breathtaking concerts, outfit creation, videos and cover artwork, they’re more than a rock act as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a costumed concept band,” says singer, guitarist, sword-carrier and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the musicians’ transport speeds from a packed show in a German city to another in Aschaffenburg – they’re also doing five gigs in the UK now. “After a couple of performances and received an offer on a spooky event, where I chose at the final moment to dress up. It was all completely self-made, but we had an amazing time and the feeling in the room was unforgettable. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have this much fun always?’”

The Band’s Evolution

After that, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Rodent Monarch” alongside a pestilence physician (bass player), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (percussionist) – haven’t looked back. Their latest album, the band’s second album, conjures visions of classic metal icons joining forces to battle their way through a heroic art landscape – a epic masterpiece that sets them on the verge of bigger achievements.

This album was a first for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her bandmates. “It made it a more powerful album,” she says of the collaborative process. “I struggled at first – There was a sense of a certain amount of accomplishment being a woman in music working independently. I’ve had numerous occasions where after a show and an audience member will say, ‘The other members compose cool melodies!’ and I respond, ‘Listen – I composed all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

With their growing popularity has expanded, so has the scope of their production design. “My philosophy is always that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. Initially, she was on track for a university studies in art before balking at the prospect of financial burden. “The exciting part about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistry,” she says. “From making masks, attire creation, figuring out video editing music videos … these are all things I am unfamiliar with, but it’s fun to figure it out as we go.”

Even though building the band’s intricate lore (“People are encouraging me to document it because everything is stored,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and stitching garments were insufficient, the vocalist taught herself how to make chainmail – a challenging endeavor, though she admittedly entrusted her all-new reptilian-inspired outfit to a professional in the city. “It seems like actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Fan Response and Obstacles

As for audiences? They loved the theatrical gore, toy blades and handmade props with similar excitement as the musicians. “We performed a gig in Detroit and it resembled a historical festival,” reminisces Riley happily. “The whole crowd was in capes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

However, this doesn’t mean, though, that touring existence as fantasy adventurers has been easy. “All our gear is frequently damaged and gets fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Plus I get endless ideas as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we tour in a van with limited room. It’s a unique problem to create the impression like a larger-than-life story, then store it into minimal luggage.”

We’ve encountered additional practical issues that would never have plagued mythic characters. “There was an ‘oh shit’ moment when we played SonicBlast festival in the European country and my luggage – which had my blade in it – got lost,” says Riley. “This became a nightmare, because there’s not an different option of the concert where I am without a weapon.”

Upcoming Plans

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is enthusiastic about the what’s next. “I aim to reach as far as possible – we should play huge arenas,” she says. “The main aspect that’s really important to me is preserving the handmade style, making sure everything is crafted by us. It’s a component I want to remain faithful to, regardless of we achieve. Plus, I wish to appear on a magical horse every night. Think about how famous musicians ride bikes on stage? Exactly that, but with a unicorn.”