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While many rockers have taken inspiration from epic fantasy, only a handful have fully embraced the enchanted existence. Admittedly, they could adorn their album sleeves with monsters, goblins, manacled maidens and muscular warriors, but has any musician ever have to find a missing mythical horn from a wintry landscape in the heart of winter? Did a performer taken the time peering in the rear of a tour bus, mending their own armor?

Living the Fantasy

Created in 2019, New York’s Castle Rat have had to face such situations and others as they live out their epic fantasies. From knightly, memorable tunes to stunning performances, costume design, visuals and cover artwork, they’re not just a heavy metal group as a full immersive experience.

“It wasn’t planned to be a themed musical group,” explains singer, guitar player, sword-carrier and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the musicians’ transport drives from a packed show in Cologne to a second one in Aschaffenburg – they’re also doing multiple performances in the UK currently. “Initially, we performed twice and received an offer on a October show, where I made a last-minute decision to dress up. The entire setup was highly handmade, but we had an amazing time and the feeling in the room was electric. I realized, ‘Imagine if we could have such enjoyment always?’”

Development of Castle Rat

After that, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” joined by a medic from history (low-end instrumentalist), haughty vampire (guitarist) and mysterious druid (drummer) – continued forward. Their latest album, the band’s second album, conjures visions of famous rock groups collaborating to fight their path through a heroic art landscape – a grand composition that positions them on the brink of greater success.

This album was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her fellow members. “That contributed to a lot stronger record,” she says of the group work. “I had difficulty at first – There was a sense of a specific level of satisfaction as a female in music going it alone. There’ve been multiple instances where I’ve got off stage and a person will say, ‘Those guys create awesome guitar parts!’ and I respond, ‘Listen – I created all that.’”

Artistry and Imagination

As their fame has expanded, so has the scope of their visual elements. “My philosophy is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. At first, she had been on track for a fine art degree before hesitating at the prospect of financial burden. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to demonstrate artistic expression,” she says. “Whether it’s creating face coverings, attire creation, figuring out video editing song visuals … it’s all stuff I have no experience with, but it’s exciting to learn on the fly.”

Even though developing the ensemble’s complex backstory (“The team is pushing me to document it because all the ideas are,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and stitching garments didn’t suffice, the singer learned on her own how to craft metal mesh – no mean feat, though she admittedly delegated her all-new scalemail look to a expert from NYC. “It’s as if actual armour,” she grins.

Fan Response and Obstacles

What about the crowd? They took to the fake blood, soft weapons and handmade props with similar excitement as the musicians. “We had a concert in Detroit and it resembled a Renaissance fair,” remembers Riley fondly. “All attendees was in capes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, however, that traveling lifestyle as mythical wanderers has been smooth. “All our gear is frequently damaged and becomes duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Plus I get countless concepts as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we’re traveling in a van with limited room. It’s a fascinating test to give the sense like a grand epic, then store it into a small space.”

We faced additional practical issues that would never have plagued legendary fantasy heroes. “We experienced an ‘disastrous’ moment when we performed at a Portuguese festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my blade in it – went missing,” says Riley. “It was a nightmare, because there is no an alternative version of the concert where I lack a blade.”

Upcoming Plans

In the spirit of a hero, Riley is enthusiastic about the future. “I aim to reach to the top – I dream of stadiums,” she says. “The key element that’s truly essential to me is preserving the DIY aesthetic, guaranteeing each detail is handmade. This is a feature I want to remain faithful to, whatever we scale to. Plus, I want to ride out on a unicorn each show. You know how legends ride bikes on stage? Exactly that, but with a unicorn.”