‘I Want to Ride Out on a Unicorn Every Night’: Swords’n’Sorcery Heavy Metal Band Castle Rat

While many artists have borrowed from epic fantasy, few have genuinely embodied the enchanted way of life. Admittedly, they might adorn their album covers with monsters, imps, captive women and strong fighters, but did a member ever needed to find a misplaced mythical horn from a frost-covered ground in the depths of winter? Has anyone taken the time squinting in the back of a traveling vehicle, fixing their own armor?

Immersed in the Legend

Formed in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have dealt with such situations and others as they embody their grand tales. From heraldic, catchy songs to breathtaking concerts, attire styling, videos and record designs, they’re not so much a heavy metal group as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a themed musical group,” explains vocalist, guitarist, sword-wielder and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the group’s vehicle travels from a sold-out gig in a German city to a second one in Aschaffenburg – they have several shows in the UK now. “After a couple of performances and were scheduled on a October show, where I decided spontaneously to wear a costume. Everything was super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the energy was unforgettable. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have such enjoyment at every show?’”

The Band’s Evolution

After that, the band – which features Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” joined by a plague doctor (low-end instrumentalist), proud bloodsucker (lead guitarist) and secretive shaman (percussionist) – haven’t looked back. The Bestiary, the band’s second album, evokes images of classic metal icons uniting to struggle onward through a mythical painted realm – a epic masterpiece that positions them on the verge of greater success.

The Bestiary was a new experience for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her fellow members. “It made it a lot stronger project,” she says of the group work. “I struggled at first – I’d always felt a certain amount of satisfaction being a woman in music going it alone. I’ve had so many times where after a show and a person will say, ‘Those guys compose cool melodies!’ and I respond, ‘Wait – I wrote all that.’”

Artistry and Imagination

As the band’s stature has expanded, so has the breadth of their stage presentation. “My philosophy is always that if something is valuable, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton laughs. She was originally on track for a art school education before pulling back at the idea of financial burden. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s numerous methods to demonstrate artistry,” she says. “From crafting disguises, outfit planning, figuring out video editing clips … it’s all stuff I don’t know how to do, but it’s fun to learn as we go.”

Even though building the band’s intricate lore (“Everyone’s urging me to document it because all the ideas are,” Riley says, tapping her head) and stitching garments wasn’t enough, the vocalist taught herself how to make chainmail – no mean feat, though she admittedly left her brand-new scale armor design to a professional in the city. “It feels like actual armour,” she beams.

Audience Reaction and Challenges

What about the crowd? They took to the fake blood, foam swords and handmade props with as much gusto as the musicians. “We performed a gig in Detroit and it seemed like a Renaissance fair,” remembers Riley fondly. “The whole crowd was in capes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, though, that touring existence as mythical wanderers has been smooth. “All our gear is constantly breaking and gets fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Moreover I get countless concepts as to how I desire the presentation, but we’re traveling in a bus with restricted capacity. It’s an interesting challenge to give the sense like a mythic tale, then store it into a small space.”

We’ve encountered further organizational challenges that would never have plagued fictional warriors. “There was an ‘oh shit’ moment when we performed at a Portuguese festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my weapon in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “It was a worst-case scenario, because there is no an alternative version of the show where I am without a blade.”

Future Ambitions

Like a true warrior queen, Riley is enthusiastic about the days to come. “My goal is to the top – we should play stadiums,” she says. “The key element that’s really important to me is keeping the handmade style, guaranteeing all elements is custom-made. It’s a component I want to remain faithful to, regardless of we grow into. Plus, I wish to ride out on a magical horse every night. Think about how legends ride bikes on stage? That, but on a mythical creature.”