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While many musicians have drawn from high fantasy, few have genuinely embodied the mythical existence. Sure, they might adorn their record jackets with creatures, imps, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but has any musician ever have to find a lost mythical horn from a snowy field in the heart of winter? Has anyone taken the time peering in the back of a traveling vehicle, repairing their own chainmail?

Living the Fantasy

Created in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have encountered both these scenarios and others as they embody their heroic dreams. Starting with medieval-inspired, catchy tunes to eye-popping concerts, costume design, videos and album art, they’re more than a rock act as a total artistic immersion.

“It wasn’t planned to be a themed musical group,” states vocalist, guitar player, sword-wielder and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the group’s vehicle travels from a packed show in Cologne to a second one in Aschaffenburg – they are playing multiple performances in the UK this week. “After a couple of performances and received an offer on a spooky event, where I made a last-minute decision to put on an outfit. It was all super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the atmosphere was electric. It occurred to me, ‘Imagine if we could have such enjoyment at every show?’”

Development of Castle Rat

From that point on, the group – which showcases Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” together with a pestilence physician (bassist), aristocratic undead (lead guitarist) and secretive shaman (drummer) – never turned back. Their latest album, the group’s sophomore release, conjures visions of famous rock groups uniting to battle their way through a Frank Frazetta fantasy world – a grand composition that positions them on the brink of greater success.

This album was a first for Pinkerton in that she invited input to her bandmates. “That contributed to a lot stronger project,” she says of the group work. “It was challenging at first – There was a sense of a certain amount of satisfaction as a female in music going it alone. There have been multiple instances where I finished performing and a person will say, ‘The other members write great riffs!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I created all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

As their fame has expanded, so has the scope of their production design. “The saying I live by is always that if something is valuable, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. She was originally on track for a university studies in art before hesitating at the idea of financial burden. “What’s enjoyable about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to express artistry,” she says. “Whether it’s creating face coverings, costume design, learning how to edit song visuals … these are all things I have no experience with, but it’s exciting to figure it out as we go.”

As if developing the band’s intricate lore (“Everyone’s urging me to document it because everything is stored,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and sewing costumes wasn’t enough, the vocalist self-educated how to make chainmail – no mean feat, though she confessedly left her completely original reptilian-inspired outfit to a expert from NYC. “It seems like actual armour,” she grins.

Fan Response and Obstacles

Regarding the fans? They took to the fake blood, toy blades and crafted rodent bones with similar excitement as the band. “We played a show in the Motor City and it looked like a medieval event,” remembers Riley with affection. “Everyone was in capes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

However, this doesn’t mean, nevertheless, that traveling lifestyle as mythical wanderers has been smooth. “All our gear is constantly breaking and ends up repaired with tape,” Riley says. “Additionally I’ll have endless ideas as to how I desire the presentation, but we’re traveling in a vehicle with only so much space. It’s a fascinating test to make it feel like a grand epic, then store it into minimal luggage.”

There have been further organizational challenges that didn’t affect mythic characters. “There was an ‘disastrous’ moment when we performed at SonicBlast festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my blade in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “This became a nightmare, because there’s not an backup plan of the concert where I lack a sword.”

Future Ambitions

As a genuine leader, Riley is enthusiastic about the what’s next. “I want to go as far as possible – we should play large venues,” she says. “The only thing that’s deeply meaningful to me is preserving the DIY aesthetic, ensuring each detail is handmade. That’s an element I want to remain faithful to, regardless of we scale to. Plus, I wish to ride out on a unicorn each show. You know how some artists use vehicles in concerts? That, but with a unicorn.”