‘I Want to Ride Out on a Unicorn Every Night’: Fantasy-Themed Metal Group Castle Rat

While plenty of rockers have borrowed from fantasy lore, rarely any have genuinely embodied the fantasy existence. Certainly, they might embellish their album sleeves with creatures, goblins, chained damsels and muscular warriors, but has any musician ever have to find a misplaced mythical horn from a frost-covered ground in the heart of winter? Has a guitarist taken the time squinting in the back of a road transport, fixing their own chainmail?

Living the Fantasy

Created in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have dealt with such situations and others as they embody their heroic dreams. Starting with medieval-inspired, earworm-heavy songs to breathtaking concerts, outfit creation, visuals and cover artwork, they’re not just a rock act as a full immersive experience.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a outfit with characters,” explains vocalist, guitarist, blade-handler and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a full-capacity concert in Cologne to a second one in another town – they’re also doing multiple performances in the UK this week. “We played two shows and got booked on a October show, where I made a last-minute decision to wear a costume. It was all super-DIY, but we had so much fun and the energy was incredible. It occurred to me, ‘What if we could have such enjoyment every time?’”

The Band’s Evolution

From that point on, the group – which includes Pinkerton as the “Queen Rat” together with a plague doctor (bassist), proud bloodsucker (six-string player) and mysterious druid (rhythm keeper) – continued forward. Their latest album, the band’s second album, evokes images of legendary heavy bands joining forces to struggle onward through a mythical painted realm – a grand composition that places them on the brink of bigger achievements.

This album was a first for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her bandmates. “That contributed to a lot stronger album,” she says of the collaborative process. “It was challenging at first – I often experienced a particular degree of pride as a female in music going it alone. I’ve had so many times where I’ve got off stage and some guy will say, ‘Those guys create awesome guitar parts!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I wrote all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

As the band’s stature has increased, so has the scope of their stage presentation. “My philosophy is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton smiles. Initially, she was on course for a fine art degree before hesitating at the prospect of so much debt. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s numerous methods to express creativity,” she says. “From making masks, attire creation, learning how to edit clips … it’s all stuff I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to learn as we go.”

As if creating the band’s intricate lore (“People are encouraging me to document it because everything is stored,” Riley says, pointing to her head) and making clothing wasn’t enough, the vocalist learned on her own how to make chainmail – no mean feat, though she confessedly delegated her all-new reptilian-inspired outfit to a New York-based specialist. “It’s as if actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

Regarding the fans? They loved the fake blood, foam swords and crafted rodent bones with similar excitement as the band. “We had a gig in Detroit and it looked like a medieval event,” recalls Riley with affection. “Everyone was in robes, sheepskin, metal wear.”

This isn’t to say, nevertheless, that touring existence as sword’n’sorcery vagabonds has been smooth. “Everything is constantly breaking and ends up duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Additionally I come up with countless concepts as to how I envision the aesthetics, but we are on the move in a vehicle with limited room. It’s a fascinating test to give the sense like a mythic tale, then store it into nothing.”

We faced additional practical issues that didn’t affect fictional warriors. “We experienced an ‘oh shit’ moment when we performed at a music event in Portugal and my suitcase – which had my weapon in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “That was a worst-case scenario, because there’s not an alternative version of the concert where I don’t have a weapon.”

Upcoming Plans

In the spirit of a hero, Riley is eager about the days to come. “My goal is as far as possible – we should play large venues,” she says. “The only thing that’s deeply meaningful to me is keeping the self-crafted look, ensuring each detail is crafted by us. That’s an element I want to keep true to, no matter what we grow into. Plus, I want to appear on a mythical beast each show. Think about how some artists ride bikes on stage? That, but on a mythical creature.”