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While many musicians have borrowed from epic fantasy, few have truly lived the fantasy way of life. Admittedly, they might embellish their album covers with monsters, beasts, manacled maidens and muscular warriors, but has an artist ever been forced to recover a misplaced unicorn horn from a frost-covered ground in the depths of winter? Did a guitarist taken the time straining their eyes in the rear of a road transport, mending their own chainmail?

Embracing the Mythos

Established in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have encountered such situations and more as they act out their epic fantasies. Starting with knightly, catchy anthems to stunning live shows, costume design, music videos and album art, they’re more than a rock act as a total artistic immersion.

“It wasn’t planned to be a costumed concept band,” states singer, guitarist, blade-handler and artistic leader Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a sold-out gig in a German city to one more in another town – they have five gigs in the UK now. “We played two shows and got booked on a October show, where I decided spontaneously to wear a costume. The entire setup was super-DIY, but we had a blast and the atmosphere was unforgettable. I realized, ‘How about if we could have so much excitement at every show?’”

Growth of the Group

After that, the group – which includes Pinkerton as the “Rodent Monarch” joined by a pestilence physician (low-end instrumentalist), aristocratic undead (six-string player) and enigmatic nature priest (rhythm keeper) – never turned back. The Bestiary, the band’s second album, brings to mind of famous rock groups collaborating to struggle onward through a mythical painted realm – a epic masterpiece that places them on the edge of greater success.

This album was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she opened the floor to her bandmates. “That contributed to a more powerful project,” she says of the team effort. “It was challenging at first – I’d always felt a particular degree of pride being a woman in music doing everything solo. There have been so many times where I finished performing and a person will say, ‘The other members write great riffs!’ and I’m like, ‘Hey – I created all that.’”

Artistic Expression and Vision

As the band’s stature has expanded, so has the scope of their stage presentation. “My motto is always that if something is valuable, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton chuckles. Initially, she was on path for a art school education before balking at the idea of so much debt. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistry,” she says. “Whether it’s crafting disguises, outfit planning, mastering post-production clips … everything is I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to learn as we go.”

Even though creating the ensemble’s complex backstory (“The team is pushing me to write it down because it’s all in here,” Riley says, indicating her head) and sewing costumes were insufficient, the vocalist learned on her own how to create armor – no mean feat, though she confessedly delegated her brand-new scalemail look to a expert from NYC. “It’s as if actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Crowd Engagement and Difficulties

As for audiences? They embraced the fake blood, toy blades and handmade props with as much gusto as the group. “We performed a concert in the Motor City and it looked like a Renaissance fair,” remembers Riley with affection. “Everyone was in robes, sheepskin, armor.”

That’s not to imply, nevertheless, that touring existence as fantasy adventurers has been plain sailing. “All our gear is always failing and gets duct-taped together,” Riley says. “Moreover I get countless concepts as to how I want things to look, but we tour in a vehicle with only so much space. It’s a unique problem to make it feel like a larger-than-life story, then compress it into nothing.”

We’ve encountered other logistical problems that would never have plagued legendary fantasy heroes. “We did have an ‘disastrous’ moment when we played SonicBlast festival in Portugal and my baggage – which had my weapon in it – was misplaced,” says Riley. “It was a nightmare, because we don’t have an alternative version of the concert where I am without a sword.”

Goals Ahead

As a genuine leader, Riley is enthusiastic about the future. “My goal is as far as possible – we should play stadiums,” she says. “The main aspect that’s really important to me is preserving the handmade style, guaranteeing each detail is handmade. It’s a component I want to keep true to, whatever we scale to. Oh, and I desire to ride out on a magical horse every night. Think about how legends ride bikes on stage? Exactly that, but on a mythical creature.”