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Although many artists have taken inspiration from high fantasy, only a handful have genuinely embodied the fantasy existence. Certainly, they might decorate their album covers with creatures, imps, chained damsels and brawny barbarians, but did a member ever have to retrieve a missing unicorn horn from a snowy field in the depths of winter? Did a guitarist spent time straining their eyes in the rear of a road transport, fixing their own chainmail?

Living the Fantasy

Created in 2019, the Brooklyn-based Castle Rat have dealt with both these scenarios and more as they act out their heroic dreams. Starting with medieval-inspired, catchy anthems to breathtaking concerts, outfit creation, visuals and record designs, they’re not just a rock act as a total artistic immersion.

“The band wasn’t intended to be a themed musical group,” says vocalist, guitarist, sword-wielder and creative overlord Riley Pinkerton as the band’s tour van drives from a packed show in a German city to one more in another town – they have multiple performances in the UK currently. “After a couple of performances and got booked on a spooky event, where I made a last-minute decision to dress up. It was all highly handmade, but we had so much fun and the feeling in the room was incredible. I realized, ‘Imagine if we could have so much excitement always?’”

The Band’s Evolution

After that, the group – which features Pinkerton as the “Rodent Monarch” together with a plague doctor (low-end instrumentalist), proud bloodsucker (guitarist) and enigmatic nature priest (rhythm keeper) – haven’t looked back. Their latest album, the group’s sophomore release, conjures visions of classic metal icons collaborating to battle their way through a mythical painted realm – a heroic opus that sets them on the brink of greater success.

This album was a initial step for Pinkerton in that she welcomed contributions to her fellow members. “It made it a much better record,” she says of the team effort. “I had difficulty at first – I often experienced a particular degree of satisfaction as a female in music doing everything solo. There have been numerous occasions where after a show and an audience member will say, ‘The other members compose cool melodies!’ and I think, ‘Listen – I wrote all that.’”

Creative Output and Ideas

With their growing popularity has expanded, so has the scope of their stage presentation. “My motto is always that if an effort matters, it’s worth overdoing,” Pinkerton smiles. Initially, she was on track for a university studies in art before balking at the prospect of so much debt. “The fun thing about Castle Rat is there’s so many different ways to apply artistic expression,” she says. “Be it crafting disguises, outfit planning, figuring out video editing music videos … these are all things I am unfamiliar with, but it’s enjoyable to figure it out in the moment.”

As if building the ensemble’s complex backstory (“People are encouraging me to write it down because it’s all in here,” Riley says, tapping her head) and making clothing were insufficient, the singer learned on her own how to craft metal mesh – a difficult task, though she admittedly left her completely original reptilian-inspired outfit to a professional in the city. “It’s as if actual armour,” she smiles proudly.

Fan Response and Obstacles

As for audiences? They took to the stage blood, toy blades and handmade props with as much gusto as the musicians. “We had a concert in the Motor City and it seemed like a Renaissance fair,” remembers Riley fondly. “Everyone was in cloaks, wool garments, armor.”

However, this doesn’t mean, however, that traveling lifestyle as mythical wanderers has been easy. “All our gear is constantly breaking and gets fixed temporarily,” Riley says. “Plus I get endless ideas as to how I want things to look, but we are on the move in a vehicle with only so much space. It’s a fascinating test to make it feel like a mythic tale, then store it into a small space.”

We faced additional practical issues that didn’t affect legendary fantasy heroes. “There was an ‘oh shit’ moment when we played SonicBlast festival in the European country and my baggage – which had my sword in it – went missing,” says Riley. “That was a nightmare, because we don’t have an alternative version of the performance where I don’t have a blade.”

Upcoming Plans

In the spirit of a hero, Riley is eager about the future. “I aim to reach to the top – I dream of stadiums,” she says. “The key element that’s really important to me is preserving the DIY aesthetic, guaranteeing each detail is crafted by us. This is a feature I want to stay authentic to, regardless of we grow into. Oh, and I wish to make an entrance on a magical horse at all performances. Remember how some artists use vehicles in concerts? Exactly that, but using a unicorn.”