Archive for castle rat

CASTLE RAT Announce Special Spring Headline Shows | On Tour This Spring With AMON AMARTH & DETHKLOK

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on February 8, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

METAL HAMMER COVER FEATURE REVEALED!

Mystical metal warriors CASTLE RAT will embark on a monumental tour with AMON AMARTH and DETHKLOK this spring, and have now announced two special, headlining shows in Grand Rapids, MI at The Pyramid Scheme on April 26th (w/SACRED LEATHER) and in Anaheim, CA at House of Blues on May 24th (w/DEATH CHANT). 

Tickets are available now at: https://castlerat.com/

CASTLE RAT Tour Dates:
Apr 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Apr 17 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center At Tech Port
Apr 18 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Apr 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
Apr 21 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
Apr 22 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory
Apr 24 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
Apr 25 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
Apr 26 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme (HEADLINE SHOW)
Apr 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
Apr 29 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
May 1 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort
May 2 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
May 5 – Oxon Hill, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville Pre-Party (FESTIVAL)
May 9 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 10 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
May 12 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena
May 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre Detroit
May 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music (FESTIVAL)
May 19 – Denver, CO – The Junkyard
May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
May 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
May 24 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues (HEADLINE SHOW)

July 29 – Bergen, NO – Beyond The Gates 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 6 – Jaroměř, CZ – Brutal Assault 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 8 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 15 – Eindhoven, NL – Dynamo Metal Fest 2026 (FESTIVAL)

With the new headlining shows comes the announcement of CASTLE RAT’s first cover feature with METAL HAMMER (UK). Behold the sword wielding Rat Queen in all her glory, as they continue to slay their way to the top! Purchase a copy now at: bit.ly/buyhammer.

Photo Credit: Courtney Hall (@light_witch)

CASTLE RAT is currently on the road in support of their critically acclaimed new album, The Bestiary, that’s available now from King Volume Records (US) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe). Named one of 2025’s best metal albums by Rolling Stone, NPR, Decibel and All Music, The Bestiary is an epic tale of mysticism, magic and maleficence set in a mythical world and told through the heavy metal offerings of band members “The Rat Queen,” “The Count,” “The Plague Doctor” and “The All-Seeing Druid.” 

PURCHASE THE BESTIARY: 
NORTH AMERICA – HERE
EUROPE – HERE

STREAM THE BESTIARY: 
lnkfi.re/thebestiary

The Bestiary – Track-list: 

1. PHOENIX I
2. WOLF I
3. WIZARD
4. SIREN
5. UNICORN
6. PATH OF MOSS
7. CRYSTAL CAVE 
8. SERPENT
9. WOLF II
10. DRAGON
11. SUMMONING SPELL
12. SUN SONG
13. PHOENIX II

“WIZARD” Music Video

“WOLF I” Music Video

“SERPENT” Audio Stream

Follow CASTLE RAT:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
King Volume Records | Blues Funeral

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AMON AMARTH – The AMONKLOK Conquest Tour North America 2026 | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on December 10, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

THE AMONKLOK CONQUEST: North America 2026 co-headline tour featuring Amon Amarth and Dethklok with special guests Castle Rat.

Tickets on-sale Friday, December 12th.

04.15 – Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Federal Theatre
04.17 – San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Center + Arena
04.18 – Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall
04.20 – Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion
04.21 – Kansas City, MO | The Midland Theatre
04.22 – Chesterfield, MO | The Factory
04.24 – Minneapolis, MN | The Armory
04.25 – Waukee, IA | Vibrant Music Hall
04.28 – New York, NY | Brooklyn Paramount
04.29 – Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway
05.01 – Toronto, ON | The Great Canadian Casino
05.02 – Montreal, QC | Centre Bell
05.05 – National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor
05.09 – Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy
05.10 – Nashville, TN | The Pinnacle
05.12 – Johnstown, PA | 1st Summit Arena
05.13 – Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre
05.14 – Bethlehem, PA | The Wind Creek Event Center
05.16 – Milwaukee, WI | Landmark Credit Union Live
05.19 – Denver, CO | The JunkYard
05.20 – Salt Lake City, UT | The Union Event Center
05.21 – Las Vegas, NV | Planet Hollywood

Source: Amon Amarth Facebook

https://www.amonamarth.com/

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CASTLE RAT Debut Spellbinding First Single “WIZARD” – From New Album The Bestiary | Out Sept 19th; Pre-Order Now!

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, metal music videos, Music, music news, music videos, news with tags , , , , , , on June 15, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Photo Credit: Courtney Hall (@light_witch)

Mystical masters of heavy metal CASTLE RATT recently announced their latest epic The Bestiary will be unleashed on September 19th via King Volume Records (US) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe). 

Today, the otherworldly outliers introduce fans to the protagonist in their forthcoming saga, the “Wizard.” Available for streaming now, and accompanied by an enchanting video revealed at Decibel, “WIZARD” sets an ominous and heavy tone for one of metal’s most bewitching odysseys. 

Regarding the new single, Charley Ruddell (Plague Doctor) states: 

“Musically, ‘WIZARD’ was a big step in a new direction for us as a band. We found ourselves collaborating more closely with each other and piecing together ideas more intricately than on previous songs. We channeled the new wave of british heavy metal; the galloping drum break and harmonized guitar leads were largely inspired by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Franco’s solo at the end, which was recorded in one take, was inspired by ‘Electric Eye.’”

Stream “WIZARD“: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/castlerat1/wizard

Pre-Order The Bestiary: 
North America – Here
Europe – Here

“WIZARD” Music Video:
https://youtu.be/iWKmiTwjjHA?si=fd8KwqjkdZQuDnV2

Since their formation in 2019, CASTLE RAT have created a vivid labyrinth of fantasy lore led by “The Rat Queen” (AKA Riley Pinkerton). Together with “The Count,” “The Plague Doctor” and “The All-Seeing Druid,” the group has carried out countless battles against “The Rat Reaperess” with riffs, swords and spells on stages across the country.

Recorded by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Björk) and mixed by Jonathan Nuñez (Torche, Restless Spirit), the band’s latest odyssey features 13 spellbinding tracks of epic carnage and mystical metal.

Commenting on the new album, The Rat Queen says: 

“The Bestiary’ is a conceptual book of beasts containing a collection of mystical creatures from a world forgotten. The last remaining souls of each have been gathered and preserved by ‘The Wizard.’ Cautionary tales of each beast and The Wizard himself are woven through the power of traditional heavy metal song and spell.”

Follow CASTLE RAT:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
King Volume Records | Blues Funeral

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Fantasy Metal Warriors CASTLE RAT Reveal New Album The Bestiary – Coming Sept 19th | Announce 2025 US Tour

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on May 12, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Emerging from New York’s vile, creature-infested underground, fantasy heavy metal band CASTLE RAT have announced details of their impending sophomore album, The Bestiary. Their follow-up to last year’s critically lauded debut, Into The Realm, The Bestiary will be collaboratively released on September 19th by King Volume Records (US) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe).

Since their formation in 2019, CASTLE RAT have created a vivid labyrinth of fantasy lore led by “The Rat Queen” (AKA Riley Pinkerton). Together with “The Count,” “The Plague Doctor” and “The All-Seeing Druid,” the group has carried out countless battles against “The Rat Reaperess” with riffs, swords and spells on stages across the country.

Recorded by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Björk) and mixed by Jonathan Nuñez (Torche, Restless Spirit), the band’s latest odyssey features 13 spellbinding tracks of epic carnage and mystical metal.

The Bestiery – Track-list: 

1. PHOENIX I: Ardent
2. WOLF I: Tooth & Blade
3. WIZARD: Crystal Heart
4. SIREN: The Pull of Promise
5. UNICORN: Carnage and Ice
6. PATH OF MOSS
7. CRYSTAL CAVE: Enshrined 
8. SERPENT: Coiled Figure
9. WOLF II: Celestial Beast
10. DRAGON: Lord of The Sky
11. SUMMONING SPELL
12. SUN SONG: Behold The Flame
13. PHOENIX II: Cinerous

Commenting on the album, The Rat Queen states:

“‘The Bestiary’ is a conceptual book of beasts containing a collection of mystical creatures from a world forgotten. The last remaining souls of each have been gathered and preserved by ‘The Wizard.’ Cautionary tales of each beast and The Wizard himself are woven through the power of traditional heavy metal song and spell.”

With the record’s announcement, CASTLE RAT have unveiled plans for “The Book of Beasts Tour” in late summer in support of The Bestiary. Purchase tickets here: https://bnds.us/jnqiyj

CASTLE RAT Tour Dates:
Sep 5 – Boston, MA – Sonia
Sep 6 – Elizabethtown, NY – Otis
Sep 7 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
Sep 8 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Sep 9 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Sep 10 – Chicago, IL – Reggies
Sep 12 – Kansas City, MO – The Ship
Sep 13 – Colorado Springs, CO – What’s Left Fest
Sep 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Sep 16 – Seattle, WA – Clockout Lounge
Sep 17 – Portland, OR – Star Theater
Sep 18 – Austin, TX – Fantastic Fest
Sep 20 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
Sep 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
Sep 22 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
Sep 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit
Sep 24 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
Sep 27 – Houston, TX – Last Concert
Sep 28 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa
Sep 30 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Oct 1 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Oct 2 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
Oct 3 – Charlottesville, VA – Southern Cafe
Oct 4 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Oct 5 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

Photo Credit: Courtney Hall (@light_witch)

About CASTLE RAT:

Castle Rat is a Medieval Fantasy Doom Metal band hailing from NYC, led by “The Rat Queen,” Riley Pinkerton, on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. On her mission to expand and defend “The Realm” from those who seek to destroy it, The Rat Queen is joined by “The Count” (Franco Vittore), on lead guitar and backing vocals; “The Plague Doctor” (Charley Ruddell), on bass and “The All-Seeing Druid” (Joshua Strmic) on drums. Together they face the relentless wrath of their archnemesis: Death, Herself — “The Rat Reaperess.”

Along their journey, Castle Rat have played in support of Monolord (SE), Acid King (CA), Green Lung (UK), and appeared at festivals including Desertfest NYC, RPM Fest and Hopsmoker, among others.

Since the band’s pre-plague inception in October 2019, Castle Rat have released their debut album, “Into The Realm,” with King Volume Records in April 2024, which has racked up over one million Spotify streams and held the post as the #1 Best-Selling Hard Rock/All Rock Album on Bandcamp upon its release.

The band has cultivated a fiercely loyal following by curating a riveting, interactive, lore-laden live performance, complete with a choreographed battle scene, recruiting fans who crave swords & sorcery, stoner & doom, battle-babes & beasts, Frazetta & Sabbath.

2025 began with an explosive start. Castle Rat launched a record-breaking Kickstarter to fund their second album, fully funding the campaign in just 37 minutes. The month-long fundraiser went on to be the most successful metal Kickstarter in over a decade, closing out at $139K.

Follow CASTLE RAT:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
King Volume Records | Blues Funeral

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