Join ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ as they ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐ in ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ nearest you:
Sep 23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Sep 25 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre Sep 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade Sep 28 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Bomb Factory Sep 30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater Oct 01 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Oct 03 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre Oct 06 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater Oct 07 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Market Oct 09 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory Oct 10 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club Oct 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand Oct 12 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre Oct 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater Oct 15 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall Oct 16 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House Oct 19 – Montrรฉal, QC – Thรฉรขtre Beanfield Oct 20 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium Oct 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
Together, we expand and defend ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐!
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).
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 PyramidScheme(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 – Jaromฤล, 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.
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
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
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 โ Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Federal Theatre 04.17 โ San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Center + Arena 04.18 โ Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall 04.20 โ Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion 04.21 โ Kansas City, MO | The Midland Theatre 04.22 โ Chesterfield, MO | The Factory 04.24 โ Minneapolis, MN | The Armory 04.25 โ Waukee, IA | Vibrant Music Hall 04.28 โ New York, NY | Brooklyn Paramount 04.29 โ Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway 05.01 โ Toronto, ON | The Great Canadian Casino 05.02 โ Montreal, QC | Centre Bell 05.05 โ National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor 05.09 โ Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy 05.10 โ Nashville, TN | The Pinnacle 05.12 โ Johnstown, PA | 1st Summit Arena 05.13 โ Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre 05.14 โ Bethlehem, PA | The Wind Creek Event Center 05.16 โ Milwaukee, WI | Landmark Credit Union Live 05.19 โ Denver, CO | The JunkYard 05.20 โ Salt Lake City, UT | The Union Event Center 05.21 โ Las Vegas, NV | Planet Hollywood
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 โWizard.โ 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:
โMusically, โWIZARDโ 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. Francoโs solo at the end, which was recorded in one take, was inspired by โElectric Eye.โโ
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, Bjรถrk) and mixed by Jonathan Nuรฑez (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.”
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, Bjรถrk) and mixed by Jonathan Nuรฑez (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:
โโThe Bestiaryโ 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 โThe Wizard.โ Cautionary tales of each beast and The Wizard himself are woven through the power of traditional heavy metal song and spell.โ
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
Castle Rat is a Medieval Fantasy Doom Metal band hailing from NYC, led by โThe Rat Queen,โ Riley Pinkerton, on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. On her mission to expand and defend โThe Realmโ from those who seek to destroy it, The Rat Queen is joined by โThe Countโ (Franco Vittore), on lead guitar and backing vocals; โThe Plague Doctorโ (Charley Ruddell), on bass and โThe All-Seeing Druidโ (Joshua Strmic) on drums. Together they face the relentless wrath of their archnemesis: Death, Herself โ โThe Rat Reaperess.โ
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 bandโs pre-plague inception in October 2019, Castle Rat have released their debut album, โInto The Realm,โ 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.
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