LISTEN TO THE NEW SINGLE:

“Castle Rat is a Medieval Fantasy Heavy Metal band led by the Rat Queen on a mission to expand and defend ‘The Realm’ from those who seek to destroy it. She is joined by The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The Druid. Together they face the relentless wrath of their arch nemesis: Death Herself — ‘The Rat Reaperess.”- From Bandcamp

Preorders here:

https://castlerat.bandcamp.com/album/the-bestiary

Digitally Released September 1st

Album orders Ship September 16th

Tracklist for The Bestiary

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

about

CASTLE RAT IS:

Riley Pinkerton: The Rat Queen, Lead Vocals/Guitar
Franco Vittore: The Count, Lead Guitar
Charley Ruddell: The Plague Doctor, Bass
Josh Strmic: The Druid, Drums


Emerging from New York’s vile, creature-infested underground, fantasy heavy metal purveyors CASTLE RAT have announced their impending sophomore album “The Bestiary”, to be released on September 19th by King Volume Records (North America) 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. 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 release. The band is currently an extensive European tour that includes appearances at Hellfest, Mystic Festival, Copenhell, Desertfest, and more. 

credits

releases September 1, 2025

Basic track production and recording by Randall Dunn
at Applehead Studios and Circular Ruin NYC

Produced by Castle Rat

Mixed and Mastered by Jonathan Nuñez at Sound Artillery Studio

Photography by Courtney B. Hall

Illustrations by Alistair Strangwick-Rodgers

Cover Design by Chris Allison

More variants at:
bluesfuneralrecordings.bandcamp.com