Castle Rat
Brooklyn doom theater with Sabbath-lineage riffs, delivered by a costumed cast with the Rat Queen out front.
Festivals Castle Rat is playing
Played before (1)
About Castle Rat
Castle Rat formed in New York around the songwriting of Riley Pinkerton, who fronts the band as a fantasy character and builds each show around a recurring cast of figures including a Druid, a Rat Reaper and a Plague Doctor. The visual side is closely tied to the music: fuzz-heavy, mid-tempo riffing in the tradition of early British heavy metal, with clean, melodic vocals rather than growls, and lyrics that follow a loose sword-and-sorcery storyline.
The group released its debut album, Into the Realm, in 2024 through King Volume Records. It gathered attention in doom and stoner-metal circles for pairing straightforward, riff-first songwriting with a staged, theatrical presentation, and the band has since built much of its reputation on live performance.
Listen
More like Castle Rat
On the same bills
Find acts like Castle Rat at upcoming festivals
Each opens that festival's finder with Castle Rat already in the box.
Questions about Castle Rat
What festivals is Castle Rat playing in 2027?
Castle Rat is booked at 2 festivals we cover: Sonic Temple 2027, Primavera Sound 2027.
Is Castle Rat playing Sonic Temple 2027?
Yes, Castle Rat is on the Sonic Temple 2027 lineup, May 13–16, 2027 at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH. They play Thursday, May 13.
Is Castle Rat playing Primavera Sound 2027?
Yes, Castle Rat is on the Primavera Sound 2027 lineup, June 2–6, 2027 at Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona, Spain. They play Thursday, June 3.
What kind of music does Castle Rat play?
Castle Rat plays metal.
What festivals has Castle Rat played before?
Castle Rat has played Welcome to Rockville 2026.
Who is in Castle Rat?
Castle Rat is Charley Ruddell (bass), Franco Vittore (guitar, background vocals), Riley Pinkerton (lead vocals, guitar), Joshua Strmic (drums) and Madeline Wright. Former members include Henry Black and Ronnie Lanzilotta.
When did Castle Rat form?
Castle Rat formed in Brooklyn in 2019.
What was Castle Rat's first album?
Castle Rat's first album was Into the Realm (2024). The latest is The Bestiary (2025).