Photo Credit: Courtney Hall (@light_witch)

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 Tracklist: 

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

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 included 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. Just days after the campaign, the band entered the studio to record their second album with producer Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Björk). Following two sold out tours in late 2024, the band undertook a headlining US tour in March 2025, with a six week stint in Europe featuring numerous festival appearances—including Desertfest, Hellfest, and Copenhell—and performances supporting Conan set to kick off in May 2025.

Castle Rat’s second full length album arrives in September 2025. The album launch will be followed by a two-month long tour across the US and Europe.

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