Band Line Up 2026
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 arch nemesis: Death, Herself — “The Rat Reaperess.”
Along their journey Castle Rat has played in support of Monolord (SE), Firebreather (SE), Stonefield (AU), & Heavy Temple (PA), appeared at Desertfest NYC (Melvins/Boris/Colour Haze) and toured the American Southwest in August 2023. Since the band’s pre-plague inception in October 2019, Castle Rat has released their debut album, “Into The Realm” on King Volume Records. The record has garnered over 1,000,000 Spotify streams and reigned supreme as the #1 Best-Selling Hard Rock/All Rock Album on Bandcamp throughout album preorders and its release date in April 2024.
Beyond this, the band has curated a riveting, interactive, lore-laden live performance, complete with a choreographed battle scene, to satisfy those who crave swords & sorcery; stoner & doom; battle-babes & beasts; Frazetta & Sabbath.
