Formation and early years (2019–2022) Castle Rat was formed in October 2019 in Brooklyn, New York, by Riley Pinkerton (vocals, rhythm guitar), Henry Black (lead guitar), Ronnie Lanzilotta (bass), and Joshua Strmic (drums). They debuted live on August 15, 2019, at Sunnyvale in Brooklyn, performing with bands like The Silk War and Turbo Goth. Each member adopted a fantasy persona: Pinkerton as "The Rat Queen," Black as "The Count," Lanzilotta as "The Plague Doctor," and Strmic as "The Druid," with Madeline Wright portraying "The Rat Reaperess" on stage. Franco Vittore replaced Henry Black as lead guitarist, and Charley Ruddell replaced Ronnie Lanzilotta as bassist. On April 12, 2024, they released their debut album,
Into the Realm, through King Volume Records, featuring tracks like "Dagger Dragger," "Fresh Fur," and "Cry for Me."
Second album and touring (2025–present) In January 2025, Castle Rat launched a Kickstarter campaign, raising $139,000 in 37 minutes for their second album,
The Bestiary, set for release on September 19, 2025, through King Volume Records and Blues Funeral Recordings. Recorded by Randall Dunn and mixed by Jonathan Nuñez, the album features 13 tracks of mystical creature-themed heavy metal, centered around a wizard character. They embarked on a U.S. headlining tour in March 2025, performing at venues like Reggies Chicago and Le Poisson Rouge, and announced a European tour with stops at Desertfest, Hellfest, and Copenhell. Their live shows feature choreographed battle scenes and elaborate costumes. The band was the subject of Decibel Magazine's October 2025's cover story.
The Bestiary was considered one of the 15 best metal albums of 2025 by
Rolling Stone, placed #11. In 2026, they opened for the AmonKlok tour (Amon Amarth and Dethklok). == Musical style and themes ==