Castle Rat Bridge Two Realms as They Conquer Nashville
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 10: Castle Rat perform on the Amonklok Conquest tour at The Pinnacle. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Castle Rat is one of one. Comprised of The Rat Queen, The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The Druid, the band is on a quest to defeat the abomination known as the Castle Rat, the specter of death itself, The Rat Reaperess, and save the realm.
Linking two worlds, forward-facing 80’s-inspired doom metal and Dungeons & Dragons-esc medieval-fantasy worldbuilding, Castle Rat is one of the most refreshing bands I have seen in a good long while. Kicking off the night with “Dagger Dragger,” the third single from their 2023 debut, Into the Realm, it is immediately clear that the band means business. In a genre dominated by men and ripe for stagnation, Riley Pinkerton, The Rat Queen, is a breath of fresh air. She dominates the stage, taking on lead vocals as a cascade of pounding drums and thick guitar riffs come crashing down. She stands tall, with her vocals carrying overtop the mix. That’s not an easy feat given her surroundings, Franco Vittore, The Count, looms to her right, with his guitar heavy on the mind. It can be hard to find separation, but Pinkerton and Vittore manage it in expert fashion.
Shifting into “WIZARD,” the lead single from The Bestiary, the band has lost no momentum. This track feels much brighter, with richer tones and Pinkerton’s soaring vocals. Joshua Strmic, The Druid, is energetic as ever here. Not only is his drumming top notch, beating into your chest with every strike, but he understands restraint, a difficult decision in the genre the band occupies. Strmic allows for ebbs and flows, an ever-present force that only lashes out when needed. Much in the same tune, Charley Ruddell, The Plague Doctor, steadiest the boat through rough waters. While Pinkerton, Vittore, or Strmic might dominate the centerstage, Ruddell knows what truly drives a metal performance. His bass occupies the subwoofers, occasionally leaning into a fuzzy, distorted territory that leaves you clamoring for more.
While sonically outstanding, Castle Rat can easily stand their ground with just the music, what truly sets this band apart is the performance. Pinkerton, between each track, tells the tale of the band’s daring battle to save the realm, slowly fleshing out the story of the band’s origin, their battle with The Rat Reaperess, and her own demise and resurrection. It is truly as entertaining as the music, adding a whole other layer to the average concert experience.
Setlist
Dagger Dragger
WIZARD
SIREN
SERPENT
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 10: Castle Rat perform on the Amonklok Conquest tour at The Pinnacle. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Castle Rat only have a handful of dates left on the Amonklok Conquest tour, but that will not be the last of them. A spattering of festivals, a headline show in Los Angeles, and a trek across Europe dot the band’s Spring and Summer. You can find all of Castle Rat’s upcoming tour dates here.
May 12 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena*
May 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre*
May 14 – Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center*
May 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live*
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2026
May 19 – Denver, CO – The Junkyard*
May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center*
May 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino*
May 24 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues^
Jul 31 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset~
Aug 1 – Wacken, DE – Wacken Open Air 2026
Aug 4 – Warsaw, PL – Niebo+
Aug 6 – Jaroměř, CZ – Brutal Assault 2026
Aug 8-9 – Walton-On-Trent, UK – Bloodstock Open Air 2026
Aug 8 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz 2026
Aug 10 – Southampton, UK – Brunswick Square
Aug 12-15 – Wittelshofen, DE – Summer Breeze Open Air 2026
Aug 13-16 – Carhaix-Plouger, FR – Motocultor Festival 2026
Aug 14 – Seelbach Bei Hamm, DE – Hoflärm 2026
Aug 15 – Eindhoven, NL – Dynamo Metalfest 2026
* supporting Amon Amarth and Dethklok
^ with Deathchant and Wraith Knight
~ with Gabestok
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MAY 10: Castle Rat perform on the Amonklok Conquest tour at The Pinnacle. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
This was an incredible set. The music, the performance, the lore, and the heart put into it was top notch. Castle Rat is one of those unapologetically fun acts, one whose immense creative vision does not hinder their performance. Every moment of their set felt calculated and rehearsed while still maintaining the joy and raw appeal of a live performance. I for one am incredibly excited to the band to return to Nashville, hopefully with a headline play of their own. Find a way to go see Castle Rat.