New York’s fantasy heavy metal purveyors Castle Rat unleash new music video for »Siren«; European summer tour dates announced!

Photo by Peter Beste

New York’s fantasy heavy metal purveyors Castle Rat have unleashed a brand new music video for »Siren« taken from their latest full-length album, »The Bestiary«, out on September 19th, 2025 via King Volume Records and Blues Funeral Recordings.

Listen to »The Bestiary« on all major streaming services!

Castle Rat is a medieval fantasy heavy 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 their pre-plague inception in October 2019, they 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.

»The Bestiary« out now on King Volume Records (USA) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe)

Castle Rat is crossing the pond for the Summer Reign tour in Europe. Join and defend The Realm!

Design by Alexey Gorboot

Tickets: castlerat.com

Photo by Travis Trautt

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well