New York’s medieval fantasy doom metal band Castle Rat presents debut album »Into The Realm«; out now via King Volume Records, Wise Blood Records and Kozmik Artifactz!

Brooklyn, New York based medieval fantasy doom metal band Castle Rat has just released their debut album »Into The Realm« on April 12th, 2024 via King Volume Records, Wise Blood Records and Kozmik Artifactz.

Tracklist:
01. Feed The Dream
02. Dagger Dragger
03. Resurrector
04. Red Sands
05. The Mirror
06. Cry For Me
07. Realm
08. Fresh Fur
09. Nightblood

Immersive medieval fantasy doom metal visionaries Castle Rat from Brooklyn, NY announce their highly anticipated debut album »Into The Realm«. Recorded in an abandoned church the album features 9 doom-laden tracks that span the sonic rainbow. Castle Rat is brimming with dark creative energy that summons a portal to transport you »Into The Realm«, on April 12th, 2024.

»Into The Realm« arrives after a blistering year that marked a successful Southwestern US tour; a lauded appearance at Desertfest New York alongside underground luminaries like Brant Bjork, 1000mods, Monster Magnet, Colour Haze, and Melvins; and their first raging single, »Feed the Dream«, premiering in Revolver Magazine on its way to more than 500,000 streams.

While the band pulls its visual inspiration from the over-the-top stylings of Kiss and uses intricate costumes and theatrics to deliver spellbinding live shows, the band remains rooted in the doom tradition of Black Sabbath, playing massive riffs and Tony Iommi-influenced licks under Pinkerton’s powerful vocals.

To that end, Castle Rat’s live shows have already grown legendary in the underground community. While performing, the band reenacts the lore behind The Rat Queen (performed by Riley Pinkerton on guitar/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 – lead guitar), The Plague Doctor (Ronnie Lanzilotta III – bass), and The Druid (Josh Strmic – drums). Together they face the relentless wrath of their arch nemesis: Death Herself – The Rat Reaperess (actress Maddy Wright). The Realm of Castle Rat exists for those who crave swords and sorcery; stoner and doom; Frazetta & Sabbath; and battle-babes and beasts.

True to the band’s ethos, »Into The Realm« was recorded in an abandoned Philadelphia church the band temporarily converted into a studio. Among the flooded floors, decaying plaster, and ornate stained glass windows, the band stacked their Orange amps and tracked over two and half days, with engineering and production assistance from Davis Shubs and Thomas Johnsen.

“The energy within The Church is undeniable – while tracking vocals for »Cry For Me« I was standing there alone in the center of the church, surrounded by stained glass windows as they faded to a pale grey-blue in the twilight. The veil between the spirit realm and the realm of the living became so thin it felt as if I were floating between them. I feel that particular vocal take was aided or influenced by something beyond my understanding…”

Surrounded by the church’s dreadful atmosphere and a certainty that the property was haunted, the band eventually decided to shoot the »Dagger Dragger« music video in the same location.

The stunning visuals of the album are supported by a collectible vinyl release featuring a unique pressing from each character within the Castle Rat world. Three record labels are teaming up to make this release possible including King Volume, Wise Blood Records (USA) and Kozmik Artifactz (Europe).

Pre-order »Into The Realm« here:
castleratband.bandcamp.com
kingvolume.8merch.com
kozmik-shop.com
wisebloodrecords.bandcamp.com

Recorded, mixed and engineered by Davis M. Shubs and Thomas Johnsen.
Cover art photo by Ronnie Lanzilotta.
Layout and editing by Olivia Cummings.
Logo by Riley Pinkerton.

Line-up:
Riley Pinkerton (Rat Queen) – Vocals, Guitar
Franco Vittore (Count) – Lead Guitar
Ronnie Lanzilotta III (Plague Doctor) – Bass
Josh Strmic (The All-Seeing Druid) – Drums
Maddy Wright – The Rat Reapress (Live shows)

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