CASTLE RAT SHARE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “DRAGON”

TOURING NORTH AMERICA IN AUTUMN WITH THE
‘SUMMON THE BEASTS TOUR 2026’

Castle Rat by Jonathan Pushnik

“From heraldic, earworm-heavy anthems to eye-popping live shows, costume design, videos and album art, they’re not so much a metal band as a full immersive experience.” – The Guardian

“their music has serious depth, pairing chugging High on Fire-via-Sabbath doom with witchy moodiness and an almost artisanal craftsmanship” – Rolling Stone (The Best Metal Albums of 2025)

“With The Bestiary, these fantasy-themed riff warriors craft an unmistakable identity. These intricate-yet-economical doom-metal anthems match the spectacle and splendor of Castle Rat’s theatrical stage show, but with a stamp of longevity.” – NPR Music

“One of 2025’s great underground success stories.” – Kerrang!

“Everything about this band rules hard.” – Metal Hammer Magazine

“somewhere between Black Sabbath’s doom, Electric Wizard’s fuzzed-out menace and the Sword’s stoner gallop…It’s medieval fantasy heavy metal mixed with Seventies-era stage theatrics.” – Revolver

“[The Bestiary is] a stomping hard rock record,…by leveling up their ambition in the studio, Castle Rat have made an album worthy of the stage blood, sweat, and tears that they leave onstage every night.” – Bandcamp

“God damn those are some good riffs…a voice like Riley Pinkerton’s: a confident and measured delivery that carries the sonic narrative forward.” – Decibel

In this realm, Castle Rat is an exhilarating band hailing from NYC. They released one of the most critically acclaimed, breakthrough metal albums of 2025 according to the likes of Rolling Stone, NPR, Revolver, Kerrang!, and more. Castle Rat performed in front of 75,000 people this Spring between headline shows, major rock festivals, their tour with Amon Amarth & Dethklok, and the grand finale – sold-out 1400-cap headline show in Anaheim, CA. More recently the band wowed British audiences at Bloodstock last weekend, with Louder saying the band “proved why they’re being touted as heavy metal’s next big thing with an epic set.”

But in their realm, Castle Rat is on a mission to expand and defend “The Realm” from those who seek to destroy it – and it is up to YOU to help them.

Today, the band share a brand new video for “DRAGON”, a further highlight from their breakthrough second record “The Bestiary”.

Take a watch HERE

Putting on one of the most impressive performances you’ll see all year, Castle Rat will be bringing their must-be-seen-to-be-believed live show to North America this Autumn in their biggest headline tour to date. Hitting Webster Hall in NYC and The Belasco in Los Angeles, Castle Rat will bring their interactive, lore-laden live performance – complete with a choreographed battle scene – on a 20-date tour performing in some of the biggest venues they’ve ever played.

Castle Rat, for the first time ever, will offer their fans a VIP Experience on the Summon The Beast Tour. This VIP pass will include a live sound check with the band featuring two songs, a meet & greet with signing (two-item limit), an exclusive VIP merch gift, early access to the merch booth, as well as a photo opportunity with the Rat Reaperess.

Castle Rat have launched their first-ever online webstore, where fans can purchase VIP passes, exclusive merch, album variants and much more. Check out CASTLE MARKET HERE for more.

Castle Rat is:

Riley Pinkerton, “The Rat Queen,” on rhythm guitar and lead vocal
Franco Vittore, “The Count,” on lead guitar and backing vocals
Charley Ruddell, “The Plague Doctor,” on bass
Josh Strmic, “The All-Seeing Druid,” on drums

Together they face the relentless wrath of their archnemesis:

Death, Herself – “The Rat Reaperess”

Castle Rat released their debut album Into The Realm with King Volume Records in April 2024, which has since racked up 10 million Spotify streams and held the post as the #1 Best-Selling Hard Rock/Alt Rock Album on Bandcamp upon its release. Their second full-length album, The Bestiary, was produced by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Björk) and released in late 2025 to mass critical acclaim, launching the band into unprecedented realms of heavy music.

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. Now, after their tremendous run with Amon Amarth and Dethklok, they plan to take North America on once again for a headline tour. Now is forever!

Tour Dates

Sep 23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Sep 25 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sep 26 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Sep 28 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at The Bomb Factory
Sep 30 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
Oct 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
Oct 3 – Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre
Oct 6 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Oct 7 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Market
Oct 9 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct 10 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
Oct 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand
Oct 12 – Denver, CO – The Ogden Theatre
Oct 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Oct 15 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
Oct 16 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatr
Oct 17 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Oct 19 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
Oct 20 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium
Oct 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall