Castle Rat

Castle Rat is an American doom metal band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 2019. The group draws inspiration from the medieval era, with each member adopting a distinct persona. The lineup features the Rat Queen (Riley Pinkerton) on vocals and rhythm guitar, the Count (Franco Vittore) on lead guitar, the Plague Doctor (Charley Ruddell) on bass, and the Druid (Josh Strmic) on drums. Madeline Wright, portraying the Rat Reaperess, is considered an arch-nemesis and performs on stage with the band, though she does not play an instrument.

The band's initial lineup, before the current members took their roles, included Pinkerton, guitarist Henry Black as the Count, bassist Ron Lazilotta as the Plague Doctor, Strmic, and Wright. Their debut performance occurred on August 15, 2019, in Brooklyn, sharing the stage with Silk War, Turbo Goth, and Free Land.

Castle Rat later signed with King Volume Records. Following the release of several singles, their debut album, Into the Realm, was released on April 12, 2024. The album was recorded over two days in an abandoned church in Philadelphia, which the band temporarily transformed into a recording studio. Into the Realm garnered mixed reviews. In the same year, Ron Lazilotta and Henry Black departed from the band, with Charley Ruddell and Franco Vittore stepping into their respective roles.

The band's second studio album, The Bestiary, was released on September 19, 2025. To support the album, Castle Rat launched the Book of Beasts tour.