Medieval fantasy metal band Castle Rat has shared “Wizard,” the first single and video from its upcoming second album, “The Bestiary.” The record is set for release on Sept. 19, 2025, via King Volume Records in the United States and Blues Funeral Recordings in the U.K. and Europe. Watch the “Wizard” music video below.
“Musically, ‘Wizard’ was a big step in a new direction for us as a band,” bassist Charley Ruddell (aka Plague Doctor) said. “We found ourselves collaborating more closely with each other and piecing together ideas more intricately than on previous songs. We channeled the new wave of British heavy metal; the galloping drum break and harmonized guitar leads were largely inspired by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Franco’s solo at the end—which was recorded in one take—was inspired by ‘Electric Eye.’”
Since forming in 2019, Castle Rat has created a labyrinth of fantasy lore led by “The Rat Queen” (aka Riley Pinkerton). Together with “The Count,” “The Plague Doctor” and “The All-Seeing Druid,” the group has carried out countless battles against “The Rat Reaperess” with riffs, swords and spells on stages across the country.
Recorded by Randall Dunn (Sunn O))), Wolves in the Throne Room, Björk) and mixed by Jonathan Nuñez (Torche, Restless Spirit), the band’s latest odyssey features 13 tracks of epic carnage and mystical metal.
“The Bestiary’ is a conceptual book of beasts containing a collection of mystical creatures from a world forgotten,” Pinkerton said. “The last remaining souls of each have been gathered and preserved by ‘The Wizard.’ Cautionary tales of each beast and the Wizard himself are woven through the power of traditional heavy metal song and spell.”
“The Bestiary” track list:
1. Phoenix I
2. Wolf I
3. Wizard
4. Siren
5. Unicorn
6. Path of Moss
7. Crystal Cave
8. Serpent
9. Wolf II
10. Dragon
11. Summoning Spell
12. Sun Song
13. Phoenix II
Castle Rat will embark on The Book of Beasts Tour in late summer in support of “The Bestiary.” Purchase tickets at https://bnds.us/jnqiyj.
Tour dates:
Sep 5 – Boston, MA – Sonia
Sep 6 – Elizabethtown, NY – Otis
Sep 7 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
Sep 8 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Sep 9 – Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Sep 10 – Chicago, IL – Reggies
Sep 12 – Kansas City, MO – The Ship
Sep 13 – Colorado Springs, CO – What’s Left Fest
Sep 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Sep 16 – Seattle, WA – Clockout Lounge
Sep 17 – Portland, OR – Star Theater
Sep 18 – Austin, TX – Fantastic Fest
Sep 20 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
Sep 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
Sep 22 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
Sep 23 – Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit
Sep 24 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
Sep 26 – Austin, TX – Levitation
Sep 27 – Houston, TX – Last Concert
Sep 28 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa
Sep 30 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Oct 1 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Oct 2 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
Oct 3 – Charlottesville, VA – Southern Cafe
Oct 4 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
Oct 5 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Castle Rat released its debut album, “Into the Realm,” in April 2024 via King Volume Records. It has racked up over 1 million Spotify streams and held the post as the number 1 best-selling Hard Rock/All Rock Album on Bandcamp upon its release.
The band launched a record-breaking Kickstarter to fund its 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 $139,000. Following two sold-out tours in late 2024, the band undertook a headline U.S. tour in March 2025, with a six-week stint in Europe featuring numerous festival appearances—including Desertfest, Hellfest and Copenhell.
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